Parsnip & Orange Spiced Cake
2 Reviews
About the bake
Yes, there are parsnips in this cake. You've probably eaten carrot cake before, and whilst carrots give colour, parsnips add a similar flavour and sweetness with a whole lot more fragrance. It’s a moist and delicious cake, and a great alternative to carrot. You could also give this recipe a go with courgette or beetroot if you fancy it. They all add different things and work equally well. Thank you to Nadiya Hussain for the recipe.
Ingredients
For the sponge
- 230gAllinson's Self Raising Flour
- 1 tspBaking powder
- 1 tspCinnamon (ground)
- 1 tspNutmeg (ground)
- 2 tspMixed spice (ground)
- 200gSilver Spoon White caster sugar
- 100gWalnuts (chopped, plus extra for topping)
- 3Egg(s) (free range) (medium size)
- 150mlOil (sun flower oil)
- 500gParsnip(s) (peeled, ends trimmed and coarsely grated)
- 2Orange zest (2 oranges worth, plus extra for decoration)
For the frosting
- 50gButter (unsalted) (softened)
- 200gCream cheese (full fat)
- 150gSilver Spoon Icing sugar
- 1Orange zest (use 1 orange worth)
Method
Step 1
To make the cake: Preheat the oven to 180°C/fan 160°C. Grease and line the base of two 20.5cm sandwich tins with baking paper.
Step 2
In a large bowl sift together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg and mixed spice. Add the caster sugar and chopped walnuts, mix through with a wooden spoon, and set aside.
Step 3
Put the eggs and sunflower oil in a different bowl, and beat for a few minutes. Now mix all the dry ingredients into the egg and oil mixture, along with the grated parsnips and orange zest. Mix everything together until you have a thick batter; about 2 minutes.
Step 4
Divide the mixture between the two cake tins, and level it off using a spatula. Bake for 25–30 minutes. The cakes should be golden, and a skewer inserted into the centre should come out clean.
Leave the cakes in the tins for 10 minutes, then turn out on to a wire rack and peel off the baking paper. Leave to cool completely.Step 5
To make the frosting: In a bowl, beat the butter with a wooden spoon then add the cream cheese and icing sugar. Beat until it all comes together, but be careful not to overdo it, or the frosting will become runny.
Leave the frosting in the fridge until you need it, if your kitchen is really warm.Step 6
Leave the frosting in the fridge until you need it, if your kitchen is really warm.
Take your cooled cakes and sandwich them together using the frosting. Top the cake with lashings of frosting and sprinkle with walnuts, and some extra orange zest.