Very veggie cakes

I'm not much of a baker. A bit of a one (maybe two, at a push - three) trick baking pony. But, in the words of Garth from Wayne's World, I like to play.

Chocolate courgette cake

About a month ago we were gifted with a glut of courgettes from a family allotment. And when I say a glut, I'm talking MARROWS here. Courgettes are not the most inspiring of vegetables and tend to divide the crowd. Nobody loves a courgette. Cue - a challenge. 

I discovered a recipe for chocolate courgette cake by Riverford online. I was sold on the basis that they serve them at the tiny Landscove Primary School to inject some veg into the kids, plus the original farm shop is based near my hometown of Totnes.

Result - a glut of chocolate courgette cakes. Although rich in chocolate flavour, these aren't sickly sweet. And, for non-courgette fans, I am giving you a 'no hidden courgette taste' guarantee.

Super sticky vegan carrot cake

This was my second attempt at a vegan-friendly cake. The first, although tasty, was rather flat. I was after a cake fit for a three tier birthday cake stand to sit alongside my favourite lemon drizzle muffins.

Step forward accidental vegetarian Simon Rimmer and his vegan carrot cake. Where the courgette cakes lacked in sweetness, these pack in enough maple syrup, golden syrup and light brown sugar to give you brain freeze. I replaced the syrup and frosting suggested in the recipe with a mixture of icing sugar, lemon juice and stem ginger syrup, drizzled over the cake, pricked hot from the oven. 

I'm going to use the g word again. Another GLUT of cake. I was tired what can I say? What the enormo portion meant is I could test it on a wider audience. I got a pre-birthday thumbs up from my office and another great reaction from the intended recipients. 

Playtime's over...for now.

Nx