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SWEET PARSNIP CAKE

SERVES 8

I worked on this cake for a year. It started out as a carrot cake, which people love because it's so comforting and familiar. But I wanted to put my twist on it, make it better. My mind went to spring-dug parsnips, which are the unsung gems of the root vegetable family. Since they're allowed to stay in the ground over the winter, they freeze, which sends their sugar content through the roof. Plus when I get a call from a farmer that their parsnips are coming up, it means the ground has finally shed its frost and spring is imminent. Although this combination of flavors may sound unorthodox, people can't get enough of this cake. I get calls to ask whether I'll ship it out of state —it's that good.