Zingy zesty lime and sweet morello cherries are a match made in heaven. The star of this recipe is the grated courgette, which makes this cake super fluffy and moist. It’s also gluten free, hurrah!
Now don’t get me wrong, adding grated courgette to an already perfectly sounding cake recipe sounds pretty out there, however, carrot cake has done the rounds for years, so why not?
I’ve always wanted to try making courgette brownies but wasn’t in a chocolate mood weeks ago when I made this. Instead, I was after something fresh and light to match the spring sunshine that was streaming in through my kitchen windows. I love using ground almonds and polenta in my cakes and looking back over my old recipes I was reminded of my Blueberry & Almond Polenta Cake and thought that was a great place to start when creating this recipe.
- 1 cup ground almonds
- 11/2 cups fine polenta
- 1 courgette , grated
- 1 cup coconut oil , melted
- 3/4 cups fruit sugar
- 4 eggs
- 1 tsp gluten free baking powder
- 1 cup dried morello cherries , halved
- Juice and zest of 2 limes
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Preheat the oven to 180 degrees and prepare a non-stick loaf tin.
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Beat together the eggs, fruit sugar, lime juice and melted coconut oil until well combined.
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Pour in the ground almonds, polenta, baking powder, grated courgette and lime zest. Mix until just combined.
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Gently stir in the dried morello cherries and transfer the batter to the loaf tin.
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Bake for 40-50 minutes at 180 degrees until golden brown or when a skewer placed in the centre of the cake comes out clean (timing dependent on oven type).
Having bought a pack of juicy dried morello cherries the weekend before, as a late addition to the recipe I knew that they would be the perfect companion to the zesty citrus notes from the lime already in the cake. I was right, they work so well together!
Don’t be put off by the use of courgette in the cake, it doesn’t add any taste as it’s quite a bland vegetable in the flavour department. It adds a lovely moistness that creates a super fluffy sponge that’s really delicious. Plus, the little flecks of green make the slices of cake look pretty.
I drizzled my cake with some lime icing, just using a few tablespoons of lime juice mixed with some icing sugar and topped it with some more lime zest and crushed pistachios for decoration. It’s not really necessary, but I think it makes it that extra bit special and I like that extra citrus zing from the icing.
My kinda cake! I love the flavours you’ve put together in this and totally agree that courgette is fantastic in cakes. Yum! 🙂
I was so surprised by how well the courgette blended with the other flavours. Totally yum!
I love carrot cake and beetroot cake but haven’t tried courgette cake. The morello cherries look a lovely addition.
It really works just as well as carrot and beets.
I’ve never tried a courgette cake before, but this recipe sounds absolutely delicious, especially with the addition of morello cherries! xx
Thank you! The morello cherries add a lovely flavour.
Oh wow that looks so tasty and delicious!
Thank you!
Ooooh looks yummy! Never tried courgette in a cake but we make sweet potatoes muffins and carrot cake so why not? My lot aren’t keen on cherries, could just leave them out or is there anything you would substitute? xx
It’s a little different but works really well. You could definitely leave them out or perhaps try raisins if they like those.
Love that top shoot. Such a pretty and enticing cake.
Thanks Jac!
Looks so moist! Love polenta and almond based cakes! 😀
I love the fluffy texture that polenta gives the sponge.
Oh what gorgeous colours Jemma. I love courgette cakes and the flecks of green they give. We only sowed our courgette seeds yesterday, so it’s going to be a while before I can make one.
Thanks Choclette! The flecks of green are so pretty. 🙂
I once made brownies with a chick pea base. Not quite vegetable but it was pretty interesting. I liked the recipe but kept thinking about the ingredients as I ate them. This cake looks fantastic though! Very aesthetically pleasing, something I would take to a party!
Thanks Michelle. Chickpea brownies sound really nice. I have a chickpea banana bread muffin recipe that I must make again soon.
Lovely recipe and flavours Jemma, I love putting vegetables into cakes they make them so moist ad give a wonderful texture.
Thanks, Helen! The grated courgette definitely added a lovely moistness to this cake, making it light and fluffy inside.
