Zucchini Spice Cake for #BundtaMonth

Can you remember when you first had a bundt cake? It was ages and ages ago for me (back when I was a kid). It was also one of the first cakes I ever baked. Back then it was with a cake mix specifically for a bundt pan. I remember going to the store with my mom and looking for bundt mixes. Little did I know then that just about any cake mix or batter can be a bundt cake. All it is is a different shape of a cake pan.

I have several bundt pans. I love the different shapes and the way cakes look with each one. Some have pretty designs and a light dusting of powdered sugar makes the design pop. I used one of those pans for an eggnog pound cake. Others are more simple and are suited for cakes with a topping or glaze. I use a basic fluted bundt pan for the zucchini spice cake. I did so because the topping goes in the pan under the batter and bakes along with the cake.

Why did I bake this cake? Well, Anuradha of Baker Street and Lora of Cake Duchess are kicking off #BundtaMonth and they asked if I wanted to participate. Sure thing! It had been too long since I baked a bundt cake. Any excuse to use one of my pans is good with me. Then I found out the ingredient of the month is zucchini and I was all over it. I do love a good zucchini bread so a cake sounded even better.

A spice cake is great for fall. I start craving spice cakes and desserts when the weather cools down. The smell and taste of cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice are so much a part of autumn. The zucchini spice cake is adapted from one on the All Recipes website. I adapted it with substituting half-and-half for water and reflecting my method of preparation. And what about the zucchini in the cake? No one will know it is in there. So sneak some veggies in the dessert and don’t say a word. I won’t tell if you won’t….

Take a look at these zucchini bundts for #BundtaMonth:

• Double Chocolate Zucchini Bundt Cake by Anuradha at Baker Street
• Chocolate Zucchini Swirl Bundt Cake by Lora at Cake Duchess
• Healthy Wanna-Be Bundt Cake by Deb at Knitstamatic
• Chocolate Coconut Zucchini Bundt Cake by Kate at Food Babbles
• Zucchini and Banana Bundt Cake with Maple Cream Cheese Frosting by Kate at Diet Hood
• Banana Zucchini Bundt Cake by Lizzie at Food and Thrift

#BundtaMonth:

Anuradha and Lora will pick an ingredient and announce it the first week of every month. All you Bundt loving bakers need to do is use your imagination on how you’d like to incorporate it and bake a Bundt – mini Bundt or large Bundt – and link it up to their blogs throughout the month. It’s that simple!

Here’s how to bake with #BundtaMonth:

• Bake your September #BundtaMonth Zucchini Bundt.
• Post it before September 30, 2012.
• Use the #BundtaMonth hashtag in your title. (For ex: title should read – #BundtaMonth: Chocolate Zucchini Bundt)
• Join the bundt baking party! Share your link it to our blog hop by clicking here or here.
• Link back to both Anuradha and Lora’s announcement posts.

Happy Baking!

Note: Antique cake server in photos is courtesy of tbg design.

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Zucchini Spice Cake

A recipe for a homemade bundt cake made with zucchini, nuts, and assorted spices. It has a nutty sweet topping baked in the pan with the cake.

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 50 minutes

Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes

Servings 6 people

Author Renee

Ingredients

For the topping:

• 1/4 cup unsalted butter
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts

For the cake:

• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter at room temperature
• 1/2 cup vegetable shortening
• 1 cup white granulated sugar
• 1 cup brown sugar not packed
• 3 eggs at room temperature
• 2 tablespoons half-and-half
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups shredded zucchini
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 10-inch Bundt or fluted tube pan and set aside.

For the topping:

1. Melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir in the brown sugar until it dissolves and begins to bubble. Stir in the chopped walnuts. Spoon the mixture into the bottom of the prepared pan.

For the cake:

1. Sift together flour, salt, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice into a medium bowl. Whisk to combine thoroughly. Set aside.
2. In a large bowl using a hand or stand mixer; cream butter and shortening until thoroughly combined. Add the white and brown sugars and beat until creamy and smooth. Add eggs one at a time beating well after each addition. Add the half-and-half and vanilla and beat until combined. Add the flour and beat on low until just combined. (Do not over-mix). Stir in the zucchini and walnuts. Pour the batter evenly over the topping in the prepared pan.
3. Bake 50 to 60 minutes or until lightly brown and a toothpick or cake tester inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Cool the cake in the pan for 10 minutes on a wire rack. Invert cake onto a serving plate and cool completely. Slice, serve, and enjoy!

Recipe Notes

A recipe for a homemade bundt cake made with zucchini, nuts, and assorted spices. It has a nutty sweet topping baked in the pan with the cake.