Guest Blog from Kate at Veggiedesserts; Chocolate Courgette Tray Bake

What a year for courgettes! They seem to all be absolutely enormous and the gardeners and allotment-holders that I speak to seem to be at a loss as to do with them all.

My 1 year old daughter chose to carry a large yellow one around like a dolly, occasionally waving it out of the window or taking a bite, but I’m sure most people have been making soup, stuffing them, making more soup, roasting them and storing excess in the freezer.

By this time of year you may be getting a little tired of them, but don’t consign them to the compost heap just yet – how about putting them into chocolate cake? More dessert recipes with courgettes and other vegetables are at www.veggiedesserts.co.uk.

Kate x

Chocolate Courgette Tray Cake Yields 16

150g raw courgette
225g plain flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
75g unsweetened cocoa powder
½ teaspoon salt
85g vegetable oil
200g granulated sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 eggs
150ml plain natural yogurt
Powdered icing sugar, to dust

Preheat the oven to 175C and lightly grease a 9” square baking tin.

Grate the raw, unpeeled courgette and set aside.

Whisk the flour, baking powder, cocoa and salt together in a bowl.

In a large bowl, beat together the oil, sugar and vanilla. Then beat the eggs in, one at a time, followed by the yogurt. Stir in the grated courgette.

Add the dry ingredients to the wet and stir to combine.

Spoon the batter into the prepared tin for 30 minutes or until the centre springs back slightly when touched.

Allow it to cool in the tin for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely. Dust with sieved powdered icing sugar and cut into squares.