Baking · serves 2

Courgette Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

Grated courgette and oats. Tastes like carrot cake and nobody guesses why it's so moist.

65 min Some work Vegetarian

Ingredients

  • 200g caster sugar
  • 60ml sunflower oil
  • 60ml apple sauce
  • 255g courgette, grated
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • 255g self-raising flour
  • 20g oats
  • A pinch of salt
  • Frosting: 60g butter, 115g cream cheese, 1/4 tsp vanilla, 200g icing sugar

Method

  1. Whisk sugar, oil and apple sauce together.
  2. Grate the courgette straight in and stir. Don't squeeze it — the water is the point.
  3. Vanilla, baking powder, soda and cinnamon in, then sift over the flour and whisk.
  4. Oats and salt. The batter should be thick but pourable.
  5. Greased and floured 20cm tin. 150°C — low and slow — for 45-50 minutes.
  6. Cool completely.
  7. Beat butter and cream cheese light, add vanilla, then icing sugar a little at a time. Thick but spreadable.
  8. Top and sides.

Questions people ask about Courgette Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

How long does Courgette Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting take?

About 65 minutes from starting to sitting down, and it is a bit of work. A good part of that is unattended, so you can get on with something else once it is going.

What is the one thing to get right in Courgette Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting?

Grate the courgette straight in and stir. Don't squeeze it — the water is the point.

What can I use instead of maida in Courgette Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting?

Use plain atta for a denser, nuttier result, or a 50/50 mix if you want to keep some lift.

Can I make Courgette Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting ahead of time?

You can prepare it a few hours ahead and reheat gently. It keeps two days in the fridge, though it is best on the day.

Is Courgette Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting vegetarian?

Yes, it is vegetarian. It is not vegan as written because it contains dairy; swap the dairy for a plant alternative and the rest of the method is unchanged.

Do I need an oven for Courgette Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting?

Yes, this one needs an oven. If you do not have one, look at the no-oven filter on the baking page: eleven of the bakes here are built for a cooker, a pan or the fridge.

What do you serve with Courgette Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting?

On its own, warm, with tea or coffee. Baking is chemistry, so scale it by weight rather than by eye: double every quantity, use a tin with roughly double the area, and expect to add ten minutes or so. Judge it by the skewer, not the clock.

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