Chocolate, Zucchini, Sweet Potato, Cake

Rita~'s Note:

This cake must be good for you with zucchini, sweet potato, cherries and cocoa! How can you go wrong?

• Total Time: 1 hrs 20 mins
• Prep Time: 20 mins
• Cook Time: 1 hrs

Ingredients:

Servings: 12

• ¼ cup cocoa
• 2 ½ cups flour
• ½ cup rye flour or ½ cup buckwheat flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 ½ teaspoons cinnamon
• 3 eggs
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 1 ½ cups brown sugar
• ½ cup honey
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• ½ cup buttermilk
• 1 cup grated zucchini
• 1 cup grated sweet potato
• 1 cup dried cherries , hydrated in
• 3 tablespoons rum or 3 tablespoons hot water
• 1 cup pecans , roughly chopped (optional)
• ½ cup chocolate chips (optional)

Glaze

• 2 cups powdered sugar
• ¼ cup water or ¼ cup your favorite liqueur

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Butter and flour a bundt pan.
3. Sift together first 7 ingredients.
4. Set aside.
5. In a mixer mix oil, sugar, honey add eggs and vanilla.
6. Mix dry ingredients into egg mixture then add buttermilk.
7. Stir in remaining ingredients.
8. Pour into pan and bake for 50-60 minutes till toothpick comes out clean.
9. Let cool.
10. Invert onto cake dish.
11. Mix glaze and water and pour onto cake.

Reviews

[Sydney Mike]

Made this recipe pretty mush as written & had A REALLY WONDERFUL CHOCOLATE CAKE EXPERIENCE! I did include the nuts & chips & used the buckwheat flour! Then, when it came time for the glaze, I used orange juice instead of the water & added 2 rounded teaspoons of orange zest along with the powdered sugar! I left the 'glaze' as a side so you could use it or not, as you liked, & believe me, WE ALL LIKED! Thanks for sharing a really great cake recipe! [Tagged, made & reviewed as part of my Yam It Up! theme in the current Comfort Cafe]

[Noochie Mama]

I made a version of this for my son's first birthday cake, but I omitted the nuts and cherries. I also used whole wheat flour rather than rye (my son hadn't had rye yet). I used maple syrup instead of honey and reduced the brown sugar to one cup. Instead of the glaze, I frosted it with a lightly sweetened cream cheese and whipped cream frosting. He loved it and the small taste that I had was very moist and flavorful. A MUCH better alternative to typical sugary cakes. I plan on making this as written some day, but wanted to include my version in case someone else is looking for a lower sugar cake that is perfect for baby's first birthday.

[smellyvegetarian]

I can't believe I never reviewed this! Doh! Like many other reviewers, I made it (along with a healthed-up St. Paddy's Cupcakes--Green Velvet Cupcakes) for my son's first birthday, and it was a smash. From this recipe I got a 9-in round cake and a slew of cupcakes (they were Bob the Tomato and some French Peas, respectively ;>) from it. I know I used some oat flour and ww flour along with AP, and reduced the oil by subbing in some applesauce. I, too, reduced the brown sugar and I used about 1/2 c cherry craisins instead of cherries. I also left out the nuts since I was feeding it to little guys who weren't all in good chewing form LOL. Thanks SO much for posting, Rita. It really was just perfect for my little man's big day!