They’re pink, gorgeous, and probably the ultimate sign of spring. Whether they are cherry, crabapple or magnolia blossoms; streets, parks and gardens throughout the city transform, almost overnight, with these beauties. When all this is going on here in Montréal, it also means that we are still weeks away from the start of berry season and a seasonal snacking cake can look very much like an autumn cake (minus the spring blossom styling!). Lucky for us, we still have plenty of apples and parsnips from our last harvest.
Apple and Parsnip Cake
- 175 g (about 1 1/4 cups) white whole wheat flour
- 1 1/4 tsp baking powder
- 3/4 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 60 g sunflower seed oil or olive oil
- 100 g coconut sugar or muscovado
- 50 g maple syrup
- 2 large eggs
- 70 g unsweetened apple sauce
- 80 g parsnip, finely grated
- 75 g Granny Smith apple, peeled and grated
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans or hazelnuts (optional, I did not use any)
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Combine the first 5 ingredients in a bowl.
- In the bowl, beat together oil, sugar, maple syrup, eggs and apple sauce. I actually do this manually.
- Add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet mixture and stir to combine.
- Stir in the parsnip, apple and nuts (if using) using a spatula.
- Pour the batter in a well greased rectangular (10×4 inches) or circular (8.5 inches diameter) cake pan.
- Bake for 40 minutes or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.
conifères & feuillus 
This looks incredible! Beautiful photography
Thank you dear Charlotte. I just got back from a little blogging break and it’s so nice to come back to comments like these! Have a lovely day!
Looks delicious and the plating is amazing!
Thank you so much!
Yumm!! 😇
It looks great and tasty!
Parsnips are also one of my favourite vegetables. So comforting and such a distinctive flavour. So you can imagine I absolutely cannot wait to make this cake. The flavours are calling to me. Thank you, Annika – another fabulous recipe! x
Your cake looks so delicious!
I’ll make it for sure!
Yum Annika – do nice to see a cake that includes parsnips – my favourite vegetable 😄
Great! Parsnips are among my favourite too!
I’ve never cooked let alone baked with parsnips! This is absolutely brilliant Anika, I’ll have to try this soon! Your photos are always beautiful 💕
Parsnips are very versatile. I love using them for soups, savoury pies, cakes, muffins… and just plain roasting them with other root vegetables for a quick and easy side dish. Do give them a try! And thank you!
Lovely photos! Sounds delicious. I’ve never used parsnip in a cake before…I will have to give it a try😊
Thank you! Do give it a try!
Lovely! Parsnip in a cake!
Thank you!
I’ve never tried parsnip in a cake, but you’re so right, it’s not that much different than adding carrots. Will definitely keep this in mind! 🙂
Very much like carrots but not completely tasteless… just keep that in mind!
Such beautiful photos Annika. And how great to use parsnip, I’m definitely going to try this.
Thank you Myra, do give it a try!
Annika, I have not cooked with parsnips. But your photos and the recipe(without too many ingredients) make me wan to make this!! Gorgeous photos as usual and those flowers are beautiful!!
Thank you lovely! You must give parsnips a chance… start by just roasting as you would sweet potatoes, they are quite yummy! And this cake is not too complicated either!
Sounds good. I love to try new vegetables . Cant wait to try your cake too!
Thank you!
Looks great Annika ☺️ Lovely captures of cake👍 I feel that the photographs are bit darker ( though I am not a pro in photography) Its just my opinion. Is there any specific reasons for your pics to be slightly darker than usual? I have noticed in most of your recipe pictures but the pics are great always. Just wanted to share this withyou ☺️
Thank you dear. I guess it is just a matter of artistic style… and this happens to be the style that I prefer! 🙂
That’s fine dear. Your photographs are always a treat and there’s lot more to learn from you☺️👍
Beautiful loaves! Lovely clicks!
Thank you dear!
What a gorgeous loaf! Parsnip is such an underrated vegetable. I love cooking and baking with parsnips.
Thank you Teresa. I totally agree with you!