This is the best Chocolate Zucchini Cake, ever. Totally moist, full of amazing flavor, and destined to be your go-to recipe! Even if you just make the cake part of the recipe, you will be blown away by how dense and rich it is!
Zucchini Double Chocolate Cake
And while I did add poured chocolate ganache AND piped chocolate ganache… the truth is that this cake really doesn’t need any frosting at all.
All on its own it’s full of rich chocolate flavor and a delicate and glorious crumb.
In spite of its stand-alone amazingness, I went a step further. Well, a couple steps further.
I added not only a beautifully poured ganache but a whipped ganache!
While this recipe is definitely all about the beauty of a perfect chocolate cake, I couldn’t help myself. I was mesmerized by these sweet little whipped ganache stars.
Tips for Success:
- Let’s talk zucchini: I typically leave the peeling on because I happen to love seeing little flecks of green through my dessert. You can certainly peel yours if you do not want to see any trace of the vegetable. If you do end up peeling it, people will never know there is zucchini in your cake… unless you tell them of course!
- When peeling zucchini I try to choose the smallest size on the grater. I also did not drain my zucchini for this recipe. It benefits from all the moisture the zucchini offers. The level of moisture varies depending on the size of the zucchini… the bigger the zucchini the less moisture.
- I chose a rich, dark, bold coffee. Here is where I am going to be a bit bold myself: No. No, you cannot replace the coffee with hot water. I mean, yes, of course, you can, but NO you do not want to. The cake will not taste like coffee in the slightest, I promise. It simply enhances the chocolate flavor. If you replace the coffee or simply omit it, your cake will not taste as rich.
- I followed the recipe above for my pourable ganache… but then I made another batch. And when that batch had cooled I whipped it and added 3 cups of powder sugar. Working quickly, I piped the mini stars on top of the cake. (The frosting stiffens the longer it sits.)
PRO TIP: Put the frosting right into a disposable pastry bag for storage as well as easy use!
It is just as moist and rich as you would imagine it to be. More even.
This is definitely my new go-to Zucchini Chocolate Cake!
Can we just look at the frosting again?!?!
Zucchini Double Chocolate Cake
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup (113g) butter
- 1/2 cup (99g) vegetable oil
- 1 3/4 cups (350g) granulated sugar
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- 1 tsp. baking soda
- 1/2 tsp. baking powder
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 cup buttermilk
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup cocoa powder
- 1/4 cup hot coffee (or espresso)
- 3 cups shredded zucchini
- 1 cup chocolate chips
Ganache
- 1 cup (225g) whipped cream
- 2 cups (350g) semi-sweet chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325°F. Lightly grease a 9″ x 13″ pan.
- In a large mixing bowl, beat together the butter, oil, sugar, vanilla, baking soda, baking powder, and salt until smooth.
- Beat in the eggs.
- In a small bowl, combine buttermilk and coffee.
- Add the buttermilk mixture to the butter mixture alternating with the flour.
- Add the cocoa mixing until smooth.
- Fold in the zucchini and chocolate chips and then pour batter into pan.
- Bake the cake for 30 to 35 minutes, until the top springs back lightly when touched, or center no longer appears wet.
Ganache
- Place the chocolate into a medium bowl. Heat the cream in a small sauce pan over medium heat. Bring just to a boil, watching very carefully so that it does not boil over.
- When the cream has come to a boil, pour over the chopped chocolate, and whisk until smooth.
- Allow the ganache to cool slightly before pouring over a cake.
- Start at the center of the cake and work outward.
Did you make this recipe?
Thank you for making my recipe! You took pictures, right? Well go ahead and post them on Instagram! Be sure to mention me @iambaker and use the hashtag #YouAreBaker.
If you love baking with Zucchini, don’t miss these recipes!
Zucchini Brownies (one of my most popular recipes!)
OMG, You are right, this is the best chocolate cake ever! Thanks for the recipe!
Wow is my first time visit your blog and you have delicious recipes.
Regards
Olga.
Yes to everything zucchini and chocolate at the moment! I can’t get enough of the pairing.
I’ve made your chocolate cake before, and it’s the best EVER!! The coffee cannot be tasted but adds something special to the cake for sure. Cannot wait to try this with the addition of zucchini and mouthwatering ganache. Oh my heavenly stars! lol
You said that when peeling zucchini you choose the smallest size on the grater. I’ve never used a grater for peeling. How is it done?
Knowing how easy it is to make that ganache will tempt me so much! I’m the girl who makes mug cakes, so that’ll definitely be a feature on top of them. This cake is just absolutely beautiful and I can only imagine how much moisture the zucchini adds in each bite!
I cannot wait to try this! I loved all the other cakes I made from your blog, amazing!!! Just one question, can I use cream instead of the buttermilk in the cake? I can only get the half gallon jugs of buttermilk and I never know what else to use it for so I don’t want it to go to waste… ?
This is how I want to eat my veggies.
This looks delicious! I have some zucchini in my freezer from last summer and now I know what I want to do with it!
Hi. is it possible to use the recipe as a normal chocolate cake, without the zuccini? really need a moist chocolate cake recipe. thanks 🙂
Wow this look amazing tasty, I love this recipe. Very nicely decorated cake.