Courgette & Walnut Loaf Cake

Courgette & Walnut Cake Recipe
1st January 2017

Courgette and Walnut Loaf Cake

New Year’s Resolution to eat more Fruit & Veg? Then try this delicious naughty and nice courgette cake packed with hidden veg and protein rich walnuts...

Ingredients

You will need:- x1 standard loaf tin, baking paper, a grater, sieve, x2 mixing bowls, electric whisk (optional), small saucepan, a clean tea towel and a wire rack to cool.

For the cake

  • 350g courgettes
  • 200g soft brown sugar
  • 125ml sunflower oil
  • 3 large free range eggs lightly beaten
  • Grated zest & juice of 1 orange
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 100g mixed dried fruit
  • 300g self raising flour
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 50g roughly chopped walnuts plus extra for decorating
  • 1 tbs runny honey

For the Frosting

  • 200g full-fat cream cheese
  • 100g icing sugar, sifted
  • Juice & zest of 1 orange
  • Chopped walnuts to decorate

Method

  1. Pre-heat the oven to 180C, Gas Mark 4. Lightly grease the loaf tin and line with baking paper.
  2. In the saucepan add the honey, dried fruit, orange juice and zest and gently heat until the dried fruit becomes plump.
  3.  Meanwhile finely grate the courgettes leaving the skin on to add colour. Place the grated courgettes in the tea towel and squeeze out as much liquid as possible.
  4. Place the courgettes in a mixing bowl and add the sugar, sunflower oil, vanilla extract and eggs. Beat until smooth.
  5. Sieve in the flour and baking powder and fold into the mixture taking care not to overmix.
  6. Add the fruit mixture along with any remaining liquid plus the chopped walnuts and mix until evenly incorporated.
  7. Scrape the mixture into the loaf tin and bake for 50 mins until a skewer inserted into the cake comes out clean. Remove from the tin and cool on a wire rack.
  8. Whilst the cakes cool make the frosting.  Beat the cream cheese with the icing sugar.  Gradually add the orange juice until you get a smooth mixture.  Do not use all of the juice if the mixture starts to become runny.  Chill the frosting until the cake is cooled and ready for decorating.
  9. Once the cake is cooled completely spread the frosting on top and finish with chopped walnuts and the remaining orange zest.

Serve with a cup of green tea if you’re feeling extra healthy.

Love cakes but not baking?  Try one of our 5 delicious cake flavours, available for delivery straight to your door.