Quinoa Carrot Cake

Cake 

• 1 1⁄2 cups self-raising flour
• 3/4 cup vegetable oil 
• 4 eggs 
• 1 teaspoon grated orange zest 
• 1 cup brown sugar 
• 2 cups grated carrot 
• 1/3 cup dried, pitted chopped dates 
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon 
• 1 cup quinoa (cooked according to packet instructions) 
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 

Icing 

• 125g reduced fat cream cheese 
• 25g unsalted butter, softened 
• 1 teaspoon grated orange zest 
• 3⁄4 cup sifted icing sugar 

Method 

• Preheat oven to 170 Celsius 
• Grease a baking tin well 
• Add flour, cinnamon, orange zest, sugar, quinoa, carrots and dates in a bowl and combine well 
• In a separate bowl, whisk eggs, oil and vanilla essence 
• Add the two mixtures together and stir well 
• Spoon the batter into the baking tin and bake in oven for 50 – 60 minutes 
• Remove from oven and allow to cool 
• For icing: beat the cream cheese, butter and orange zest together until smooth. Add icing sugar and beat until well combined 
• Spread evenly over cake ​​