Parsnip Spice Cake

Parsnip Spice Cake
Print Recipe
    Servings
    16-18
    Servings
    16-18
    Parsnip Spice Cake
    Print Recipe
      Servings
      16-18
      Servings
      16-18
      Ingredients
      Cake
      Simple Syrup
      Cream Cheese Icing
      Servings:
      Instructions
      Cake
      1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Prepare cake pans as per option 1 or option 2 below.
      2. In a medium bowl whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, spices and salt.
      3. In a large bowl whisk together eggs, oil, milk and vanilla. Add dry ingredients and whisk until just combined. Stir in parsnips.
      4. Option 1: Line the bottoms of 3 - 8" round cake pans with parchment and spray sides with non-stick spray. Divide batter evenly into each pan and spread out with a spatula (about 13 ounces per pan). Bake on centre rack for 17-20 minutes until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely.
      5. Remove cake from pans and peel off parchment. Brush each layer with the simple syrup. Arrange one layer on a serving plate and spread with approximately 1/4 of icing. Top with another layer and repeat with icing and top with the remaining cake layer. Ice the top, reserving a small amount of icing to fill in the layer sides. Run a bench scraper or long straight edge spatula around the outside of the cake to smear and flatten the icing into a "naked cake" look. Dust the top with cinnamon and cut into desired wedges.
      6. Option 2: Spray a 9"x13" pan with non-stick spray. Pour batter into the pan and spread out evenly with a spatula. Bake on centre rack for 25-28 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely. Brush with simple syrup and spread evenly with frosting. Cut into desired squares and serve.
      Simple Syrup
      1. Combine sugar and water in a small saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil stirring until sugar is dissolved. Once at a boil, allow syrup to boil for 1 minute. Remove from heat and stir in brandy. Allow to cool completely before brushing on the cake.
      Cream Cheese Icing
      1. Beat butter and cream cheese together until light and fluffy. Add powdered sugar, spices and vanilla. Beat until just combined. Frost cake as desired.

      Squash Spice Cake

      Squash Spice Cake is lightly spiced, moist and topped with cream cheese icing.
      Squash Spice Cake
      Print Recipe
      Lightly spiced and tender, topped with cream cheese frosting an toasted hazelnuts.
        Servings
        24 Pieces
        Cook Time
        30-35 minutes
        Servings
        24 Pieces
        Cook Time
        30-35 minutes
        Squash Spice Cake is lightly spiced, moist and topped with cream cheese icing.
        Squash Spice Cake
        Print Recipe
        Lightly spiced and tender, topped with cream cheese frosting an toasted hazelnuts.
          Servings
          24 Pieces
          Cook Time
          30-35 minutes
          Servings
          24 Pieces
          Cook Time
          30-35 minutes
          Ingredients
          Cake
          Icing
          Servings: Pieces
          Instructions
          Squash Spice Cake
          1. Preheat oven to 350℉. Grease a 9"x13" pan.
          2. Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, spices and salt, set aside.
          3. Cream together butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in one egg at a time, incorporating after each. Whisk in sour cream, orange juice and vanilla.
          4. Whisk in dry ingredients and combine until just incorporated.
          5. Stir in squash and 1 cup of the hazelnuts.
          6. Spread evenly into prepared pan and bake in preheated oven for approximately 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the centre comes out clean. Allow to cool completely in the pan on a wire rack.
          Cream Cheese Icing
          1. Beat together butter, cream cheese and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Add vanilla and 2 cups of icing sugar, beat until smooth. Spread evenly onto cooled cake and top with remaining 1/4 cup toasted hazelnuts. Cut into 24 pieces.
          Recipe Notes

          Peel butternut squash then split in half lengthwise. Cut into large chunks and grate using a fine grater. It is essential to use the fine grates (like you would use to grate parmesan cheese).  The finely grated squash will cook in the time the cake takes to bake.

          The brown sugar in the icing will dissolve as it gets beaten with the cream cheese and butter.