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This Zucchini Chocolate Cake is the perfect way to use up an abundance of zucchini in a dessert. The moisture in the zucchini lends itself to making the most perfect, moist chocolate cake. Serve this with pasta alla nerano and an aperol spritz for the best summer dinner.
For a few years, I went on a mini cake kick. I made my famous Mini Carrot Cake with Brown Butter Cream Cheese Frosting, Mini Strawberry Cake and Lemon Cake. I truly was over the idea of a layer cake.
BUT, I still think they deserve some love. I love this zucchini chocolate cake so much. Let’s start with the basics:
Why Put Zucchini in Chocolate Cake?
- Moisture! The zucchini not only helps with adding moisture to your cakes but it also helps keep the cake moist for a couple days.
- Eat your vegetables. There’s not enough zucchini in here to combat not eating a salad, however there’s enough to add a little extra nutrients and vitamins.
Ingredients You’ll Nee for this Zucchini Chocolate Cake
- Zucchini.
- Cocoa powder.
- Buttermilk.
- Walnuts.
- Butter.
For the rest of the ingredients, please see the recipe index card below!
How to Make Zucchini Chocolate Cake:
- Prep your cake pans. Grease them and line with a circle of parchment paper.
- Combine dry ingredients. Whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Make sure you sift your cocoa powder first to make sure you don’t have any lumps of it.
- Cream the butter and sugar with the wet ingredients. Beat the butter with the sugars until light and fluffy then add the oil, eggs, and buttermilk.
- Add the dry to the wet. Mix just until combined then add the walnuts and grated zucchini.
- Add to the prepared pans and bake! Just until the cakes are baked through to make sure they stay moist.
- Invert onto cooling racks. After about 5 minutes, flip the cakes out to cool completely on a cooling rack.
- Frost and Serve. However you like, with whatever frosting you’d like!
Decorating Tips and Tricks:
- I followed this YouTube video.
- I used this #104 piping tip to get the petal flowers. And of course this nail. I swear by this kit.
- And I used these gel colors to get the yellow and green.
- The good news is that if you want to make this cake, you don’t need to pipe on flowers for this Zucchini Chocolate Cake. You can simply make the cake, smear on the frosting and you’re good to go!
Recipe FAQs:
Yes, feel free to make them the day before you plan on serving them. Allow them to cool completely, wrap them in plastic wrap and then transfer to the fridge. You can make the frosting the day ahead too; store in the fride.
More Summer Recipes
If you tried this Zucchini Chocolate Cake Recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting!
To Make the Zucchini Cake:
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Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease two (8-inch) round cake pans and line the bottoms with parchment paper.
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In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt.
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To the bowl of a stand-up mixer (you could also do this in a large bowl with a whisk), with the paddle attachment, add the butter and white and brown sugar; beat until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Pour in the vegetable oil, eggs, one at a time and then the buttermilk. Add the dry ingredients and beat until just smooth, about 1 minute. Pour in the grated zucchini and walnuts and mix once more.
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Divide the batter between the pans and bake for 27 to 30 minutes, or until a wooden pick inserted into the center comes out clean. Allow to cool in the pans for about 5 minutes and then invert them on cooling racks.
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I sliced my cakes in half so I would have four layers, but you certainly don’t have to do this!
To Make the Frosting:
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*If you’re making petal flowers and vines, you’ll want to double the recipe above. It’ll give you enough frosting in order to have extra to decorate. After you make a double batch, you’ll want to remove about 1/4 of it and color it yellow. Remove another 1/4 and color it green.
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Add the butter to the bowl of a stand-up mixer (or medium bowl with an electric hand mixer) and beat until smooth about 30 seconds or so. Take the paddle attachment off and place a sieve on top of the bowl and sift in the powdered sugar. Turn the mixer to low until the powdered sugar is almost incorporated. Add the vanilla extract and buttermilk; and beat once more until combined.
To assemble the cake:
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Place one layer on a cake board or cake stand or plate (I also love turning plates upside down and using them as cake stands). Add about 1/4 cup (you can eyeball this measurement) to the top of the first cake layer; smooth it out so it’s a nice even layer of frosting. Place the second layer on top and repeat the process. Skim the top and sides and transfer it to the fridge to chill for about 15 minutes.
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Remove from the fridge and give it one last layer of frosting. If you like, this is totally optional, divide the frosting amongst a few piping bags with different tips on them and decorate the top! Slice up and serve.
Serving: 12g | Calories: 212kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 23g | Cholesterol: 34mg | Sodium: 92mg | Potassium: 9mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 14g | Vitamin A: 34IU | Calcium: 12mg | Iron: 3mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
*This post was originally published on August 18th, 2018. It has since been updated with new copy.
Today, I went to the beach front with my kids.
I found a sea shell and gave it to my 4 year old daughter and
said “You can hear the ocean if you put this to your ear.” She put the shell to her ear and screamed.
There was a hermit crab inside and it pinched her ear.
She never wants to go back! LoL I know this is
completely off topic but I had to tell someone! http://Forum.Altaycoins.com/profile.php?id=401685
Today, I went to the beach front with my kids. I found a sea shell
and gave it to my 4 year old daughter and said “You can hear the ocean if you put this to your ear.” She put the
shell to her ear and screamed. There was a hermit crab inside and it pinched
her ear. She never wants to go back! LoL I know this is completely off topic but I had to tell someone! http://Forum.Altaycoins.com/profile.php?id=401685