Thursday, August 18, 2011

Healthy Cake

At some point this summer, you're bound to have carrots, zucchini and summer squash ready and waiting to jump into your next dish.  I wanted to try a play on zucchini bread and carrot cake, and this was what I came up with...  it's neither of those things, but it was tasty.


I brought it to work to get some opinions and everyone enjoyed it without knowing what it was.  When I inquired about what it tasted like, I think the best response was "healthy".  They know me so well ;)  I'm going with it, as I think it's rather appropriate!



Healthy Cake
adapted from my kitchen addiction
yield:  two 8-9" cake layers

1c shredded zucchini
1c shredded summer squash
1c shredded carrots
4 eggs, beaten
1/4c mild flavored oil
1/4c greek yogurt
1/4c milk (dairy or nondairy)
1/2c applesauce
1t vanilla extract
2 1/2c white whole wheat flour (or AP or WW pastry)
1/2c sucanat (or brown sugar)
3/4c evaporated cane juice (granulated sugar)
2t baking powder
1/2t baking soda

Preheat oven to 350deg.

In a large bowl, whisk together wet ingredients (eggs through vanilla).  Add squash and carrots and mix well.

In a separate bowl, add dry ingredients and mix until well combined.  Add to the wet ingredients and fold in just until the dry ingredients are moistened.  Try not to overmix!

Pour into 2 cake pans sprayed with Pam for baking (or butter and flour your pans).  Bake in preheated oven for 25-30min, until a toothpick comes out clean.

Cool completely, then frost with your favorite icing, cream cheese frosting anyone?



It might not be quite what I intended, but still seemed to be a hit.  Not the most indlugent cake, and full of vegetables, you can totally feel good about eating a slice!!

19 comments:

  1. Love it! Im not much of a cake person, but i think id love this! Simple yet delicious

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  2. This is my kind of cake! I would definitely snack on it throughout the day ;).

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  3. Haha I am a sucker for "healthy" dessert recipes! That looks good!

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  4. i am a cake person! and i would never have that much veggies in one sitting only because of no garden.
    but you know all this zucchini stuff floating around has me craving it. like zucchini patties.

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  5. Carrot cake is my all time favorite cake. This looks wonderful

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  6. I love this time of year when there is an abundance of zucchini, which is perfect for baking!

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  7. I am SO all for cake of any kind...but especially if it's healthy (that means I can eat it for breakfast).

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  8. I'm so glad I found you and this recipe. I'm trying to be as healthy as possible ahead of being a brideslave in three weeks time. This cake may just save me.

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  9. Sounds great! I love adding veggies to baked goods. . . both for the nutrition and to use up the veggies! :) Never used squash, though--will have to try it.

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  10. I am always on the prowl for "healthy" sweets... this sounds like a completely legitimate replacement for veggies at dinner. Or breakfast :)

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  11. I think this sounds great! Especially with a thick slathering of cream cheese frosting...

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  12. This sounds almost like a good morning muffin cake. Great use of veggies!

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  13. What an awesome idea for a cake and a fabulous plan for getting some extra veggies in your diet... In a fun way!

    Sues

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  14. I think I would love a big piece of this for breakfast since it's healthy and I don't like things are too sweet early in the day :)

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  15. Healthy and cake in one recipe? Sign me up. This looks great!

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  16. I love all cake! I would definintely make and eat this bad boy...yet another awesome idea for all this damn summer squash!!

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