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Dreaming of Downton Garden Parties Served with Garden Cake

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Spring is here, the snow around us has melted, and you can see tulips breaking through the soil. Even the golfers have come out of hibernation on the golf course where we live. Of course we all anxious to shed our winter clothes, but not quite yet. Our patience will be rewarded in the coming weeks. I have to keep reminding myself of that.

Today’s dish is Garden Cake, as we look forward to getting back into our yards, to grow, or just throw fabulous garden parties. Garden Parties, after all is just tea outside.

Abbey Cooks Entertain: Downton Garden Party Planning

With 220 Downton era recipes, you will want to get this book for recipes for the famous Downton dishes.  I also presented a whole chapter on Garden Parties.  Experimenting with ices (ice creams and frozen yoghurts) was my favorite part.

Book sales help offset my costs in food, equipment and time to keep bringing you new dishes. You can only get a signed copy here on my site.


Gorgeous Garden Cake

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Gorgeous Garden Cake

This lovely garden cake historically was a thrifty way to use vegetables in creative ways in times of food shortage. Actually, not a bad way to get your kids to eat their veggies and a lovely cake to offer at your next garden party.  
Course Afternoon Tea, Dessert
Cuisine Edwardian, English, Victorian
Cook Time 50 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings 8 people

Ingredients

  • ¾ cup applesauce unsweetened
  • 1 cup caster sugar (or sugar substitute)
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 ½ cups whole wheat flour
  • 2 tsp. baking powder
  • 1 tsp. cinnamon
  • 1 tsp. nutmeg
  • 1 cup parsnip coarsely grated
  • 1 cup carrots coarsely grated
  • 1 cup potato coarsely grated
  • 1 cup apple coarsely grated
  • 1 medium orange zested, then juiced

Instructions

  • Heat the oven to 350°F. Grease and line a 9 inch spring form pan.
  • Mix together the flour, baking powder and spices in a large bowl. Mix together the applesauce, sugar and beat in the eggs. Fold into the cake mixture along with the carrot, parsnip, potato and apple. Stir in the orange zest and juice.
  • Pour into the prepared cake tin and bake for 50–60 minutes, until a skewer comes out clean.
  • Remove from the pan and set on a wire rack to cool. You can slice the cake in half to make a layer cake and frost the middle Dust with icing sugar, cream cheese frosting, and decorate with carrot curls* and a light cream cheese icing if you prefer.
  • Enjoy. They will never know there are vegetables in the cake.

Notes

Buy my book or check the web on the secrets of making carrot curls.
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