Makes: 1 x 20cm cake
Preparation time: 15 minutes
Baking time: 20-25 minutes
Oven temperature: 180^oC

• 190ml (100g) cake flour
• 2,5ml baking powder
• 2,5ml bicarbonate of soda
• 2,5ml ground cinnamon
• 2ml ground mixed spice
• 45ml cocoa powder
• 10ml finely grated orange zest
• 1 large egg
• 125ml sugar replacement (xylitol or Sugalite)
• 5ml vanilla essence
• 100ml fresh or frozen berries, plus extra to decorate
• 150ml finely grated courgette

Cream cheese icing
• 125ml fat-free smooth cottage cheese
• 30ml sugar replacement
• 2ml finely grated orange rind

1 Prepare a 20cm square baking tin with cooking spray.

2 Sift the flour, baking powder, bicarbonate of soda, spices and cocoa together. Add the orange zest.

3 In another bowl, combine the egg, sugar replacement and vanilla essence together and mix well.

4 Add the egg mixture, berries and grated courgette to the dry ingredients, mixing until just moistened.

5 Spoon the mixture into the prepared tin and bake in a preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes or until a skewer inserted comes out clean. Remove from the oven and cool in the tin. Invert onto a cooling rack. Cut into squares.

6 Icing Mix the cottage cheese, sugar replacement and orange rind together. Spoon onto each square. Decorate with berries.

Words: Louisa Holst, Ideas magazine
Image: Ed O’Riley, Ideas magazine