White Zucchini Cake with Broiled Frosting

Here's my story about this cake.

We were at my mother-in-law's house a couple years ago to celebrate my husband's birthday.

Now, my MIL is a beautiful hostess and has taught me many things about hospitality, including using the "good" dishes all the time, serving whatever you have, and including all ages, because it's about the PEOPLE, not the meal.

Meaning, it's always a treat to go to her house and sit around her table. And the food is always good. And plentiful.

But I have to admit that this night when I saw that the birthday cake was a "plain" cake (i.e., not chocolate) I was a little disappointed.



I watched her mix together a topping and do an old-fashioned "broiled frosting." I was intrigued and curious.

But it wasn't chocolate.

Do you see a pattern here?



We sang the birthday song, the candles were blown out and I asked for just a little piece, please. It's so easy to be good about dessert when you don't think you're going to like it. :-)




I took a little bite. Oh my.

What was in this cake? Another bite. Oh yes. Moist, caramel topping, nuts.

What on earth was this?

My MIL said there was a "secret" ingredient. Mayonnaise? No.

Since it was the time of year we are trying to use up garden produce, I guessed zucchini, to which she smiled and said yes.

You're kidding. I can't see it, can't feel it. By this time the whole family is trying to find the zucchini in the cake. Can't be done.

The secret to the secret ingredient? Peeled and some of the juice pressed out in a colander.

But honestly, the texture wasn't anything I had experienced in my other baked zucchini recipes.

And we all had a second piece.




I wrote down the recipe before we left that night.

Sometimes there is more to life than chocolate.


White Zucchini Cake with Broiled Frosting

Cake:

• 1/4 c. oil
• 1/4 c. butter, softened
• 2/3 c. sugar
• 2 c. flour (unbleached or all-purpose)
• 2 Tb. cornstarch
• 3 tsp. baking powder
• 1/4 t. salt
• 2/3 c. milk
• 2 c. peeled, grated zucchini, pressed in a colander
• 1/2 tsp. lemon peel
• 3 egg whites

Frosting:

• 2/3 c. packed brown sugar
• 1/4 c. butter
• 1 c. chopped nuts
• 2 Tb. milk

1. For the cake: Grease and flour two 8" round pans. Heat oven to 375 degrees.
2. Cream together the oil and butter; add the sugar and beat until fluffy.
3. Mix together the flour, cornstarch, baking powder, and salt. Add alternately with the milk to the creamed mixture. Beat until smooth.
4. Stir in lemon peel and zucchini.
5. Beat egg whites until stiff; fold into batter.
6. Bake for 25-30 minutes until a wooden toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.
7. Let cool 10 minutes in the pans, then remove from pans to cool completely on a rack.
8. For the frosting: Mix brown sugar, butter, and nuts; stir in milk.
9. Just before serving, place the cake rounds on a cookie sheet and spread with the frosting.
10. Broil about 5 inches from heat until frosting bubbles and browns, about 3 minutes. Watch carefully- the frosting burns easily.
11. Place one layer on a serving plate and top with the other layer.

Serves 8

P.S. The broiled frosting is just a basic one found in my trusty Betty Crocker Cookbook. You can use any broiled frosting you like.

This is part of LifeasMOM's Ultimate Recipe Swap.

-Jami