Grated zucchini makes for a surprisingly rich and dense chocolate cake, and with chocolate ganache over top, this chocolate zucchini cake is fudgy and intensely chocolatey in just the right way.
Course Dessert
Keyword cake, chocolate cake, zucchini
Prep Time 30 minutesminutes
Cook Time 55 minutesminutes
Total Time 1 hourhour25 minutesminutes
Servings 112-inch bundt cake (12-16 servings)
Author katiebirdbakes.com
Ingredients
For the cake:
1cupunsalted butter, softened to room temperature(2 sticks)
1cupbrown sugar(packed)
3/4cupgranulated sugar
2largeeggs
1teaspoonvanilla extract
2 1/2cupsall-purpose flour
3/4cupcocoa powder
1teaspoonespresso powder(optional, brings out chocolate flavor)
1teaspoonbaking soda
1/2teaspoonbaking powder
1/2teaspoonsalt
1/2cupplain yogurt or sour cream
3cupsshredded zucchini(approx a 10" zucchini, see notes)
1/2cupchocolate chips
For the chocolate ganache:
1/2cupheavy cream
3/4cupchopped chocolate(or chocolate chips)
Instructions
For the cake:
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Generously grease a 12-cup bundt pan and set aside.
In a large bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa powder, espresso powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
In another large bowl, using a stand mixer with the paddle attachment or a hand mixer, cream the butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar together beginning on medium speed, then increasing to medium-high speed for about 2 minutes, until the mixture is fluffy.
Add the eggs one at a time, beating on medium speed each time until combined, followed by the vanilla.
Gently beat in in the yogurt (or sour cream) alternately with the flour mixture, on the lowest speed of your mixer, until a smooth batter is formed. It will be slightly thick for cake batter.
Fold in the shredded zucchini and chocolate chips with a spatula until evenly distributed. Scrape batter into the prepared pan and smooth it out evenly.
Bake for 50-55 minutes, until cake springs back when touched and a tester inserted in the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs attached.
Let cake cool in the pan on a wire rack for 10-15 minutes before running a butter knife or spatula along the outer and inner edges of the cake, and turning it out onto a plate to cool completely.
While cake is cooling, make the ganache: In a microwave-safe measuring cup or bowl, heat the heavy cream until lightly bubbling but not yet boiling, about 30-40 seconds in my microwave. You can also heat it on the stove.
While the cream is heating, place the chopped chocolate in a medium bowl. Pour the hot cream over the chocolate and let stand for about 30 seconds. Whisk the mixture until a smooth and glossy ganache forms. Pour over top of the cake while ganache is still warm; it will set as it cools. Serve!
Notes
*For the shredded zucchini, you can grate it by hand, or I used the grating blade of my food processor. I did not squeeze the moisture out of the zucchini; rather, I grated it before I started the cake, let it sit in a bowl during the 20 minutes or so I was making the batter, then poured off the liquid that had accumulated at the bottom of the bowl. The zucchini provides the necessary moisture and texture in this cake so don't squeeze too much moisture out of it!Cake will keep, well-wrapped at room temperature for 2-3 days or in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.Recipe adapted from King Arthur Flour.