Recipes

New Year’s Bliss: Sugar-Free Almond Chocolate Cake

Celebrate the holiday with a moist, naturally sweet and sugar-free cake!

Ingredients:

  • 100g almond flour
  • 3 tbsp cocoa powder
  • 1 tbsp baking powder
  • 2 tsp vanilla powder
  • 120g dates
  • 100ml milk
  • 3 eggs

Optional Topping:

  • Whipped cream with 2 tsp vanilla powder
  • Shaved chocolate
  • Sunflower

Instructions:

  1. Preheat your oven to 180c.
  2. Combine the dry ingredients: almond flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and vanilla powder.
  3. Using a hand mixer, blend the dates, milk and eggs until smooth.
  4. Pour the wet mixture into the dry ingredients and gently mix until combined.
  5. Prepare your baking pan with parchment paper and pour in the batter.
  6. Bake according to pan size:
    • 24 cm pan: ~15 minutes
    • 18 cm pan: 30–40 minutes (cover with foil halfway to prevent burning)
  7. Let the cake cool. Store in the fridge if using the next day.
  8. Optional: Whip cream with vanilla powder, spread on top, and decorate with shaved chocolate.
    Notes: Naturally sweetened with dates, no added sugar.
    Moist, healthy, and perfect for holiday celebrations!

Saffron Steam Bread (Adey Flower Bread) – A New Year Tradition

ወርቃማው ህብስት ዳቦ ለአዲስ አመት

Adey Abeba saffron steam bread, steamed in the traditional Hibist style for Ethiopian New Year

Every year in September, Ethiopia blossoms with the bright yellow Adey Abeba flower, a symbol of hope, renewal and fresh beginnings. In celebration of this season, families gather to share food, blessings and joy.

One of the most beloved traditions is baking Hibist bread, a steamed bread often prepared during special occasions. This recipe is my special version of Saffron Steam Bread (Adey Flower Bread) with golden saffron dough shaped like a flower, surrounding a cocoa-flavored center. It’s not only beautiful but also deeply symbolic, reflecting the Adey flower and the promise of new life.

This bread is steamed instead of baked, making it incredibly soft, moist and aromatic. Perfect for sharing during Ethiopian New Year celebrations or anytime you want to bring a little sunshine to your table.

Ingredients

  • 450 g all-purpose flour
  • 7g (1Tbsp) dry yeast
  • 1 cup warm water
  • 0.5 g saffron threads
  • 1 Tbsp cocoa powder
  • 1 Tbsp Stevia (or granulated sugar), add more according to your taste
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ¼ cup sunflower oil
  • Optional: raisins and ground cinnamon for extra flavor

Instructions

Step 1: Bloom the saffron

  1. Crush the saffron lightly and mix it with a few tablespoons of warm water.
  2. Let it sit for 3–5 minutes until the color and aroma are released.

Step 2: Make the dough

  1. In a mixing bowl, combine flour, yeast, salt and stevia (keep cocoa aside for later).
  2. Add the saffron water, remaining warm water and sunflower oil.
  3. Knead by hand for 10–15 minutes or with a mixer for 5–10 minutes, until smooth and elastic.
  4. Cover and let proof for 40–60 minutes or until doubled in size.

Step 3: Shape the flower bread

  1. Divide the dough into 6 equal parts.
  2. Take one part and mix in the cocoa powder, a little sugar and a splash of water—this will be your chocolate dough.
  3. Place the cocoa dough ball in the center of a greased baking pan (18–24 cm).
  4. Arrange the remaining 5 saffron dough balls around it, forming a flower shape.
  5. Cover and let rise again for 30–40 minutes.

Step 4: Steam the bread (Hibist style)

  1. Prepare a wide and deep pot. Place a cookie cutter or trivet on the bottom.
  2. Pour in water just high enough to cover the base of the cookie cutter.

Place the baking pan on top, cover tightly and steam for 45 minutes on medium heat.

Step 5: Cool and enjoy

  1. Carefully remove the pan and let the bread rest for 10 minutes.
  2. Transfer to a rack to cool completely.
  3. Test with a toothpick—if it comes out clean, it’s ready!

Optional: Fold raisins or cinnamon into the saffron dough for extra flavor.

Saffron Steam Bread served on a traditional Ethiopian Mesob tray for the New Year celebration

Serving & Tradition

This flower-shaped saffron bread is more than just food, it is a symbol of new beginnings. Like the Adey Abeba flower that blooms each New Year, it reminds us of renewal, joy and togetherness.

Traditionally, it is served on the morning of the Ethiopian New Year. In my own family, my father would pray over the bread, giving thanks to God before we shared it together. It was always part of a festive spread that included the Ethiopian coffee ceremony and freshly popped corn on the side.

Serve this bread warm with Ethiopian tea or coffee, drizzled with honey or simply enjoyed as part of your holiday meal. Most importantly, share it with family and friends, it is in that sharing that the true meaning of the New Year comes alive.

✨ May this Adey Flower Bread bring brightness and blessings to your New Year!

Saffron steam bread, perfect as a gift for Ethiopian New Year, wrapping the bottom.