Zucchini Carrot Apple Bread

 Zucchini Carrot Apple Bread

Author: Willow at Will Cook For Friends

Serves: 1 loaf (recipe can easily be doubled)

 

Ingredients

• 1¾ cups (210 grams) all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp. Baking soda
• 1 tsp. Baking powder
• ¾ tsp. Kosher salt (I always use Himalayan salt and just a couple of dashes)
• ¾ tsp. Cinnamon
• ½ tsp. powdered ginger (or 1 tsp. Freshly grated ginger) I used powdered
• 2 large eggs
• ¼ cup coconut oil, melted, plus more for greasing the pan 
• 1 cup granulated sugar ( up to you I used a bit less then a cup and I used coconut sugar)
• 2 tsp. pure vanilla extract
• 1 tsp. fresh lemon juice (I used organic from a bottle)
• 1 cup shredded zucchini
• 1 cup shredded carrot
• 1 cup grated apple (I used red)
• optional: 1 cup chopped nuts, minced candied ginger, dried fruit, or other add-ins (Didn’t do any add ones yet)

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.. Grease a 8x4 inch baking dish (I used coconut oil, but you can use butter or a spray if you prefer), then line the bottom with parchment paper. Stash the pan in the fridge or freezer to chill while you make the batter.
2. In a bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and ginger. Set aside.
3. In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs until light and frothy. Add the coconut oil, sugar, vanilla, and lemon juice, and beat well for one minute. Grate the zucchini, carrots, and apple on the large side of a box grater, and add them to the wet ingredients. Stir to combine.
4. Add the dry ingredients to the wet, and fold them in gently until just combined, with no dry patches. The batter will be quite thick, but that's how it should be -- a lot of the moisture is contained in the veggies and apple, and will come out during baking to keep the loaf moist. Do not over-mix.
5. Pour the batter into the prepared pan, and bake for 55-65 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out mostly clean.
6. Let cool for at least 15-20 minutes before removing from the pan, then let cool completely. Serve immediately, or wrap in plastic and store at room temperature. Keeps beautifully for 3-4 days. I did freeze some. 

 Old Fashion Carrot Cake

Ingredients

4 large eggs, room temperature

2 cups sugar (I used less then 2 cups and used half white half coconut sugar. Next time will try all coconut).

1 cup canola oil (I don’t use junk oils. I used almond oil or avocado. 

2 cups all-purpose flour

2 to 3 teaspoons ground cinnamon

3/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

2 cups grated carrots

FROSTING:

1/2 cup butter, softened

3 ounces cream cheese, softened

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

3-3/4 cups confectioners' sugar

2 to 3 tablespoons 2% milk

1 cup chopped walnuts, optional 

Optional: Orange and green food coloring

Directions

1. In a large bowl, combine the eggs, sugar and oil. Combine the flour, cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder, salt and nutmeg; beat into egg mixture. Stir in carrots.

2. Pour into 2 greased and floured 9-in. round baking pans. I use an oblong cake pan. Bake at 350° for 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely.

3. For frosting, in another large bowl, cream butter and cream cheese until light and fluffy, 3-4 minutes. Beat in vanilla. Gradually beat in confectioners' sugar. Add enough milk to achieve desired spreading consistency. Reserve 1/2 cup frosting for decorating if desired. If desired, stir walnuts into remaining frosting. 

4. Spread frosting between layers and over top and sides of cake. If decorating the cake, tint 1/4 cup reserved frosting orange and 1/4 cup green. Cut a small hole in the corner of pastry or plastic bag; insert #7 round pastry tip. Fill the bag with orange frosting. Pipe 16 carrots on top of cake, so each piece will have a carrot. Using #67 leaf pastry tip and the green frosting, pipe a leaf at the top of each carrot. 

5. Store cake in the refrigerator.