Super Moist Chocolate Zucchini Cake

Two things that I know to be fact are:

1 – It can be hard to get your daily requirement of fruits and vegetables.

2 – If you grow zucchini, right about now you’re trying to figure out any possible way to use or get rid of them.

I’ve got a bit of a solution for you – a super moist chocolate zucchini cake.  Yes, I said zucchini chocolate cake.  And no, it doesn’t taste like zucchini.  In fact, no one will even know that it’s in there.  One of the reasons why this cake is so moist is because of the zucchini that’s in it.  In case you never noticed, zucchini has a lot of water in it.

When I was growing up, this cake and zucchini bread were pretty much the only way I liked eating zucchini that my mom would make.  My mom already knows how I feel about her zucchini preparation and I even called her out on it back when I posted that zucchini soup recipe. If you need a quick refresher…she would fry it up in a pan to the point where it was a slimy gelatinous glob that looked and felt like I was eating a slug.  Yes, I do know what it’s like to eat a slug.  My two (male) cousins liked to torture me when we were kids.  I only have mild ticks and one permanent welt as a result of spending time with them.

I still love this cake because it’s really easy to make (no frosting required – woo hoo) and it’s not a super rich chocolate cake.  So you don’t feel like you ate a brick and then, shortly thereafter, fall into a sugar coma.

The other really great thing about this cake is that it calls for a good amount of shredded zucchini.  For those of you who are moms and can’t get your kids to eat enough vegetables, this cake is a Godsend.  I don’t have kids, unless you count Craig and the dog (which I do on most days because that’s how they act), and Craig really likes zucchini but he likes chocolate cake even more.  I get to kill two birds with one stone.

Relationship Advice

No one’s ass should grow proportionately to the number of months or years they are in a relationship.  Contrary to popular belief, that is not a law of nature.  Don’t believe me?  Google it.

While you may be thinking that I am talking about women in relationships…WRONG.  I’m talking about guys.  Okay, so a guys ass isn’t what usually grows as much as their belly does.  For this discussion, it’s the same thing.  So what can you do about it?  I thought you’d never ask.

Make your date night an activity: play tennis, ride your bikes, take a sunset walk (awww how romantic) or shoot some hoops.  Walking to the ice cream shop is not what I’m talking about here.
Don’t keep favorite snacks around the house.  If the craving really hits, then a trip to the store must be made.  You’ll find out how bad a craving really is.  If you’re so motivated for those cheese doodles that you’re willing to head to the grocery store in your slippers, then have at it.  (But I’m guessing if eating them requires you to move out of a comfortable place, there will be no cheese doodle bender.
Twice a month cook dinner together.  This will give you more bonding time and you can take a food adventure by trying to make a more complicated dish.  Since there’s 2 of you working on it, it won’t be as time consuming.  Take turns being chef and sous chef. (muahahah…this gets you into a little role playing that may spill over into the bedroom.  Hey, then you’ll be burning some extra calories too.)
Try making some ingredient substitutions for healthier alternatives.  Or try slipping vegetables into some dishes that don’t normally have vegetables in them. (Like mac and cheese or hey, this chocolate zucchini cake.)

Makes 1 9″ x 13″ Sheet Cake

Ingredients

1/2 Cup Unsalted Butter
1/2 Cup Vegetable Oil*
1 3/4 Cups Sugar
2 Eggs
1 Teaspoon Vanilla
1/2 Cup Buttermilk (or see buttermilk substitute recipe)
3 Cups All Purpose Flour
1/2 Teaspoon Baking Soda
1 Teaspoon Baking Powder
1 Teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
1/2 Teaspoon Ground Cloves
4 Tablespoons Cocoa Powder
2 Cups Shredded Zucchini (from roughly 1 pound of zucchini)
1 Cup Chocolate Chips (divided)

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Farnenheit.

In a mixing bowl cream butter, oil and sugar together.

To the creamed mixture add the eggs, vanilla and buttermilk.  Mix until thoroughly combined.

In a separate bowl thoroughly mix, or sift, the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, ground cloves and cocoa together.

Add the dry mixture to the wet ingredients in the mixing bowl.  Add the dry ingredients in thirds and mix each addition thoroughly before adding the next.

Stir in the shredded zucchini and 1/2 cup of the chocolate chips. Mix until thoroughly combined.

Pour batter into a greased and floured 9″ x 13″ pan and make sure batter is level.

Sprinkle the top with the remaining 1/2 cup of chocolate chips.

Bake for 50 minutes or when a toothpick, inserted in the center, comes out clean.

No frosting necessary.

* To lighten up this cake, you can substitute 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce for 1/4 cup of oil.

Tags: chocolate recipes, chocolate zucchini cake, Dessert, Easy Cooking, easy dessert recipes, Easy Recipe, Easy Recipes, Relationship Advice, rich chocolate cake, super moist zucchini cake, vegetables, Vegetarian Recipes

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