Vanilla Swiss Roll Cake with Strawberries and Whipped Cream How do I prevent my cake from cracking when rolling? It’s important not to overbake the vanilla Swiss roll cake. Overbaking can dry it out and cause the sponge to break when rolled. Remove the cake from the oven as soon as it is lightly golden and springs back when touched. Cool it for only a few minutes, then invert and roll it up while still slightly warm using parchment paper. This helps the cake “learn” the shape and prevents cracks. Once it cools, gently unroll it to fill and reroll. … Read more

White Chocolate Panna Cotta with Apricots and Za’atar Crumble How can I make white chocolate panna cotta without gelatin? You can use agar-agar as a vegetarian substitute. Use about 1/2 teaspoon of powdered agar-agar for every 1 tablespoon/8 grams of gelatin, though the setting quality will be firmer and slightly less creamy. Bloom the agar in water, then boil it with the milk and cream mixture (unlike gelatin, agar needs to be heated to activate). Whisk well before combining it with the melted white chocolate. Chill as usual until fully set. While agar offers a similar result, the texture of … Read more

Kadaif Cheesecake with Rose and Pistachio What can I use instead of kadaif pastry if I can’t find it? The closest alternative for kadaif cheesecake is shredded phyllo dough, often labeled as “kataifi” in international or Middle Eastern markets. If that’s unavailable, you can try using regular phyllo dough by slicing it into very thin strips, then fluffing it lightly by hand to mimic the texture. While it won’t be exactly the same, it will crisp up nicely when cooked in butter and sugar. Puff pastry or vermicelli noodles are not good substitutes here, as they behave differently during caramelization … Read more

No Bake Tiramisu Cheesecake What can I use if I don’t have a springform pan? You can use a deep 9-inch square dish, a standard pie dish, or even a loaf pan lined with parchment paper. The key is to use something with enough depth to accommodate the crust and cream layers of the no bake tiramisu cheesecake. If you plan to serve slices, lining the dish with parchment will help you lift the cheesecake out cleanly. Do I need to whip the cream separately before mixing it in? No, in this recipe the heavy cream is whipped together with … Read more

Traditional Papanasi Recipe How do I prevent the dough from becoming too sticky? To avoid overly sticky dough in a papanasi recipe, start by ensuring your cheese is well-drained. Excess moisture in the cheese often causes the dough to become difficult to handle. Always sift the flour before measuring and add it gradually, mixing just until the dough comes together. If it’s still sticky, dust your hands and work surface with a small amount of extra flour—no more than 1 tablespoon at a time—to avoid drying out the final product. Letting the dough rest for 10 to 15 minutes also … Read more