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Double Chocolate Zucchini Cake … a conspirator theory

“Vegetables are a must on a diet. I suggest carrot cake, zucchini bread, and pumpkin pie.”
Jim Davis 2008 12 166
Have a question … CAN YOU CONSPIRE WITH ZUCCHINI? Are you like me, terrified of the mere thought of being discovered sneaking shredded greens into chocolate cake? Elle’s New England Kitchen post made me conspire. Collages9Some time back she made this Double Chocolate Zucchini Bread, swore her elder 2 into silence, & fed the cake to the other 2. No-one noticed anything amiss, zucchini was far from their minds. Mental note made when I read her post, ‘this I had to make’; though I was very underconfident, & had some extra conspiring to do. 2008 12 169I have 2 kids … Elle has 4; so I decided to hide the zucchini from both mine. And then there was the hub hanging around too … had to hide the blessed veggie from him too. He did look at me strangely though when I ran from room to room trying to take pictures of chocolate cake & zucchini. Fortunately for me, he leaves me to my adventures & misadventures now!

Collages6 1

I made 1 loaf cake & 3 little mini bundts. Wanted to finally inaugurate the mini bundt cake pans my elder sis had sent last year. I thought they looked really cute & was dying to use them. 2008 12 168

My hearts’ still beating fast; even the green feeling when the cakes were out & sitting pretty on the counter, waiting for the kids to get back from school & do the honours, make me shiver.

Excuses flew thick & fast through my head…
‘Oh the green thingies in the cake? Oh, that’s just pistachios!’,
‘What green are you talking about?’,
‘I can’t see any green’,
‘It’s just a regular chocolate cake!’2008 12 167
Shouldn’t have bothered actually; didn’t really need any of those excuses!! Sailed through like the perfect conspirator, coz the kids were far too busy enjoying the chocolaty goodness of this moist cake, & there I was panicky for nothing at all!! THIS WAS A GOOD, MOIST, DELICIOUSLY CHOCOLATY CAKE!! They still don’t know…LOL, though I let the hub in on my secret!! Thanks for posting this one Elle!!2008 12 1610Double Chocolate Zucchini Cake
adapted from Elle’s New England Kitchen
& she adapted it from Food Network Kitchens
Makes 1 loaf & 3 mini bundt cakes, or 2 loaves
Ingredients:
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa (NOT dutch process)
1 tsp baking soda
1 cup butter, softened
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/4 cup oil
2 large eggs
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups zucchini, unpeeled and shredded (I used 1 8-10″ long zucchini)
1 cup dark chocolate chips Collages8Method:
  • Heat oven to 180°C. Butter and flour 2 loaf pans/bundt tins.
  • Whisk the flour with the cocoa and baking soda in a medium size bowl.
  • Beat butter and sugar in a medium bowl with a mixer on med high until light and fluffy, about 4 minutes.
  • While you’re mixing, drizzle in the oil, then the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
  • Stir the vanilla into the buttermilk.
  • Mix the flour mixture into the butter mixture in 3 additions, alternating with the buttermilk, beginning and ending with the flour.
  • Fold in the zucchini and chocolate., & divide the batter into the pans.
  • Bake until tester comes out clean, about 55 minutes. (be careful, the tester may look chocolaty from the chocolate in the bread–don’t over bake)
  • Cool in pans on rack before removing and slicing. (I took them out in about 15 minutes though)Collages7

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About me: I am a freelance food writer, recipe developer and photographer. Food is my passion - baking, cooking, developing recipes, making recipes healthier, using fresh seasonal produce and local products, keeping a check on my carbon footprint and being a responsible foodie! I enjoy food styling, food photography, recipe development and product reviews. I express this through my food photographs which I style and the recipes I blog. My strength lies in 'Doing Food From Scratch'; it must taste as good as it looks, and be healthy too. Baking in India, often my biggest challenge is the non-availability of baking ingredients, and this has now become a platform to get creative on. I enjoy cooking immensely as well.

