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4.9 from 39 votes

Green Cake or Moss Cake for St Patrick's Day (Made with Spinach)

A naturally green cake that is perfect for a St Patrick's Day treat!

Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Total Time
45 mins
Servings: 12 slices
Calories: 522 kcal
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: Irish

Ingredients

Cake:
  • 10 cups fresh spinach blanched (or about 9 cups/275 g of frozen spinach, defrosted)
  • 2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 cup sugar
  • ¾ tsp salt
  • ⅞ cup olive oil (just under a cup, not extra virgin)
  • 1 ¾ cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 1 Tbsp lemon zest or zest of one lemon
Frosting:
  • 1 ⅓ cup cream cheese (or mascarpone, or combination)
  • ⅓ cup butter (+1 Tbsp if using cups)
  • 2 cups confectioner's sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla

Instructions

Make the Cake:
    Cup of Yum
  1. Preheat oven to 350℉ (175℃).
  2. Grease and flour two 8" cake pans.
  3. Purée the spinach with the lemon juice, and set aside.
  4. Beat eggs, sugar and salt in a stand mixer (or with a hand held mixer) until it increases in volume, turns a pale yellow, and makes ribbons in the batter when the beaters are lifted.
  5. While beating the mixture, slowly pour in the oil.
  6. Sift the flour and baking powder, and with a large spoon, fold it into the batter in thirds, clearing after each addition.
  7. When all the flour has been added, the batter will be smooth, thick and heavy.
  8. Add the spinach purée.Then add the lemon zest and mix until well combined.
  9. Divide the green cake batter between the two prepared 8" cake pans.
  10. Bake for about 30 minutes, or until a skewer comes out clean when inserted into the center of the cake. Allow to cool in pans for about 10 to 15 minutes, then carefully remove and place on cooling racks.
Make the Cream Cheese Frosting:
  1. Mix all the ingredients together until smooth. You can choose the plain frosting, or the orange cream cheese frosting.
  2. When the cakes are cool, divide the frosting, and spread one layer with half .
  3. I just pull the knife from the centerpoint to the edge to make a nice pattern to show from the outside.
  4. Slice off the top of the other layer, if needed, and place it atop the frosted layer. Spread the rest of the frosting on top, then decorate with fresh, or freeze dried raspberries, and/or flowers.

Notes

  • You can also use the orange frosting recipe below
  • You can make half the frosting and only ice the middle of the cake if you want a less sweet result.

Nutrition Information

Serving 1slice Calories 522kcal (26%) Carbohydrates 53g (18%) Protein 6g (12%) Fat 33g (51%) Saturated Fat 12g (60%) Polyunsaturated Fat 3g Monounsaturated Fat 16g Trans Fat 0.3g Cholesterol 90mg (30%) Sodium 388mg (16%) Potassium 217mg (6%) Fiber 1g (4%) Sugar 37g (74%) Vitamin A 2961IU (59%) Vitamin C 9mg (10%) Calcium 102mg (10%) Iron 2mg (11%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 12slices

Amount Per Serving

Calories 522

% Daily Value*

Serving 1slice
Calories 522kcal 26%
Carbohydrates 53g 18%
Protein 6g 12%
Fat 33g 51%
Saturated Fat 12g 60%
Polyunsaturated Fat 3g 18%
Monounsaturated Fat 16g 80%
Trans Fat 0.3g 15%
Cholesterol 90mg 30%
Sodium 388mg 16%
Potassium 217mg 5%
Fiber 1g 4%
Sugar 37g 74%
Vitamin A 2961IU 59%
Vitamin C 9mg 10%
Calcium 102mg 10%
Iron 2mg 11%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

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