If I were going to make that would tempt me to eat the whole thing, this would be it! My dark chocolate zucchini cake is actually pretty healthy, so I only feel semi-guilty when I over indulge {ha!}. There are some easy substitutions and additions to this recipe that make it healthy and {almost} like eating a vegetable. Applesauce in place of all oil and butter, whole wheat flour, LOTS of zucchini and chia seeds all bake together to create a cake so good you won’t know or care that it’s healthy {ish}.
Pour yourself a cold glass of milk and cut a piece of cake right out of the oven. Oh… It’s hard to stop at just one slice. The zucchini makes this cake so moist you’ll love every bite. I’ll admit the chocolate chips on top are not part of the healthy bit, but they taste amazing…
Soft and chewy on the inside and crunchy on top, this dark chocolate zucchini cake has a bit of everything! You can easily edit the recipe to suit your tastes as well.
Dark Chocolate Zucchini Cake
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup butter, or applesauce
- 1/2 cup oil, or applesauce
- 1 1/2 cup white sugar
- 2 eggs
- 2 1/2 cups grated Zucc
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 2 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
- 1/2 cup Dark cocoa
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 cup buttermilk, of milk with 1 tsp lemon juice added
- 3 Tbs Chia Seeds
- optional topping
- 3/4 cup chopped walnuts
- 3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350â?¦
- Cream butter, oil, {or applesauce} sugar and vanilla in one medium bowl.
- Add the eggs to the mixture and beat well, mix in Zucchini and chia seeds
- In a large mixing bowl mix flour, cocoa and baking soda. Add the wet mix to the dry mix in the large bowl. Then add in the buttermilk.
- Pour into greased pan {9 x 13}, sprinkle nuts and chips on top. Push them into the batter a bit.
- Bake for around 50 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.
Here’s the good stuff! Applesauce, loads of fresh garden zucchini and chia seeds.
My bowls of wet mixture and dry mixture before I combined them.
I love the topping, but I’ve also made it without the chocolate chips as a healthier option for younger kids.
Adding the topping to the unbaked cake..
Fresh out of the oven.. I could eat at least half of the pan!
Just writing this makes me want to bake another one! My whole family likes it, so I’m not too tempted to eat the whole thing.. I know they all want to help. In fact I was in the bathroom and when I came out I found my new 21 month old daughter up on a stool in the kitchen eating the cake out of the pan with both hands… ahhh! I guess it’s a hit! I hope your family likes eating vegetables {in cake} as much as we do!
Melinda says
This looks so yummy! I want to go find a zucchini patch right this minute! Not a good idea, at 1 a.m…
I might get shot! lol
How can you go wrong with chocolate?? Answer: you can’t!
Melinda
Elena says
I’ve tried a cake with carrots, and I love it, but never with zucchini……….
Emily says
oh zucchini cake is my favorite. You much try it!!
Steph says
That looks fabulous! I’ve been craving something wonderfully chocolatey….to do it semi-healthy is even better. Thanks for sharing your recipe!
Brenda says
This looks so yummy! I have a similar recipe – but it has a little cinnamon also. Have a great week 🙂
Emily says
cinnamon sounds like it would be a good addition!
Pauline Molinari says
This looks SO GOOD! Thanks so much for sharing your yummy recipe on the Monday Funday Party!
Kim @The Baking ChocolaTess says
O Geez…had to stop by! Pinning and just drooling on my screen. Looks amazing and I bet it tastes amazing too. Thanks for sharing.
Emily says
thanks for pinning!
Samantha @ Motivated Days says
This looks super yummy and I know the zucchini will keep it nice and moist! Thanks for linking up at the Weekend Wind Down Party!
Anna @ Sunny Side Ups says
Oh yum…chocolate and zucchini–a match made in heaven!! LOVE this cake; it looks absolutely delish!! Pinned!
Emily says
thank you for pinning!
Gail Akeman says
My grandma put zucchini in chocolate cake too. Thank you for joining the small victories Sunday Linkup party. PLease join again. Pinned to the group board.
Ellen nelson says
Made these for a get together and the entire pan was gone in the first few minutes! My husband even likes them and he hates when I try to sneak chia in everything! Thanks.
Karren Haller says
Hi Emily, this recipe caught my eye in last weeks Friday Features and I just wanted to stop by and let you know that your post is Featured on our
Friday Feature-Linky-Party this week, hope you would like to stop by and add other links. All Features are pinned!
Have a beautiful week, Karren
Oh My Heartsie Girl
Emily says
thank you so much for the features! I’m coming over to check it ou!