We are growing zucchini.
Like many of you, I'm sure.
Did a little search to find another way to use our bounty and discovered this deliciousness. Anytime a recipe calls for chocolate and cinnamon, I'm in.
Note: I have a non-nut lover in the house and I didn't have any oranges, so I just left those out. I used Hershey's Special Dark Cocoa Powder.
Chocolate Zucchini Cake
2 1/2 cups regular all-purpose flour, unsifted
1/2 cup cocoa
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
3/4 cup soft butter
1 cup white granulated sugar
1 cup brown sugar
3 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 teaspoons grated orange peel
3 cups coarsely shredded zucchini (from about 1 pound of zucchini)
1/2 cup milk
1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
Glaze
2 cups powdered sugar
3 Tbsp milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Preheat the oven to 350°F.
Set the shredded zucchini to drain in a sieve over a bowl. If no moisture drains out and the zucchini feels dry, sprinkle some water over it and let the excess drain.
Vigorously whisk together the flour, cocoa, baking powder, soda, salt, and cinnamon in a bowl, and set aside.
With a mixer, beat together the butter and the sugars until smooth. Add the eggs to the butter and sugar mixture one at a time, beating well after each addition.
With a wooden spoon, stir in the vanilla, orange peel, and zucchini.
Alternately stir in the dry ingredients and the milk into the zucchini mixture, including the nuts with the last addition.
Spray the inside of a 10-inch bundt pan or tube pan lightly with cooking spray (or grease with butter). Wipe off the excess. Pour in the batter and use a rubber spatula to level the top of the batter.
Bake in the oven for about 50-55 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean (test at 45 min).
Cool in pan 15 minutes; turn out on wire rack to cool thoroughly.
Make the glaze by mixing together the glaze ingredients. You can easily do this by hand with a whisk or a spoon. If the glaze is too runny, add some more powdered sugar. If too thick, add more milk.
Drizzle glaze over cake.
Cut in thin slices to serve.
Yield: Makes 10-12 servings.
Find the original recipe here at SimplyRecipes.com (
Posted there by Elise Bauer)
