Thursday, August 7, 2008

Chocolate Zucchini Cake/bread/muffins/whatever

  • 3 eggs
  • 2 cups white sugar
  • 1 cup safflower oil
      2 tbsp. ground flax meal
  • 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 2 cups grated zucchini
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom

  • Preheat oven to 350*.  

  • 1. In a large bowl beat the eggs. Beat in the sugar and oil. Add the cocoa, vanilla, zucchini and stir well.

  • 2. Stir in the flour, flax meal, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and cardamom. Mix until just moist.

  • 3. Pour batter into lightly greased loaf pans, Bundt pan or muffin tins (filling these last 2/3 of the way full.)  Bake at 350* for 20 to 25 minutes. Check doneness by sticking a toothpick in the middle. 

  • 4. Remove from pan and let cool on a wire rack. Store loosely covered.
I like to drizzle a glaze on the Bundt cake or even spread store-bought icing on the cupcakes.  My kids love this and I figure it's a good way to use up the zucchini bounty of summer!

NOTE: This makes 2 loaves and about 30 cupcakes.  One Bundt cake, of course.  

ANOTHER NOTE:     Sometimes I even make this in my breadmaker and it couldn't be simpler -- just throw all the ingredients in the pan at once.  I think this might be the preferred method because it breaks the grated zucchini up so much that it's not noticeable at all!  Plus, it is super easy.

LAST NOTE, I PROMISE:  This freezes VERY well, no matter which form you choose to bake.