Courgette in a cake sounds crazy but then red velvet has beetroot doesn’t it? Looks delicious!
I’ve never hear of a red velvet cake having beetroot in it, but I think I would love it!
Think with adding the pistachios you made my day. Love the images taken. Very beautifully done.
Thank you so much!
Wow! I have to admit … I’m not one for putting veggies into cakes (or in desserts at all, really) but I do love carrot cake. Maybe I’ll have to try your courgette cake – your pictures are definitely beautiful and are making me hungry. Saving this to try…
Another delicious recipe! I’ve never tried courgette cakes before but I’m intrigued, it looks delicious x
Thanks Emma!
Oh wow this sounds absolutely delicious – what a interesting idea for a cake. x
Thanks Sara, it’s lovely!
Your cake looks beautiful, I love limes and any cakes that looks so good!
Yes, they give it a lovely zing! 🙂
Never tried this before, the nearest I’ve got to a vegetable in a cake is carrot cake 😉 Looks lovely though.
Ha! Carrot cake is close enough!
I’ve never thought of combining these flavours and your photos make it look so nice!
Thanks Jenny!
This is such a pretty dessert! Those flavors sound really good too. I would love to give this a shot! I’ve never used courgette like that before.
I hope you like it if you give it a try!
I absolutely love anything Cherry related! This looks amazing 🙂
Me too, they’re one of my favourite fruits.
This cake looks absolutely delicious! I love lemon drizzle cake but I’ve never had a lime cake or lime icing before!
I think you will love this cake then! 🙂
What an interesting combo – it looks and sounds divine!
Thanks!
What a yummy looking cake. Would love to try this recipe.
I hope you give it a try. I love it!
I don’t think I’ve ever had cherries and lime together but it sounds FANTASTIC! Love the look of this!
Definitely one to try! The sweet cherries and lime zing really work.
I would never have thought of adding courgette to a cake but as you said carrot cake is extremely popular. I remember first seeing pineapple on pizza and thinking “yuck”. It’s now my favourite topping!
Would have never thought of making something with these ingredients – so interesting! x
I like the idea of adding courgette zest especially it makes the cake moist because I love moist cakes. Plus morello cherry is really good!
It makes the cake lovely and moist, which adds to the great texture. 🙂
I’m printing this off as I type, it looks divine! I love cherries and lime is such a wonderful fresh flavour for summer 🙂
Thank you, lovely! Absolutely perfect for summer.
I desperately wish I could grab some of this through the screen right now x
Ha! If only…
I’ve tried carrot, courgettes and beetroot in cakes. Have bookmarked this recipe to try making next time my parents visit, it looks delicious.
Oh lovely! I hope they like it.
This looks like a really nice recipe and a great way to get kids to eat more veg.
I think veg in a cake is a BRILLIANT way to get kids to eat more veg, ha!
This cake looks and sounds absolutely delicious!
Thanks Katy! 🙂
This looks absolutely delicious! I would never think to put these ingredients together but it seems to work!
They go so well together!
I love cakes made using vegetables, they’re often do delicious. I’ve always enjoyed them made with sweet potato or beetroot. This sounds delicious!xx
I love the sound of sweet potatoes in a cake!
What an unusual recipe. It looks delicious though!!
Thanks Jodie!
this looks so amazing! ive always been intrigued as to what a courgette cake tastes like!
You can’t actually taste the courgette in the cake, it just adds a lovely moistness.
This sounds deliciously fresh and the perfect bake for these warmer days. I personally have never eaten a cake made with courgette but my parents tried some when they visited a family friend a few months ago and they absolutely loved it.
Angela x
Lovely! It adds such a lovely moisture to the cake.
Oh wow Jemma you always have such fantastic recipes here! Always lot of inspiration xx
This sounds lovely. I love cherry cake, especially when made with almond flour as the flavours go so well together. I love the idea of the lime icing too. I am half way through making a pistachio and lime cake- I had never heard of having the two together but it seems to be a classic combination.
Pistachios and limes are lovely together. I scattered some pistachios on top of this cake because I thought they would look pretty, but they work well with the limes. Hoping that you blog the recipe!