Kale Cake with Apple Frosting

This Kale Cake with Apple Frosting is a moist and fluffy layer cake that's naturally green! This kale cake has a delicate apple-flavoured sponge, topped with a zesty apple icing and, although there is quite a bit of kale, the flavour doesn't overpower the other ingredients. You can't taste the kale, but it leaves a vibrant green colour!

Ingredients for kale cake

• 3 cups loosely packed, (200g) kale raw, woody stalks discarded)
• 3 eggs
• ½ cup (100ml) vegetable oil
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• ½ cup (100g) applesauce 
• ¾ cup (175g) granulated sugar
• 2 apples peeled and grated
• 2 cups (250g) plain flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• ½ teaspoon salt

Instruction

1. Preheat oven to 180°C/350°F. Grease and line 2 x 8”(20cm) round cake pans with baking paper.
2. Tear the kale leaves into bite-sized pieces and boil or steam for 3-5 minutes until tender. Refresh by running under cold water, drain and squeeze out the excess liquid.
3. Add the kale to a blender (or a large bowl and use a stick blender) with the eggs, oil, vanilla, applesauce and sugar and whiz until smooth. Note: if you've made this kale cake recipe before, you'll have been instructed to puree the kale with a stick blender, then stir it into a bowl of beaten egg, oil, applesauce, vanilla ,and sugar. I've tested it again many times and although you can do it that way, it's easier to blend the kale with the liquid ingredients.
4. Pour the blended kale mixture into a mixing bowl. Squeeze the excess moisture out of the grated apple, then add the apple to the bowl and stir to combine.
5. Sift in the flour, baking powder and salt and gently combine, taking care not to overmix at this stage.
6. Pour into the prepared pans and bake for 20-25 minutes or until an inserted skewer comes out clean.  7.Cool for 2 minutes in the pans and then turn onto a wire rack to cool completely.

Ingredients for apple frosting

• 2 cups (250g) icing sugar
• 2 tablespoons butter softened
• 2 tablespoons applesauce smooth, puree if necessary
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

Instruction

1. Beat the butter, apple sauce and vanilla, then sift in the powdered sugar and beat until thick and smooth. If necessary, add a little more powdered sugar to thicken, or a tablespoon of milk to thin.
2. Frost the completely cooled cake. And, if desired, decorate the top wiht blueberries.

Recipie inspired by Kate, a food blogger! Find more info on: https://veggiedesserts.com/kale-and-apple-cake-with-apple-icing/