Parsnip and Pecan Cupcakes

These Parsnip and Pecan cupcakes were brought about after our last cake club. Some one brought along a cake containing parsnip and I loved it. You could taste the vegetable and it worked really well with the sweet flavours. Actually, when I was peeling the parsnips for the recipe I realised that these are quite sweet themselves.

I decided to turn my creation into cupcakes and add some nuttiness to the flavourings. These are based on a recipe using walnuts, but I wanted to make a coconut and pecan frosting to go on top of these, so my cakes included pecans.

I had seen coconut and pecan frosting before and thought it looked sticky and delicious, so followed and easy recipe from Just a Pinch. Pop over to that site if you want to make if for these yummy cupcakes.

Here’s my recipe for Parsnip and Pecan Cupcakes:

Yield: 18 cupcakes

Ingredients:

150 grams plain flour

225 grams granulated sugar

1 tablespoon ground ginger

2 teaspoon baking powder

1 ½ teaspoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon nutmeg

½ teaspoon allspice

¼ teaspoon cloves

3 eggs

125 ml vegetable oil

125 ml milk (I used almond)

1 ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

240 grams grated parsnip (about 2 large ones)

100 grams chopped pecans

Adapted from Bon Appetit

Method:

Preheat your oven to 180C and line cupcake trays with paper liners.

In a large bowl, sift in the flour, baking powder, salt and spices. Add the sugar and mix together. In a separate bowl, mix together the eggs, oil, milk and vanilla. Add this wet mix to the dry and mix just until it is mixed thoroughly. Lastly add the parsnip and pecans and stir through.

Fill each cupcake case about 2/3 full and place into the oven for 15 to 20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean from the centre. Remove from the oven and allow the cupcakes to cool in the tray for a few minutes before transferring to a cooling rack.

Your cupcakes are ready to decorate. The coconut and pecan frosting is nice, but you could use any flavour you like – vanilla, lemon whatever you fancy.

The cupcakes are moist and spicy and the parsnip is there, but not overwhelmingly so. Give these a try and you will love them!

Cupcake Toppers

A while back I was asked if I would like to sample a company’s cake toppers. Birthday Cake Topper provide you with either a topper for one big cake (priced at £2.50 or a sheet of cupcake toppers for £1.50). There are loads of characters and designs to choose from. From One Direction through Family Guy to wresting heroes, there is something for everyone. You can also upload your own pictures too. I decided to upload Cakeyboi and have him on top of these cakes. I also recommended the company to someone who was looking for cupcake toppers for their wedding.

The website is easy to use and the company email you back and provide you with different options for your design. It’s a very good and reasonably priced service. The cupcake toppers arrived as a sheet. The only downside is you have to cut them out yourself, so a steady hand is required.

And Congratulations to Thorntons Chocolates giveaway winner Tamzin from Milton Keynes!

Disclosure Statement: I received the cupcake toppers free to review. I was not expected to write a positive review and any opinions expressed are my own.