This is the most amazing cake. There is no need to squeeze the moisture out of the zucchini and as a benefit to this it keeps the cake so moist for days and days. I love the thought of having hidden vegetables in cakes, as then I don’t feel guilty for indulging! This cake also is sensational even without the cream cheese frosting. This recipe is based on my very popular zucchini cake recipe.
Note: If you are milling raw sugar to icing sugar Click Here for tips.
This cake has been enjoyed by many on ThermoFun Cook Alongs.
Zucchini, Pistachio and Spice Cake with Lime Frosting
Ingredients
- 75g pistachios (shelled)
- 250g raw sugar
- 3 eggs
- 150g vegetable oil or melted coconut oil
- 2 teaspoon ThermoFun Vanilla Bean Paste
- 250g zucchini washed, unpeeled, quartered
- 250g plain flour
- 2 teaspoon baking powder
- 2 teaspoon bi-carb soda
- 1½ teaspoon cardamom, ground
- 1½ teaspoon mixed spice
- 1 teaspoon salt
Cream Cheese Frosting
- 100g butter, cubed, softened
- 90g cream cheese (room temp.)
- 300g icing sugar
- finely grated zest and juice of 1 lime
Instructions
Cake
- Preheat oven to 180°C. Line a 23x33cm tin.
NB: This makes a large cake! - Place pistachios into TM bowl and chop 2 sec / speed 6. Set aside.
- Place sugar into TM bowl and mill 3 sec / speed 9.
- Add eggs, oil, vanilla and zucchini and mix 10 sec / speed 6.
- Add flour, baking powder, bi-carb soda, cardamom, mixed spice, salt and chopped pistachios and mix 10 sec / speed 6.
- Bake 40 mins. Allow cake to cool completely before icing.
Cream Cheese Frosting
- Place butter, cream cheese, icing sugar, lime zest and lime juice into TM bowl and mix 10 sec / speed 5. Scrape down and repeat.
Notes
GLUTEN FREE AND EGG FREE VERSION:
This can be made with gluten free flour and replace eggs with one medium size banana!
A few comments in the ThermoFun Cook Along facebook recipe chatter were:
Deb
So good. I used a round silicone pan without any probs. Toddler loved it too!
Kelli
No cardamom so used ground ginger and mixed spice... delish!
Anna
Delicious! So moist and fluffy. I used whole meal flour and lemon instead of lime.
Lisa
Could you make this cake into a carrot cake by swapping the zucchini for carrot and leaving out the pistachios? I love the texture of this cake and am yet to find a carrot cake recipe that is this moist and yummy.
Leonie
Yes most definitely Lisa! Carrot works!
Sharon
Hi guys I always have the wrong size pan I have one that's 16.5 x 26 cm or 18 x 18cm or a slice tray that's way too big 38 x 25 cms so any ideas?
Lisa
Small one plus some cupcakes? It does rise well be careful not to overfill the cake tin!!
Tania
This makes a large cake. I bake it in a large rectangular sized glass Pyrex dish. This gives you a 5cm in height cake and ensures it cooks evenly. Macadamia oil is my choice to use. I'm a 'spice girl' so I increase the spices by 50%... delicious! Great cake to bring to a gathering due to its generous size.
Marion
One huge cake. I made it gluten free with Aldi gluten free plain flour. It looks great. It was given a 10/10 rating by all. Much enjoyed. I will make this again.
Belinda
Mine needed an extra 20 minutes in the oven coz it failed the knife test :) Smells lovely, taste test this arvo! Icing is awesome!
Click Here for more great recipes in a number of e-cookbooks – containing recipes to suit everyone.
If you have enjoyed this recipe then please consider leaving a comment. It’s always refreshing to see comments from people that have tried a recipe and found it a success or tweaked it to suit.
Larissa says
Can you make The cake without pistachios or swap for a different nut?
thermofun says
Larissa, I haven't tried with a different nut but I'm absolutely sure any nut of your preference would be great in it! Enjoy! :)
Sharyn says
Could I make this using Coconut flour, and a sugar free alternative such as Stevia?
thermofun says
Sharyn yes I'm sure that would work well.
Dianne says
Can I make this sugar free? Dont like using stevia or a substitute? Ideas?
Jo says
I really love this cake. Tasty and also nice and light.
thermofun says
Thanks for sharing Jo :D
Jo says
Made it gluten free and was a big hit with everyone. Love the lime icing & how light but still moist the cake is.
thermofun says
Thanks Jo - awesome that it is great gluten free. :)
Lisa says
This cake is delicious!!! My daughter is allergic to dairy and I made the cake dairy free by using " Tofutti-better than cream cheese" and " nuttelex" in the icing. I served it at a family gathering and no one could tell!!! Thanks for the recipe ?
thermofun says
Thanks Lisa - great to know how you made it dairy free too! :)
cecilia says
I made this cake last week for my brothers birthday and everyone loved it, i used gluten free flour and lemon in the icing and i used 1 tbsp of bicarb as i had made a similar cake the week before and all you could taste was the bicarb BUT this recipes is the BEST, Its a WINNER in my family and will be made on a regular basis! Thank you! Cecilia
thermofun says
Thank you Cecilia. One of my favourites too! :)