BLUEBERRY ZUCCHINI CAKE

Ingredients:

3 eggs, lightly beaten
1 cup vegetable oil
3 teaspoons vanilla extract 2 1/4 cups white sugar
2 cups finely shredded and drained zucchini 3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 pint fresh blueberries (you can reserve a few for garnish if so desired)

  Lemon Butter Cream
1 cup butter, room temperature
3 ½  cups confectioners sugar
1 lemon, juice and zest of (about 2 tablespoons)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/8 teaspoon salt

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350F.

Prepare two 8-inch round cake pans.

Grate a large zucchini (or two small zucchini) and place in a clean dish towel. Squeeze until most of the liquid comes out. You will want to have 2 total cups of shredded zucchini after it has been drained. Set aside.

In a large bowl and using a hand mixer, beat together the eggs, oil, vanilla, and sugar. Fold in the zucchini. Slowly add in the flour, salt, baking powder, and baking soda. Gently fold in the blueberries. Divide batter evenly between prepared cake pans. Bake 35-40 minutes in the preheated oven, or until a knife inserted in the center of a cake comes out clean.

Cool 20 minutes in pans, then turn out onto wire racks to cool completely.

  Lemon Butter Cream
Combine butter, sugar and salt and beat until well combined. Add lemon juice and vanilla and continue to beat for another 3 to 5 minute or until creamy.

Fold in zest (If you are piping this buttercream, I recommend leaving out the zest).