“When it comes to vegetables in cakes, carrots tend to get all the love, but parsnips deserve just as much attention,” says Benjamina Ebuehi, author of new cookbook, A Good Day To Bake.

“Sweet and earthy with a subtle woody fragrance, this is a truly autumnal cake, with the grated parsnips keeping it perfectly moist. The parsnip crisps will make more than you need, but they make such a moreish snack, I won’t be offended nor surprised if none of them actually make it onto the cake.”

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Parsnip, orange and ginger loaf
Parsnip, orange and ginger loaf from A Good Day To Bake (Laura Edwards/PA)
Parsnip, orange and ginger loaf
Print Recipe
Nutrition Facts
Parsnip, orange and ginger loaf
Amount Per Serving
Calories 411 Calories from Fat 198
% Daily Value*
Fat 22g34%
Saturated Fat 3g19%
Trans Fat 1g
Polyunsaturated Fat 12g
Monounsaturated Fat 5g
Cholesterol 33mg11%
Sodium 77mg3%
Potassium 321mg9%
Carbohydrates 52g17%
Fiber 3g13%
Sugar 29g32%
Protein 5g10%
Vitamin A 93IU2%
Vitamin C 17mg21%
Calcium 76mg8%
Iron 2mg11%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Parsnip, orange and ginger loaf

Perfect with a cup of tea.
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time50 minutes
Parsnip crisps25 minutes
Total Time1 hour 35 minutes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: British
Servings: 10
Calories: 411kcal
Author: Prudence Wade

Equipment

  • 900 gram loaf tin
  • mandoline or potato peeler
  • Bowl

Ingredients

For the parsnip crisps

  • 1 parsnip
  • 1 tsp olive oil
  • 2 tsp maple syrup or honey
  • pinch of salt

For the cake

  • 160 ml sunflower or vegetable oil plus extra for greasing
  • 160 g light brown sugar
  • 1 orange zest
  • 2 eggs
  • 200 g parsnips grated
  • 210 g plain flour
  • tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp bicarbonate of soda
  • 2 tsp ground ginger
  • ¼ tsp ground cloves
  • 60 g walnuts roughly chopped, plus extra to decorate

For the glaze

  • 90 g icing sugar
  • ½ orange juice

Method

  • Preheat the oven to 180°C. Line a baking sheet with baking paper and grease and line a 900-gram loaf pan.
  • Start by making the parsnip crisps. Use a mandoline or potato peeler to thinly slice the parsnip. Place the peelings on the baking sheet and drizzle with the oil, maple syrup or honey and pinch of salt. Toss them with your hands to make sure all the pieces are coated and lay them out evenly so they don’t overlap. Bake for 15–20 minutes, turning once halfway through. Keep a close eye on them, as they can catch quite easily. Remove from the oven and set aside to cool.
  • For the cake, mix together the oil, sugar and orange zest in a bowl. Beat in the eggs and stir until smooth, then carefully mix in the grated parsnips.
  • In a separate bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder, bicarbonate of soda, ground ginger and cloves. Add to the wet ingredients and mix gently until just combined. Now stir in the chopped walnuts.
  • Pour the batter into the loaf pan and bake for 45–50 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the middle of the cake comes out clean. Remove from the oven and leave to cool in the pan for 15 minutes before turning out onto a wire rack to cool completely. To make the glaze, mix the icing sugar and orange juice in a small bowl until smooth. You want it to be a thick but pourable consistency. Add a little more icing sugar if it’s too thin or a bit more orange juice if it’s too thick.
  • Once the cake is completely cool, pour the glaze on top, letting it drip down the sides. Top with the parsnip crisps and extra chopped walnuts before serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 411kcal | Carbohydrates: 52g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 22g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 12g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 33mg | Sodium: 77mg | Potassium: 321mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 29g | Vitamin A: 93IU | Vitamin C: 17mg | Calcium: 76mg | Iron: 2mg

A Good Day To Bake: Simple Baking Recipes For Every Mood by Benjamina Ebuehi is published by Quadrille. Photography by Laura Edwards.

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