We Heart Fresh Produce

Parsnip and walnut cake

Serves 8

Parsnip and walnut cake

Ingredients

  • 250g parsnips peeled and grated
  • 2 eggs
  • 125 ml sunflower oil, plus extra for greasing
  • 250 g caster sugar
  • finely grated zest of 1 large lemons
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 375 g self-raising flour
  • ½ tsp cinnamon
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 60 g walnut pieces, chopped
  • icing sugar, for dusting

Method

  1. Grease a square cake tin by brushing it lightly with oil. Line it with baking parchment, then oil lightly again. Preheat the oven to 180°C/Gas 4.
  2. In a large mixing bowl, whisk the eggs together, then add the oil, sugar, lemon zest, vanilla extract and grated parsnips. Stir to combine and set aside.
  3. Sift the self-raising flour, cinnamon and salt into a second large mixing bowl. Make a well in the centre, then pour in the parsnip mixture. Add the chopped walnut pieces and stir just enough to combine the ingredients and make a stiff batter.
  4. Pour the mixture into the prepared cake tin, spreading it out fairly evenly into the corners. Bake for 1 hour - 1 hour 20 minutes or until the cake is well risen, the top is firm and brown, and a metal skewer inserted in the centre of the cake comes out clean.
  5. Remove the cake from the oven and allow it to cool for 5-10 minutes in the tin before lifting it out to a wire rack to cool completely. Dredge with icing sugar before serving.