This is a rich, moist, heavy, chocolate zucchini cake originally designed to be baked in a Bundt pan. When I first made it, I did not need a full size Bundt, so I made a half batch and used a loaf pan. Since then I've purchased a set of 6-cup silicone Bundt pans which are perfect making half size Bundt cakes.
So I recommend making this one in a small Bundt, but if you don't have one you can still use a loaf pan for a brick shaped (but still very moist and tasty) chocolate zucchini cake.
Melted Unsweetened Chocolate
A lot of zucchini cakes call for cocoa powder, but this one is made with melted unsweetened chocolate. I believe cocoa powder could be substituted for the 1 ½ oz of melted unsweetened chocolate (4 ½ tablespoons of cocoa powder and add an extra 1 ½ tablespoons oil) but haven't tested it. I recommend using actual chocolate for now.
Undrained Zucchini
Another interesting thing about this recipe is that it calls for undrained zucchini. Older recipes like this one often rely on the moisture from the zucchini as part of the overall composition. You can blot it lightly with a paper towel if it seems extraordinarily wet, but there's no need to put it in a strainer and let it sit as you would for some other zucchini cakes.
Recipe
Chocolate Zucchini Cake in a Small Bundt or Loaf Pan
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour (200 grams)
- ¾ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon cinnamon (optional)
- 2 large eggs
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar (300 grams)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 ½ ounces unsweetened chocolate, melted (42 grams)
- ¾ cup vegetable oil, such as sunflower
- 1 ½ cups grated zucchini, chopped but undrained (180 grams)
- ½ cup chopped nuts chopped
- ½ cup miniature semi-sweet chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 6 cup Bundt pan. If using silicone, lightly spritz with cooking spray or slick lightly with oil. If using a loaf pan, grease and line with parchment or line with foil and grease the foil.
- Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt; set aside. Cinnamon is optional, but if you are using it add that too.
- Beat eggs with an electric mixer or just whisk vigorously. Gradually add sugar and continue beating until light. Beat in vanilla, melted chocolate and oil. By hand, stir in the flour mixture. Fold in zucchini, nuts and chocolate chips. Pour batter into pan.
- Bake or 55 minutes (check at 45) or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan 15 minutes. Remove from pan; cool completely on a wire rack. Sprinkle with powdered sugar before serving.
Louise says
Where I live in PA, they have town wide yard sales all on the same day. There's always at least one table of home baked goods from other sellers. It works out GREAT! Not only for selling but also for chit chat...
Chocolate Zucchini Cake is a weakness of mine and your tempting picture doesn't help:) I wonder how this cake would work with applesauce instead of oil? Or would it?
Cathy says
I don't know if you have seen this recipe before; it was in Sunset Magazine a few years back. I substituted dried cherries and pecans for the raisins and walnuts. The cookies turned out almost a cross between a muffin top and a cookie. Yummy!
http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=1215062
Kim says
I sold homemade cookies at our last garage sale. They were a big hit! If I would have spent more time baking, I probably would have made a lot more cash, since most of our old junk didn't sell.
Everyone has money for cookies!
clumbsycookie says
I would love to go to a garage sale (never been to one). Of course I would prefer to be served that cake whenever I go to one! Looks very moist, almost like a mousse, but maybe that's because of the picture.
I agree with Bethany, you should totally do a bake sale!
Kate says
I love your blog and have been following it for a while now. I love to bake also, and try to at least every other day. But I have a question for you 🙂
What do you do with all the cookies and cakes and brownies you make?! I love cookies, and I always hear it from hubby that I need to slow down cause I am going to make him fat. So what do you do with your finished products? do you eat them? give them away? Sorry if it is too random 🙂
Rina says
I say sell the cake and stash the recipe somewhere between the seat cushions! If I were the buyer, I'd be happier than if I had found loose change.
Lara says
Mmmm. I'd buy a sofa for that.
Bethany says
PS. Buy a cake, get a sofa! haha
Bethany says
You should SOOOO have a bake sale on the side of the garage sale!
snookydoodle says
I like chocolate and zucchine. This looks really great. And its healthy isn't it. It s got vegetables 🙂
VeggieGirl says
Definitely serve it at the garage sale!!
Heidi says
I had my mom make a chocolate zucchini bundt cake several years for my birthday. I was able to justify that it was healthier than a normal cake.
Jennifer says
I agree with Bethany! Especially if it's getting to the end, hasn't sold, and you don't want to have to drag it back inside!
I love zucchini cake, one time though my uncle made zucchini ice cream to go with it-not as good!
Joanna says
I love how powdered sugar makes every dessert look so pretty and delicate. All summer, my mom made a chocolate zucchini cake every 2 weeks because we have an insane zucchini garden that won't stop producing zucchini. I know if I show her this recipe, she'll make it in a heartbeat. haha
Katrina says
I bought one of those giant overgrown zucchini at the farmer's market last week just to make something yummy like this with it.
Love that, buy a sofa get a piece of cake!