Chocolate Zucchini Cake

This chocolate zucchini cake is so chocolatey, so moist, and so flavorful, you’ll by no means style the zucchini (severely!). I high mine with an indulgent chocolate cream cheese frosting that’s easy and not-too-sweet. Recipe features a how-to video!

Square slice of frosted chocolate zucchini cake missing a bite.

Unimaginable Chocolate Zucchini Cake

“Your chocolate zucchini cake wants tweaking.” My mother stated to me, scraping the previous few fudgy crumbs from her plate onto her fork.

“What? What’s fallacious with it!?” All of my different taste-testers had raved about this recipe and I’d already marked it down as being perfected. I used to be in love with the wealthy fudginess, the deep, decadent chocolate style and completely balanced moisture, the ✨completely✨ complementary chocolate cream cheese frosting, and actually I used to be simply surprised that she wasn’t.

“Oh, it’s scrumptious, it’s so good.” She reduce one other slice. “However I can’t style the zucchini at all. Not even a bit bit.” A wave of aid washed over me instantly.

Whereas my mom would possibly disagree, you’re not supposed to style the zucchini in a zucchini dessert (or zucchini bread for that matter)! No, its function is to impart moisture, create a beautiful texture, deplete a surplus of (usually ridiculously giant and prolific) backyard squash, and, certain, even to sneak a wholesome part to an in any other case indulgent deal with. This recipe ticks all of the bins and I’d be mendacity if I stated I wasn’t patting myself on the again after attempting my first chew.

Overhead view of a frosted chocolate cake that's been cut into squares in a pan.

Why you’ll find it irresistible:

Wonderful crumb: Moist, with out being moist or spongey (typically a tough feat when including shredded veggies to cake). The crumb is deliriously chocolatey, tender, melt-in-your mouth and so mushy.
Simple: No peeling the zucchini, no mixer wanted for the cake, and no stacking, layering, or fussy adorning required.
Unimaginable chocolate taste: Blooming the cocoa by mixing it in steaming sizzling water (or sizzling espresso) intensifies the chocolate taste (so useful when making chocolate cake!).
Good frosting: To date, each single one that has tried this cake has proceeded to rave concerning the frosting! It’s subtly tangy, clean and creamy. I initially thought-about doing a easy ganache topping, however the chocolate cream cheese frosting enhances the zucchini a lot better.

I’m so proud of how this cake turned out. It’s tailored from my chocolate zucchini muffins and double chocolate muffins, and the flavour is unimaginable. I promise nobody will know there’s zucchini inside (which is the entire level of the recipe–extra on this under!).

What You Want

There are fairly a couple of components pictured under, however all however a couple of are pantry staples most bakers will have already got readily available. Let’s speak a bit about a couple of of them.

Overhead view of ingredients including zucchini, brown sugar, sour cream, cocoa powder, and more.

Zucchini. There isn’t a have to peel your zucchini earlier than shredding it–yay! Be sure to do blot it after shredding although–we need to keep away from including an excessive amount of moisture to our cake.
Bitter cream. A key supply of moisture, taste, and tenderness! Bitter cream is considered one of my favourite components to bake with. Full-fat plain greek yogurt would additionally work simply positive right here.
Cocoa powder. Keep on with pure cocoa powder right here, as dutch course of cocoa might trigger leavening points since we’re utilizing solely baking soda. If you wish to study extra concerning the science behind this, take a look at my posts on pure vs. dutch course of cocoa and baking powder vs. baking soda.
Scorching water. Your water ought to be so sizzling it’s steaming (or boiling!). That is essential for blooming the cocoa powder and bringing out its taste, much like steeping tea or brewing espresso.
Mini chocolate chips. A sprinkle of mini chocolate chips on high of the frosting provides a pleasant texture. You could possibly additionally throw some chocolate chips within the batter (as much as a cup), however there’s sufficient chocolate occurring right here that it’s not actually crucial.

SAM’S TIP: For those who’d actually prefer to deepen the chocolate taste, add a pinch of immediate espresso or espresso to your cocoa powder and sizzling water combination! This received’t make your cake style like espresso, however it should intensify the chocolate taste.

Keep in mind, that is simply an outline of the components I used and why. For the complete recipe please scroll right down to the underside of the publish!

How you can Make Chocolate Zucchini Cake

Prep the Zucchini

Two photos showing zucchini being shredded and blotted.

Shred the zucchini utilizing the shred blade of a meals processor, then (non-compulsory, see under) very briefly pulse to cut the shreds into extra manageable bits.
Blot the zucchini with paper towels to take away extra moisture. I do that step after measuring/weighing the zucchini. Whereas not all recipes require the zucchini to be blotted, I discover that not blotting it made this cake too moist.

SAM’S TIP: Whilst you might use a field grater, I personally like utilizing my meals processor to shred my zucchini. Very like the carrots in my carrot cake, I first use the shred blade, then swap to a standard blade to briefly pulse the zucchini into smaller bits. For those who do that too, watch out to not pulse an excessive amount of, or you might make the zucchini watery. After all, you might additionally skip this further step and simply use the hand grater, simply word you’ll have extra discernible items of zucchini in your cake.