38 Comments

  • Hanaa

    The cakes look delicious!! You can even tell from the pictures that they turned out moist and chocolaty. Thanks for posting the recipe. And happy new year!
    Hanaa

  • d

    i love how you made a zucchini cake look christmassy! when you told me about the cake i did’nt think much about it at all – but now on seeing how gorgeous it looks it definitely on my list of must-trys!!! by the way, does’nt the daughter read your blog? now she’ll know!!!
    love
    d

  • Aparna

    A very wonderful way to get some zucchini into kids (and adults too).
    Best wishes for thew festive season and a Happy New year to you and family, Deeba.

  • Manggy

    Merry Christmas Deeba! Ah, you have lied to the children! Tsk tsk tsk 😉 Then again, the alternative would be to have such a wonderful cake untouched… So… Lie away, heh heh 🙂

  • Sanghi

    Merry christmas! Wonderful cake. I tried ur Zebra cake today, turned out yummy..! Thanks for the recipe..

  • Purnima

    Merry Xmas, Deeba! Wow..that is some visual treat n I had to LOL at ur narration! Well take it frm me, even if u slice the greens, pipe some cream the way ‘U’ do, so artistically, so decoratively..am sure both urs wdnt mind eating a raw bitter gourd too!Simply marvelous!!

  • familiabencomo

    You are such a devil! I love it!!! Doesn't sneaking around a bit make the ho-hum day exciting? Your hubby has to be relieved that it's only veggies you're hiding from him. I have to try this one. I love the festive decorations too.

    Happy holidays, my friend! Wishing you continued laughter & love always.

    Tanti baci,
    Amy

  • Uj

    Looks wonderful.. That is a really good way to eat Zucchini. If someone makes cake like this I will eat bitter gourd too in it… For me all that matters is it is Chocolate!!! BTW when your daughter reads your blog she will get to know ;)I really admire your patience and skill to try so many wonderful dishes and on top of it.. to click pics that are tempting enough for everyone to try!
    Merry Christmas and a happy New year

  • noble pig

    I love zucchini and chocolate together. Your pictures are so beautiful and artful….love the stripes!

  • Gretchen Noelle

    This looks delicious! I love making things with hidden vegetables. My friends are always intrigued!

  • anudivya

    Gorgeous! I made cookies once with zucchini, didn’t have a good experience, turned out bitter!
    Love yours.
    Happy Holidays!

  • ovenhaven

    I would have never guessed there was zucchini in there! Great way to sneak in some veges 😛

    Here’s wishing you a great new year ahead, and happy holidays, my friend!

  • Snooky doodle

    Hope you had a nice Christmas! It’s always a joy visiting your blog . The photos are great and the food is superb 🙂 this chocoalte zucchini cake looks delicious. Thanks for sharing the recipe. Happy new year !

  • Mediterranean Turkish Cook

    Never heard of zucchini cake. But from the looks of it you cannot tell there’s zucchini in it. Happy Holidays to you and your family.

  • Mary

    Another fantastic cake for christmas ….i’m dreading the moment i have to jump on the scales !!

  • Gloria Chadwick

    Your cake looks fabulous. I’ll bet it was really good. You’re so funny–keeping the zucchini a secret from your kids.
    There’s an award for you on my blog. 🙂

  • Ivy

    First time I’ve heard about zucchini in a cake but it looks amazing. Happy Holidays and wishing you a happy new year. May all your dreams come true.

  • Lori Lynn

    You might run into trouble when they start reading your blog. haha

    The cakes look great, I have not-yet-used mini bundt pans too. You are inspiring me to bake something now.

    Hope you are enjoying the holidays!

    LL

  • Mary

    Hi, thanks for coming over and commenting my small cakes, its a sponge cake sliced and poured with this red liquore that gives it that look and put between two sheets of puff pastry already cooked and coated wiyh alot of icing sugar! Mary.

  • Kevin

    I really like the sound of a zucchini chocolate cake. The flecks of green in it look great!

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