Almost “Health Food” Dark Chocolate Zucchini Cake

I’ve never had a bundt pan. I know this is shocking. I seem to have every other kitchen contraption you can think of, from a citrus juicer to a baguette pan, but for some reason, a bundt pan never managed to creep its way into my kitchen. Which is really kind of sad when you think about it–all those delicious bundt cakes I’ve missed out on!

No more! I just happened to see the #BundtaMonth hashtag on Twitter last week and I’m so happy I did. The experience was just the instigator I needed. I promptly visited my coveted Ocean State Job Lot, picked out the best $4 bundt pan I could find, and was well on my way. No looking back now!

So how does this work exactly? An of Baker Street and Lora of Cake Duchess pick an ingredient or theme and we have to make a bundt cake recipe that utilizes it. Every month will be different. This month, they chose zucchini. Great timing with all that fresh zucchini available at the farmers’ markets right now!

Remember my frazzled muffin experience on Monday? Part of what contributed to the frenzy was the intent to bake my bundt cake immediately following the muffins. I figured that if I was going to be shredding zucchini, I may as well multi-task and kill two birds with one stone. Plus I really wanted to make my mom a cake for our birthdays party (we celebrate my three siblings’, my mom’s, and my birthdays all at one party). I had the perfect excuse!

It came out of the pan in one piece!

I was very nervous at the end and ran out of time to make a glaze. Despite the time constraints and last minute change to the recipe, it went well. The cake effortlessly slid out of the pan when I plated it at my parents’ house–my grandmother was impressed, I could tell–and looked great after a light dusting of confectioners sugar. Oh yeah, and I found out that chocolate zucchini cake is my mom’s favorite. How did I not know this before? This was kismet!

I was surprised by the taste. I expected it to be kind of…health food-y…given the ingredients. Instead, it’s incredibly rich and multi-dimensional. The confectioners sugar adds the perfect amount of sweetness. No trace of the zucchini aside from the moistness. Even on day two, it’s still really good. I highly recommend this.

Almost "Health Food" Dark Chocolate Chocolate Zucchini Cake

adapted from Out Of The Box Food

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 55 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr 15 minutes mins

Course Dessert

Servings 12

Ingredients

  

• 2 1/2 cups white whole wheat flour
• 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/4 cups ground flax meal
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 1/2 cup raw turbinado sugar
• 1/2 cup cinnamon applesauce I used homemade
• 1/2 cup raw milk you can use buttermilk, too
• 3 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup shredded zucchini 1 large or 2 small
• 1 cup bittersweet chocolate chips
• 3-4 Tablespoons confectioners sugar

Instructions

 

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease a 10-cup bundt pan well and dust with cocoa powder. Set aside.
• In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, flax meal, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon. Set aside.
• In another large bowl, stir the sugar and applesauce until well-blended.
• Add to it the raw milk, eggs, and vanilla extract, whisking until smooth.
• To the wet ingredients, add half the dry ingredients. Add the zucchini and stir until just incorporated.
• Pour the rest of the dry ingredients over the wet, add the chocolate chips, and again, stir until just incorporated.
• Pour into the prepared bundt pan.
• Place bundt pan on baking sheet and bake for 45-55 minutes, or until the top springs back when lightly touched.
• Cook on a wire rack for 15 minutes.
• Run a knife around the edges and then place a plate over the top, invert, and gently lift the bundt pan, releasing the cake.
• Cool completely before dusting with confectioners sugar.

Interested in joining in?

Here’s how to bake with #BundtaMonth:

• Bake your September #BundtaMonth Zucchini Bundt.
• Post it before September 30, 2012.
• Use the #BundtaMonth hashtag in your title. (For ex: title should read – #BundtaMonth: Chocolate Zucchini Bundt)
• Join the Bundt baking party! Share your link it to our blog hop by clicking here or here.
• Link back to both Lora‘s and An’s posts.

It’ll be… bundt-tastic. Alright, maybe that’s a bit dorky. But this will be fun! And tasty! That’s all I need. 🙂