This Double Chocolate Zucchini Cake is super moist and extra chocolate-y. It’s topped with homemade chocolate frosting — because who doesn’t love to eat chocolate on chocolate?
Easy Zucchini Dessert Recipe
Have you ever tried chocolate zucchini cake? You don’t taste the zucchini at all, and instead you end up with the most delicious chocolate cake that’s moist with a soft, dense cake crumb.
Growing up, one of my favorite recipes was my mom’s simple chocolate cake. It was moist, not too rich, topped with chocolate buttercream, and perfect for children. She’d decorate it with candies for our birthdays, and I was always thrilled when she made it.
So when she told me one afternoon that she was making chocolate zucchini cake, I wasn’t impressed. The idea of vegetables in cake seemed wrong, and I felt she was ruining my favorite recipe. But after tasting the chocolate zucchini cake, I had to swallow my words (along with some cake). Because chocolate zucchini cake is delicious. So moist and full of chocolate goodness! I was converted.
What’s Needed for Double Chocolate Zucchini Cake?
For the zucchini cake itself, you’ll need the following ingredients:
- All-purpose flour
- Cocoa powder
- Baking powder
- Baking soda
- Salt
- Vegetable oil
- Granulated sugar
- Light brown sugar
- Eggs
- Vanilla extract
- Sour cream
- Shredded zucchini
And to make the BEST chocolate buttercream frosting, you’ll need:
- Unsalted butter
- Cocoa powder
- Heavy cream or milk
- Powdered sugar
How to Make Chocolate Zucchini Cake
The zucchini cake itself and the chocolate buttercream frosting are a breeze to make! Here’s how we make this chocolate zucchini cake with homemade chocolate frosting:
- Start by beating together the oil, sugar, eggs, vanilla, sour cream, and shredded zucchini.
- Then, whisk together the dry ingredients, then beat them into the wet mixture. Easy as that!
- After everything’s mixed together, pour the batter into a 9×13-inch pan and bake.
- Once the cake has cooled completely, top with homemade chocolate frosting.
Does Zucchini Cake Have to be Refrigerated?
No, this double chocolate zucchini cake does not have to be refrigerated, but it will keep for up to a week in the refrigerator.
Can You Freeze Zucchini Cake?
Yes! To freeze, simply wrap the zucchini cake tightly with aluminum foil or plastic freezer wrap, or place in heavy-duty freezer bag. This double chocolate zucchini cake will keep 2-3 months in the freezer. You can freeze the cake frosted or unfrosted, and the frosting freezes well by itself too!
Tips for Making Chocolate Zucchini Cake
For the shredded zucchini, if you find there’s excess liquid you can gently soak it up with a paper towel. Just make sure it isn’t dry when adding to the cake.
I also recommend shredding the zucchini using the finest side of your box grater. This way, you won’t bite down on any big chunks of zucchini by mistake.
The homemade chocolate frosting is a simple frosting recipe made with cocoa powder. However, I like to add a little cream cheese to cut the sweetness. If you don’t have cream cheese on hand, you can easily substitute it with more butter too as specified in the recipe.
More Zucchini Dessert Recipes:
- Double Chocolate Zucchini Muffins
- Chocolate Chip Zucchini Banana Bread
- The Perfect Zucchini Bread
- Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread
- Zucchini Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting
- Snickerdoodle Zucchini Bread
More EASY CAKE RECIPES You Have to Try:
- Chocolate Sheet Cake
- Banana Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
- Better Than Anything Cake
- Strawberries and Cream Jello Cake
- Easy Banana Cake Recipe (with Cake Mix!)
- Lemon Jello Cake
- All of our Cake Recipes here!
Double Chocolate Zucchini Cake
Double Chocolate Zucchini Cake
Description
Ingredients
For the Chocolate Zucchini Cake:
- 1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 2/3 cup vegetable oil, (or canola oil)
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 3/4 cup brown sugar, , packed
- 3 large eggs
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 2 cups shredded zucchini
For the Chocolate Frosting:
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter, , softened
- 2/3 cup usweetened cocoa powder
- 3-4 cups powdered sugar, , sifted
- 4-6 tablespoons heavy cream, (or milk)
Instructions
For the Chocolate Zucchini Cake:
- Preheat the oven to 350F degrees, then butter and flour a 9x13-inch baking pan.
- In a large bowl, sift together the flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
- In a separate large bowl using an electric mixer, beat together the oil, sugars, eggs and vanilla.
- Turn the mixer down to low speed, then carefully beat in the sour cream followed by the flour mixture.
- Stir in the shredded zucchini.
- Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 30-35 minutes or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.
For the Chocolate Frosting:
- Beat the butter in a large bowl until very soft.
- Beat in 2 cups of powdered sugar, followed by the cocoa powder.
- Beat in the rest of the powdered sugar, about 1/2 cup at a time alternating with 1 tablespoon of the heavy cream.
- Frost the cooled cake with a flat edge knife.
Terri
This cake was excellent. There was no sign of zucchini in it. So moist and delicious. So easy to make. I will be making this from now on especially when I have zucchini from the garden and even other times of the year. Thank you for such a great recipe!
Sweet Basil
Thank you so much for the feedback Terri and so glad you loved it!
Tonnie
I would like to try the recipe and just checking in to ask about how long you bake this. I didn’t see a time. Thank you!
Sweet Basil
Hi Tonnie! Step #7 says to bake for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. Enjoy!!
Katherine
Could I use cake flour instead of all-purpose flour? If so, how would it alter the results?
Sweet Basil
I’ve never tried it so I can’t answer.
Katherine
Can I freeze the double chocolate zucchini cake and if so, for how long will it keep in the freezer? Also, what should I freeze it in?
Sweet Basil
Hi Katherine, You can freeze the cake by letting it cool completely and wrapping it in saran wrap then freezing on a flat surface. It will keep for up to 8 weeks. Once you’re ready to eat just defrost and frost it!
Kathy
I made this yesterday and frosted it this morning. So easy and delicious!! Thanks for the great post and recipe!
Sweet Basil
So happy to hear that! Thanks Kathy! And by the way, a little jealous you get to eat it right now!
Shawnna Griffin
hey girl- this cake looks amazing!