About the bake
This courgette and rosemary cake is lovely and moist, great served up with a cup of tea. The addition of courgette within the sponge mixture makes the cake really moist and works perfectly with the sharp and sweet lemon and rosemary curd.
Method
Step 1:
Preheat the oven to 180C (fan 160C, gas mark 4) and grease and base line 2 x 20cm victoria sponge cake tins.
Step 2:
Sift the flour into a bowl, stir through the baking powder, bicarbonate, salt and mixed spice.
Step 3:
Stir in the courgette and hazelnuts to coat in the flour.
Step 4:
In another large bowl whisk the oil, eggs, sugars and lemon extract together.
Step 5:
Add the dry ingredients into the wet ones and fold in well but don’t over mix. Divide equally between the tins and spread out evenly to the sides.
Step 6:
Bake in the preheated oven for 25 minutes until springy to the touch and coming away from the tins. Leave in the tins for a few minutes before turning out onto a wire rack and cool.
Step 7:
Meanwhile make the curd by adding all the ingredients into a bowl and place over a pan of boiling water, stir until thickened, about 15 minutes. Remove from the heat and cool, then remove the rosemary sprigs. Only half of the curd is to be used for the recipe and see below for tip.
Step 8:
For the icing beat together the cream cheese, icing sugar and lemon extract. Place one cake onto a serving plate and top with just under one half of the icing, spread over the lemon curd. Place the other cake on top and spread with the remaining icing and then dollop spoonfuls of curd over the top.
Step 9:
Use a palette knife, swirl the curd into the icing. Top with sprigs of rosemary and sprinkle over some light muscovado sugar before serving.
Ingredients
- 300g Allinson's Plain White Flour
- 1.5 tsp Baking powder
- 0.5 tsp Bicarbonate of soda
- 0.5 tsp Salt
- 2 tsp Mixed spice
- 200g Courgette(s) (grated)
- 100g Hazelnuts (toasted, chopped)
- 180ml Vegetable oil
- 3 Egg(s) (free range) (large)
- 175g Billington's Unrefined Light Muscovado Sugar
- 120g Billington's Unrefined Golden Caster Sugar
- 1.5 tsp Nielsen-Massey Lemon Extract
- 300g Allinson's Plain White Flour
For the lemon and rosemary curd
- 2 Egg(s) (free range) (medium)
- 150g Billington's Unrefined Golden Caster Sugar
- 2 Lemon(s) (juice and zest)
- 100g Butter (salted) (melted)
- 4 Rosemary (sprigs, plus extra to garnish)
- 1 tsp Cornflour
For the icing
- 200g Cream cheese (full fat)
- 100g Silver Spoon Icing Sugar
- 0.5 tsp Nielsen-Massey Lemon Extract
Utensils
- 2x 20cm sponge cake tins
- Sieve
- Mixing bowl
- Whisk
- Cooling rack
- Saucepan
- Serving plate
- Palette knife
Recipe Reviews
Love this cake, always turns out well and a huge favourite amongst family, friends and work colleagues. I adapt to make gluten free
Ingredients
- 300g Allinson's Plain White Flour
- 1.5 tsp Baking powder
- 0.5 tsp Bicarbonate of soda
- 0.5 tsp Salt
- 2 tsp Mixed spice
- 200g Courgette(s) (grated)
- 100g Hazelnuts (toasted, chopped)
- 180ml Vegetable oil
- 3 Egg(s) (free range) (large)
- 175g Billington's Unrefined Light Muscovado Sugar
- 120g Billington's Unrefined Golden Caster Sugar
- 1.5 tsp Nielsen-Massey Lemon Extract
- 300g Allinson's Plain White Flour
For the lemon and rosemary curd
- 2 Egg(s) (free range) (medium)
- 150g Billington's Unrefined Golden Caster Sugar
- 2 Lemon(s) (juice and zest)
- 100g Butter (salted) (melted)
- 4 Rosemary (sprigs, plus extra to garnish)
- 1 tsp Cornflour
For the icing
- 200g Cream cheese (full fat)
- 100g Silver Spoon Icing Sugar
- 0.5 tsp Nielsen-Massey Lemon Extract
Utensils
- 2x 20cm sponge cake tins
- Sieve
- Mixing bowl
- Whisk
- Cooling rack
- Saucepan
- Serving plate
- Palette knife