If the Zodiacs Were Desserts, Part 1: What Dessert Is Your Zodiac Sign and Why Should You Bake it Right Away?

In our 4-part series of ‘If the Zodiac Were Desserts,’ we invite you to join the sweetness of this cosmic plan and bake your own dessert inspired by the zodiac signs. May these be the unofficial dessert partners to your star sign, alongside birthstones and flowers.

We couldn’t resist this one, because how could we when it is so ingrained in our culture? Astrology experts are everywhere, be it the astrology girlie on social media or that one astrology nerd in your life, who won’t stop with their preaching and talking about how their love life is a mess because they keep falling for Geminis.

1. Aries’ Red Velvet Lava Cake

Bold, fierce, and ambitious, an Aries does not hold back from calling a spade a spade, and will put you in your place. These red velvet lava cakes are perfect to represent their red-hot element of fire, and their inadvertent sweet nature hidden away for their loved ones.

Makes 6 cakes (Each lava cake serves 1)

Ingredients:

• 110 gm butter, softened, plus extra for greasing
• 110 gm cream cheese, softened
• 1 tbsp cocoa powder
• 1 tbsp red food coloring
• 110 gm sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 55 gm all-purpose flour
• Pinch of salt
• Whipped cream for serving

Instructions:

• Preheat the oven to 200°C. Grease 6 ramekins or mini cake tins well with butter and set aside.
• In a medium-sized bowl, beat the butter and cream cheese together until light and fluffy. This should take 2-3 minutes with a whisk.
• Add the cocoa powder and food coloring. Beat to fully combine until the mixture is a uniform red color, about 1 minute.
• Add the sugar gradually and beat until incorporated, then beat in the eggs one at a time until fully blended in.
• Beat in the vanilla, then in a separate bowl, sift together the flour and salt.
• Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and fold gently just until combined.
• Divide the batter evenly among the prepared ramekins.
• Bake for 15-18 minutes, until the edges are set but the centers still look slightly runny.
• Allow to cool for 2-3 minutes before serving warm with whipped cream.

2. Blueberry Cream Cheese Pie – Cancer

Cancer is infamous for being weepy and this phrase has been offending Cancerians for ages. However, their nurturing and protective nature is a hard-to-find quality among the rest, but it can be found in the cheese pie that perfectly represents the emotionally indulgent company of the crabs.

Serves 8

For the crust:

• 150 gm Oreo cookie crumbs (about 15 cookies crushed)
• 60 ml melted unsalted butter
• 1 and ¾ cups granulated sugar

For the filling:

• 450 gm cream cheese, softened
• 150 gm white sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 150 ml whipped cream
• 225 gm fresh blueberries

To assemble:

• Preheat the oven to 180°C. Mix the Oreo cookie crumbs and melted butter together until moistened. Press into the bottom and up the sides of a 23 cm pie dish. Bake for 10 minutes until set. Allow to cool completely.
• In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese with an electric mixer until fluffy. Slowly add the sugar and beat until smooth. Fold in the whipped cream gently until just combined.
• Spread half of the cream cheese mixture evenly over the cooled crust. Scatter half of the blueberries over top. Repeat with the remaining cream cheese mixture and blueberries.
• Refrigerate for at least 4 hours before serving. Cut into slices and enjoy the sweet yet tangy flavors of blueberries swirled throughout. Refrigerate leftovers.

3. Libra’s Mixed Berry Galette

Despite its ramshackle appearance, we think the mixed berry galette is perfect for Libras. Libra has a balancing, almost calming presence, and this comforting galette represents that perfectly. Not too sweet and not too heavy on the palate, bake one for the Libra in your life and have a slice of it too.

Serves 8-10

Ingredients:

• 200 gm all-purpose flour
• 115 gm cold butter, cut into pieces
• 1-2 tbsp ice water
• 1 egg, beaten
• 150 gm mixed fresh berries such as strawberries, raspberries, blackberries
• 2-3 tbsp sugar

Instructions:

• Place flour and butter in a food processor and pulse until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add ice water 1 tbsp at a time until the dough just holds together. Shape into a disc, wrap in plastic, and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 190°C. Roll out dough on a floured surface to a 25cm round. Transfer to a baking sheet.
• Arrange berries evenly over the dough, leaving a 2.5 cm border. Fold the border over the fruit, pleating as you go to form a rim. Brush the rim with beaten egg. Sprinkle sugar over berries.
• Bake for 35-40 mins until the crust is deep golden brown. Allow to cool before dusting with powdered sugar.