Pre-heat your oven to 160C Fan/180C/350F/Gas Mark 4, and grease and line two 8" cake tins (that are at least 2" deep)
In a large mixing bowl, stir together the self raising flour, light brown sugar, cinnamon, ground ginger, mixed spice, baking powder and bicarbonate of soda
In another bowl, or large mixing jug, whisk together the vegetable oil, maple syrup, vanilla extract and eggs
Pour the oil/egg mixture into the mixing bowl with the flour in it, whisk everything together
Then mix in the grated parsnips and the chopped pecans
Divide the mixture between the tins, use scales for accuracy
Bake them for 35-40 minutes or until a skewer inserted in the middle comes out clean. Leave them to fully cool either in the tins or remove from the tin and place on cooling racks
To make the filling use an electric mixer to whisk the mascarpone with the maple syrup until smooth
If the cakes have domed on top, level them off with a cake leveller or a serrated knife
Put one of the sponges on your plate or cake stand and spread the sweentened mascarpone over it
Put the other half of the cake on top and finish with a sprinkling of icing sugar
Leftovers will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 days
Notes
Mixed spice is a British spice blend containing Cinnamon, Coriander Seed, Nutmeg, Clove, Pimento, Ginger. If you can't get hold of it, use a Pumpkin Spice mix instead