Last Summer I went to a picnic meet-up with my baby and toddler group. One of the mums had brought along a courgette cake which I wasn't at all keen on trying, but actually tasted really nice. I've had it at her house a few times since and it is really quite scrummy. The one thing that I noticed it is that although it's moist, it is actually quite bland. The courgette doesn't really come through and therefore the cake just tastes of, well, cake.
I decided to have a go at making this with The Boy this morning, and had the idea of adding chocolate to give a contrasting flavour. I knew I had the ingredients and there were courgettes waiting to be used up in the fridge. Only, they'd gone too far and had to go into the compost, which is when Mr. TheBoyandMe was despatched to pick up more!
Courgette & Chocolate Cake
Ingredients: 220g plain or wholewheat flour, 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda, 1 teaspoon mixed spice, ½ teaspoon baking powder, 250g sugar, 200ml vegetable oil, 60g of butter, 3 eggs, 1 tablespoon vanilla extract, 2 medium courgettes coarsely grated, 1 large handful raisins, half a bar of milk chocolate, handful of chocolate chips.
Prior to cooking sprinkle a teaspoon of salt into the courgette, place in a sieve over a bowl with a piece of kitchen towel and a plate on top to weigh it down. The excess juice from the courgette will be removed.
1. Cream the butter and sugar together.
2. Add the egg with a little flour to prevent curdling.
3. Add the remainder of the flour and whisk.
4. Add the oil and vanilla essence and mix together thoroughly, the mixture will be runny.
5. Stir in the remainder of the dry ingredients and the raisins.
6. Gently fold in the courgettes and chocolate chips, along with the melted chocolate.
7. Mix thoroughly and then divide between cake cases. This recipe made 20 individual cakes.
8. Place the cakes in a preheated oven at 150°C for 30 minutes until a skewer comes out clean.
9. We drizzled white chocolate on ours to add some colour.
These cakes are moist and really tasty. The Boy and Me (ha!) made them before Chef Brother came over to see us, and I was nervous about giving him one. He said they were really tasty and would be perfect for Christmas time, he then ate two! Wahoo, thumbs up if ever there was one.
The irony is that The Boy doesn't like them!
I love the concentration on The Boys face (tongue sticking out!)……our 2 boys could be the next hairy bikers (I couldn't think of another pair of male chefs!).
I really am surprised you allowed him to pour the mixture out – how did you cope with the mess, did you have to close your eyes?!!
He sounds just like Jack & Burton who are also not keen on their own cooking!
Thanks for linking up.
x
Ha ha Burton loves making cakes (and other food) with me but refuses to try them once cooked!!grrrr
I have not tried courgette cake but have heard of them so might give these a try one day as mmmm :)they look great andthe boy looks like he is enjoying himself!
Mmm cake xx
Cottages and choc? Weird combo but I guess stuff like cranberry and White chocolate works. I know its sad but I always admire your little bowls. Love how Boy looks so engrossed in every task!
They look scrummy, might have to try them. xx
looks like he enjoyed himself….and thank you for "messy" cake photo, my oh tells me I cannot take a messy cooking picture, and I argue I can cos thats how the "kids" cook.
Not tried courgette but another great way of getting veg into children, must admit I love beetroot and chocolate ( which sounds horrible but isn't).
Lol at chef brother liking them. my oh always complains about my "Bob safe" cooking but tucks in with everybody else.
great combo! Get the vegies in without anyone really knowing!
I've had a courgette & chocolate cake recipe in my cookbook cupboard for a while, my friend made some last year & it was lovely – think I need to get the recipe out & make it with Chef Daughter.
I must say, I am really not convinced by this recipe title – I am wondering if it was invented by a pregnant woman with a weird craving!!
Think I will stick to my chocolate with chocolate icing and chocolate sauce cake 🙂
Because of course who on Earth would make a cake out of vegetables? I mean, can you imagine something like carrots in a cake? Yuck! And with a cream cheese topping? Even worse! 😉
Oh, meant to say, love the pics and how involved the Boy is!
Thank you, so absorbed in his 'job'.
Wow, is there anything you cant do? You amaze me! At first i was a bit horrified but yes, i can see how with addition of chocolate they would be yummy. send me one please, or move closer, either will be fine x
They look really yummy x