Meet the bakers of showbiz

Santa Claus is on his way and everyone seems to be prepping for his Kolkata coming. Since there’s no better way to celebrate Christmas than treating each other with a piece of rich cake, the groundwork is already on in kitchens around town. Taking time out from their choc-a-bloc schedules, bakers from showbiz have also got busy soaking choicest of dry fruits in liquor before using them for those special Christmas cakes.The more adventurous ones are also trying out other crowd-pleasing recipes this season. As they wait it out before baking every imaginable cake, we get talking to them...
NUSRAT JAHAN
started baking by fluke around five years back. The cake I made was loved by my near and dear ones and since then, I took it up seriously. Now, I can bake all kinds of cakes and make customised ones for every occasion. This Christmas, I am planning to make a plum cake with dry fruits fermented in liquor. That’s something to look forward to. Recently, I made a mirror-glaze cake, which was appreciated by all. Since there’s a trend of using fresh flowers for cake decoration, I have even tried that.
My fave: A dark and chic orange cake
SUDIPA CHATTERJEE
I started baking 12 years back, but things improved a lot after I got married. My husband, Agnidev Chatterjee, is my biggest critic and my baking has improved a lot over the years. These days, I find immense satisfaction to see a cake rise without cracking. Everyone at home likes my almond cakes, but I find my rich cakes more appealing. A month ahead of Christmas, preparations start. I first soak dry fruits in liquor and refrigerate it for days. After taking it out, I put a layer of jam and again keep it back into the fridge. It’s further soaked in liquor. That adds to the flavour. I have bought a special container from Bangkok and bake over four-five days. My mom-in-law loves my cakes and they are a hit at home. Instead of cinnamon powder, I use shahi garam masala. That makes the cakes really rich in taste and flavour.
My fave: Rich fruit cake
ANIKET CHATTOPADHYAY
My mother used to bake really well and my father was an excellent cook. I picked up a lot of cooking from them. I love to see the transformation of ingredients like wheat, flour, cashew nuts, raisins, cocoa powder, chocolate, orange peels into a wholesome dessert and that interests me a lot. Every year, for Christmas, I quickly bake to treat my mother, sister and friends. Then, I experiment with layers — cream, cocoa or fruit — which is usually for my own joy. I bake all year and keep cakes ready as a snack.
My fave: Fruit cake
MIMI CHAKRABORTY
I took to serious baking a year back. I always loved it but used to be hard-pressed for time. Last year, I changed my kitchen set-up and started making cakes regularly. I realised it’s a great stressbuster. I make cakes and also gift my friends, who love them. These days, I am experimenting a lot with healthy cakes. Since I am allergic to gluten, I don’t use it in cakes. I use natural sugar; I am also very careful about cake-tasting. I am not into chocolate cakes, as I find them everywhere. This Christmas, I am planning to bake a tutti-frutti cake. I am also very fond of cheesecakes and can make them well.
My fave: Rainbow cake with white chocolate
RIDHIMA GHOSH
As a child, I would help my mom in mixing and icing cakes. Since I have a sweet tooth, I honed my skills in baking. I tried out different recipes and learnt them watching videos on YouTube. I realised baking is pure science as the ingredients need to be in right portions. I am a perfectionist and take care of the minutest details. Every Christmas, we go to our farmhouse to celebrate and I bake a cake on that day. I soak dry fruits in liquor for a few days before Christmas. Generally, it’s done for months, but I do it for days.
My fave: Tiramisu and choco chips cake
APARAJITA AUDDY
I have been baking for many years and use a simple process. I buy 200 grams of everything to make cakes and that saves me a lot of time. But I can also make Christmas cakes, fruit cakes and even rosogolla cake. There are a few cakes for which I don’t even need an oven and can make do with a pressure cooker. Earlier, on Christmas, I would visit my friends and relatives with cakes. Despite my crazy schedule, I would still go home and bake. Even now, I have kept the tradition of baking alive at home. Since we are a family of 12, a cake is finished within 12 seconds of it being served!
My fave: Pound cake