Make this cake today. Trust me. I had been wanting to bake something else with rhubarb ever since the last cake I made. It was an alright cake, but I wasn’t impressed with it like I thought I might be. I was looking for something more, something better. Something like This! I had this great idea to make a cake slightly based on a zucchini cake, but instead using Rhubarb. However the actual idea worked more than when I tried it. The Rhubarb doesn’t shred so easily, so I had to do it all by hand. But it was totally worth it. I said I wouldn’t, but I definitely ate the piece I photographed this morning, after an already large piece last night. It had to be done.

The cake could easily be turned into a sheet cake, or a loaf cake depending on what you’d like to make. It’s really easy and Rhubarb is now in season so it should be readily available. Although, I had gone to safeway to get dinner and cake ingredients, and had to go to Thrifty’s instead because they had no Rhubarb. And I wasn’t going home without it!

This would be perfect after dinner, or for breakfast. I topped it with cream cheese icing, but you could just as easily dust it with icing sugar. And it can all be made in one bowl – so easy clean up!

Make it…now!

Shredded Rhubarb Cake

Recipe by Bakeaholic

Ingredients:

• 3 large eggs
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 1 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 tsp. baking powder
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 3-4 tsp ground cinnamon
• dash of nutmeg
• 2 tsp. vanilla extract
• about 4 stalks rhubarb
• 1/2 cup non-fat natural plain yogurt

Directions:

1. Shred/tear rhubarb and set aside. You can try using a grator for this, but I found it just mushed it up. So I cut it into quarters and peeled it by hand.
2. In a large bowl, beat eggs, oil, and sugar by hand using a whisk.
3. Slowly add flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and vanilla.  Thoroughly combine.
4. Add Rhubarb and Yogurt, stirring until well blended.
5. Pour into greased and flowered bundt pan, and bake for 45-55 minutes or until toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Start with 45 minuts, and check to see if it needs longer.
6. Cool for 10 minutes in pans on wire rack.  Remove from pan and cool completely.

You can top it with icing sugar, or make a cream cheese icing by combining a package of cream cheese with a tiny bit of milk, and a few cups of icing sugar.

The cake will keep covered or a 2-3 days. If it lasts that long!

If you make this cake please credit and link back to me – I’d love to see it =)

When life hands you lemons Grapefruits…

So I came across this mouthwatering recipe on Tastespotting a couple of days ago. And normally I wouldn’t have clicked on it, but the name intruigued me because we happened to have a whole bunch of grapefruits lying around the fridge! So I thought I’d check it out. And I’m glad I did! This is a yummy recipe and can be adapted for a lemon cake as well. It’s perfect for afternoon Tea…or afternoon nibbling, or morning noon and night nibbling for that matter. Give it a try.

Grapefruit Yogurt Cake Recipe

Stolen from Smitten Kitchen, Adapted from Ina Garten, Barefoot Contessa

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 cup plain whole-milk yogurt
• 1 cup plus 1 tablespoon sugar
• 3 extra-large eggs
• 3 teaspoons grated grapefruit zest (approximately one large grapefruit)
• 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 1/3 cup freshly squeezed grapefruit juice

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease an 8 1/2 by 4 1/4 by 2 1/2-inch loaf pan. Line the bottom with parchment paper. Grease and flour the pan.

Sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt into 1 bowl. In another bowl, whisk together the yogurt, 1 cup suger, eggs, grapefruit zest, and vanilla. Slowly whisk the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients. With a rubber spatula, fold the vegetable oil into the batter, making sure it’s all incorporated. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for about 50 minutes, or until a cake tester placed in the center of the loaf comes out clean.

Meanwhile

Cook the 1/3 cup grapefruit juice and remaining 1 tablespoon sugar in a small pan until the sugar dissolves and the mixture is clear. Set aside.

When the cake is done, allow it to cool in the pan for 10 minutes. Carefully place on a baking rack over a sheet pan. While the cake is still warm, pour the grapefruit-sugar mixture over the cake and allow it to soak in. Cool.

Glaze Recipe

For the glaze:
1 cup confectioners’ sugar
2 tablespoons freshly squeezed grapefruit juice

For the glaze, combine the confectioners’ sugar and grapefruit juice and pour over the cake.

This recipe is really yummy! And it’s not too sweet and nice and light!

Enjoy! Alicia