Lemon and courgette cupcakes with chocolate ganache (kids vlog edition)

These little cupcakes have a secret ingredient - courgettes make them lovely and moist. The idea of lemon and chocolate might sound strange at first, but the combination really worked. Here's Frankie to show you how...

Vegan chocolate macadamia cake with blackberries

This evening we cooked dinner for six, including a friend who is vegan.  I decided to turn my chocolate courgette brownies recipe into something a bit more sophisticated - made with macadamia nuts instead of walnuts, a little coffee essence and baked it in a round cake tin.  I topped it with a mound of fresh blackberries, dusted with cocoa. Telling people once they've eaten the cake that it contains courgettes is great fun to watch - especially our friend Jon who refuses to eat vegetables. No-one would be able to guess, but their inclusion means this is really moist and magic!

Banana courgette blondies

I was so impressed with the chocolate courgette brownies I'd made, I decided to try making 'blondies' - brownies without chocolate, this time with banana instead. Again, you'd have no idea that these contained any courgette, and because they are free from eggs or butter they are suitable for vegans. You could almost say these are healthy cakes!

Chocolate courgette brownies

These might sound weird but they taste absolutely amazing. You'd never know there was a load of grated vegetable in them, but you will wonder how they are so gorgeously moist! TThey also don't contain any eggs or butter, so are suitable for vegans. I used yellow courgettes fresh from my mum's allotment, which of course made these extra special.  I took them to Plymouth for a weekend away with the girls. I think they are the best brownies I've ever made - deliciously rich, gooey, chocolatey, and a perfect light and fluffy texture. Try them!

Amazing yellow courgettes from Mum's allotment