Make the Cake Batter

Four photos showing chocolate cake batter being prepared and combined with shredded zucchini.

Whisk collectively all dry components besides the cocoa powder, then put aside.
Add the cocoa powder to the very popular water and whisk till clean, then stir this combination into your melted butter.
Add the bitter cream, eggs, and vanilla to the butter combination and stir effectively to mix.
Gently fold the dry components into the moist components till midway mixed, then add the zucchini. Fold within the zucchini till totally integrated.

Two photos showing a chocolate cake in a pan before and after baking.

Pour the batter right into a greased 9×13 pan and bake for 33-35 minutes at 350F.
Check for doneness with a toothpick, then take away from the oven and let cool fully earlier than frosting.

Frosting

Put together the frosting and unfold it evenly over the cooled cake.
High with mini chocolate chips, if desired, then slice and luxuriate in!

SAM’S TIP: Whereas you need to use a mixer for the frosting, don’t use it for the cake batter! For those who do, you might find yourself over-mixing the batter, which might result in a dense, rubbery cake.

Metal pan of chocolate zucchini cake missing a few slices.

Steadily Requested Questions

Does chocolate zucchini cake style like zucchini?

Nope! The purpose of a zucchini baked good recipe is to not style the zucchini; it’s to make use of up backyard produce in a sensible method. Baked items are a good way to do that as a result of the zucchini provides a ton of moisture however is neutrally flavored, so it doesn’t make your dessert style such as you’re consuming greens.

Does chocolate zucchini cake have to be refrigerated?

For those who want it to last more than a day or two, sure. I like to recommend refrigerating after 24 hours and having fun with inside 5 days of baking. Be sure that to retailer in an hermetic container so it doesn’t dry out within the fridge.

Slice of frosted chocolate zucchini cake on a white plate.

Would you prefer to see another zucchini recipes? I’ve acquired another coming later this month that I’m very excited to share!

Get pleasure from!

Let’s bake collectively! I’ll be strolling you thru all of the steps in my written recipe and video under! Discover over 500 of my baking movies for FREE on YouTube.

This chocolate zucchini cake is so chocolatey, so moist, and so flavorful, you may by no means style the zucchini! I high mine with a chocolate cream cheese frosting that is easy and not-too-sweet. Recipe features a how-to video!

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Course: Cake, Dessert

Delicacies: American

Prep Time: 25 minutes

Prepare dinner Time: 32 minutes

Complete Time: 57 minutes

Servings: 12 servings

Energy: 604kcal

Prepare dinner ModeForestall your display screen from going darkish

Directions

For Cake

Preheat oven to 350F (175C) and calmly grease a 9×13 baking dish with butter.
In a big mixing bowl, whisk collectively flour, sugars, baking soda, and salt till well-combined.

2 cups (250 g) all-purpose flour, 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar, 1 cup (200 g) gentle brown sugar, 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda, ½ teaspoon desk salt
Pour cocoa powder right into a separate, heatproof mixing bowl after which pour sizzling/boiling water overtop. Whisk till clean.

½ cup (50 g) pure cocoa powder, ½ cup (118 ml) steaming sizzling or boiling water
Add butter and whisk till mixed.

10 Tablespoons (141 g) melted butter
Add bitter cream, egg, and vanilla extract and whisk effectively.

1 cup (240 g) bitter cream, 2 giant eggs, 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Add dry components to the moist and use a spatula to softly fold components collectively till about midway mixed. Add zucchini and proceed to stir till components are effectively integrated and batter is uniform – don’t overmix or cake will likely be dense and dry.

1 ½ cups (200 g) shredded zucchini
Unfold batter evenly into ready pan and switch to heart rack of 350F (175C) oven and bake for 33-35 minutes and till a toothpick inserted in heart comes out clear or with moist crumbs. Enable cake to chill fully earlier than protecting with frosting.

For Frosting

Mix cream cheese and butter in a mixing bowl and stir till clean and creamy. Regularly add powdered sugar and stir till mixed.

8 oz (226 g) cream cheese, ½ cup (113 g) unsalted butter, 2 ½ cups (315 g) powdered sugar
Stir in cocoa powder.

⅓ cup (35 g) cocoa powder
Add vanilla extract and salt and stir till clean and effectively mixed.

¾ teaspoon vanilla extract, ⅛ teaspoon desk salt
Unfold frosting evenly over cooled cake (I ice it instantly within the pan) then sprinkle with mini chocolate chips for adornment. Slice and luxuriate in.

2 Tablespoons mini chocolate chips for topping

Notes

Storing

Cowl with foil or plastic wrap and retailer at room temperature for as much as 24 hours or within the fridge for as much as 5 days. Cake can also be frozen for a number of months.

Vitamin

Dietary data is predicated on third-party calculations and ought to be thought-about an estimate solely. Precise dietary content material will range primarily based upon manufacturers used, measuring strategies, cooking technique, portion sizes, and extra.