Zucchini apricot cake with lemon glaze

I was raised to be a science nerd (ah even the best-laid plans don’t always pan out). My dad taught high school chemistry and physics, so my childhood toys included chemistry sets, K’NEX, crystal growing kits, and a real set of test tubes from his school lab. I liked “experimenting” – whether that be melting crayons in the microwave (not advisable) or feeding my little sister glue just to see what would happen (also not advisable).

I suppose you could say that my love of baking stems from that science background. Mix X, Y, and Z ingredients and you can pretty reliably expect a certain result. But what I love most about baking is the “experimenting” factor. I know that if I follow a recipe exactly it will probably turn out well, but I always can’t help but wonder – what if I switch out this for that? Or add this? Or maybe try this?

Some of these experiments turn out poorly, because if you deviate too far from the baking science things can go horribly wrong.  But sometimes kitchen magic happens and things turn out absolutely deliciously.
 
Case in point is this zucchini apricot olive oil cake with lemon glaze. It sounds like a weird combination of potentially too many things, but trust me, it is absolutely perfect.

The cake is moist thanks to the zucchini, the apricots add a nice sweet tang to contrast with the toasted walnuts, and the lemon glaze – oh the lemon glaze! Please just make this so you can eat it ASAP. It is by far the best cake I've baked in quite a while.

Zucchini Apricot Olive Oil Cake with Lemon Glaze 
(Adapted from Sparrows and Spatulas)

1/2 cup walnut pieces
1 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt (sounds like a lot, but you want it all)
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg
1 large egg
3 tablespoons water
3/4 cups + 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1-1/2 cups grated zucchini (about 2 small zucchini)
1 fresh apricot, diced
1/8 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour one 9-inch round cake pan (or a loaf pan). 

Place the walnuts in a single layer on a baking sheet and toast them until they are golden brown and aromatic, 12-14 minutes. Cool completely and then finely chop them.

Sift the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and spices into a medium bowl and set aside. In an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment (or in a large bowl using a spoon!), beat the eggs, water, sugar, and olive oil together on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes, then beat in the vanilla extract. Beat in the dry ingredients all at once on low speed until they are thoroughly combined, then switch to medium speed and mix for 30 seconds. Mix in the zucchini, apricot, and walnuts on low speed until they are completely incorporated.

Pour the batter into the prepared pan, smoothing the top with a spatula. Bake the cake for 25 to 30 minutes (40-45 if you’re using a loaf pan) or until a tester inserted in the cakes comes out clean and the cakes have begun to pull away from the sides of the pans.

While the cake is baking, prepare the glaze. In a medium bowl, whisk together the lemon juice and granulated sugar, then whisk in the confectioners’ sugar until the glaze is completely smooth.

Allow the cake to cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then carefully invert it onto a wire rack. Immediately spoon the glaze over the entire surface of the warm cake, using all of the glaze; it will adhere to the cake and set as the cake cools. Allow the cake to cool completely and the glaze to dry.

Related post on Eat Run Read: Zucchini Cupcakes