Chocolate Zucchini Cake

When I was begging for a gym membership a couple years ago, my husband would often tell me to take the kids for a walk if I was wanting some exercise.  Let me clue you in on something that my husband does not seem to be aware of, taking three small children for a walk is NOT exercise.  One child on a bike, another on a scooter, another climbing in and out of the push car does not allow for much exercising.  It can be quite difficult to get your heart rate up when you are walking at a snail’s pace and stopping every few feet to open mailboxes, collect leaves, look for lady bugs and pick up trash treasures off the sidewalk.   Walking with my children is not exercise, it does not count as my cardio for the week but I am okay with that.  I enjoy their curious and carefree ways as we make our way around the neighborhood.   I enjoy our time strolling and stopping and playing and chatting with each neighbor that we see, that’s the way we do walks these days.  The other day my kids returned home from a walk with my husband  with a giant zucchini in hand that one of the neighbors had given them.  Tonight we went for another walk and brought this chocolate zucchini cake to our zucchini giving neighbor :)  No, my walks are not work outs but that’s what the gym is for right?!?

Chocolate Zucchini Cake
2 ¼ cups sifted all-purpose flour
½ cup unsweetened cocoa
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 ¾ cups sugar
1 stick unsalted butter, room temperature
½ cup vegetable oil
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
½ cup buttermilk
2 cups grated unpeeled zucchini
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
Preheat oven to 325 F. Butter and flour a 9×13 inch baking pan.
Sift the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda & salt into a medium bowl.
Beat the sugar, butter and oil in a large bowl until well blended.
Add the eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition.
Add the vanilla extract.
Mix in the dry ingredients

 alternating with the buttermilk

 in 3 additions.

Mix in the grated zucchini.

 

Pour into prepared pan and sprinkle with chocolate chips.
Bake 40 minutes or until toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Cool cake completely in pan before cutting and serving.

Enjoy! 

 
source:  adapted from Lick The Bowl Good originally from Bon Appetit

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Comments

  1. 1
    Monica H says:

    How come when I go for walks with the wee ones, all I get are weeds and dried up leaves? ha ha!

    Your cake turned out great- great you liked it.

    ~Monica

  2. 2
    Mimi says:

    This is our favorite zucchini cake recipe. it always comes out moist and delcious.
    Mimi

  3. 3
    thefattyreader says:

    nice blog! I've been in a very chocolate cake-y mood of late, so this sounds extra delicious.

  4. 4
    Cindy M says:

    Yummy that looks delicious!!!! As always your pictures are beautiful and your story so heartwarming. I especially love the colors of the greens and browns together. Love, love, love your post and I really want some chocolate zucchini cake!!!!!

  5. 5
    Jeannie says:

    Hi! just hopped over from Mary's, lovely cake and nice blog too! :D

  6. 6
    Reeni says:

    Your chocolate zucchini cake looks scrumptious! You're so nice for sharing – I bet your neighbor loved it. Thanks for stopping by and voting!

  7. 7
    Dawn says:

    We have tons of Zucchini in our garden right now so I decided to try this one. It turned out SO great! Yummm!

  8. 8
    Suzanne says:

    Couldn't wait and ate a piece while it was still warm . . . Fabulous! :)