With all the fresh fruits and vegetables in the farmers’ market right now there are so many wonderful things to bake I don’t even know where to start. Like everybody else I have an abundance of zucchini thanks to generous neighbors and friends and have prepared it in just about every way imaginable. I must be the last person on the planet to make a chocolate zucchini cake or bread and I finally got around to trying it. Verdict – I like it!
- 2 large eggs
- ⅓ cup honey
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon espresso powder, optional
- ⅓ cup baking or Dutch Process cocoa
- 1-2/3 cups all purpose flour
- 2 cups shredded, unpeeled zucchini, gently pressed
- 1 cup chocolate chips
- Preheat the oven to 350°F; lightly grease an 8½” x 4½” loaf pan.
- In a large mixing bowl, beat the eggs, honey, oil, sugar, and vanilla until smooth.
- Add the salt, baking soda, baking powder, espresso powder, cocoa, and flour, mixing until well combined.
- Stir in the zucchini and chocolate chips.
- Pour the batter into the prepared pan.
- Bake the bread for 65 to 75 minutes (my loaf took just 60 minutes to bake) until the loaf tests done (a toothpick or cake tester inserted into the center will come out clean, save for perhaps a light smear of chocolate from the melted chips).
- Remove the bread from the oven, and let it cool for 10 to 15 minutes before turning it out of the pan onto a rack.
- Cool completely before slicing; store well-wrapped, at room temperature.
This recipe makes a dense, moist, very chocolate-y bread that isn’t overly sweet and you would never know zucchini is in it if you didn’t see little shreds in the loaf. I added a cup of Scharffen Berger semisweet chocolate baking chunks to the batter and a lot of that wonderful, rich chocolate flavor of the bread came from them. I don’t think this will become my go-to zucchini bread recipe because I love the cinnamon and nut version that I have been making all my adult life, but it was fun to try it and I think chocolate and zucchini are a delicious combination of flavors. What do you think? Do you have a favorite bread or cake recipe?
This post is linked to the fabulous FOODIE FRIDAY at Rattlebridge Farm
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{ 26 comments… read them below or add one }
What a nice change..I live w/ a chocolate lover..Thank you Cathy.
I’ve never made one either. Looks delicious. Our squash made NADA this year. Don’t know what the problem with it was.
I haven’t tried chocolate zucchini bread yet Cathy. I love the looks of yours with the extra chocolate chunks and the espresso powder, plus it looks super moist.
Lynda recently posted..Chicken Cacciatore
A little bit of espresso powder really brings out the flavor of the chocolate, Lynda. And those wonderful chocolate chunks were fantastic in the recipe. I have another bag of them and can’t wait to try them in another recipe. Or just eat them as is!
Cathy recently posted..Chocolate Zucchini Bread
I have it in mind to make some chocolate zucchini cake with all that excess.
bellini recently posted..Remembering Julia Child with Caesar Salad
I can’t believe this has espresso powder in it and I ate it. Who knew? But it was tasty!!! Thanks for sharing with me. If you need more zucchini, let me know =o)
Erin @ Making Memories recently posted..Wordless Wednesday: A Day at the Beach
What a delicious way to get ones vegetables!
Best,
Bonnie
I’ve made chocolate zucchini cake, but never in loaf form like this, it looks rich and decadent!
Cathy, I’m totally with you about not knowing where to start with all the amazing produce available right now! And you have someone behind you; I haven’t tried thechocolate zucchini combination yet but you have enticed me once again!
The Café Sucré Farine recently posted..Roasted Tomato Gazpacho, No Peppers Please!
Your bread looks like it turned out great! My favorite is a lemon zucchini bread, not only very tasty but the zest and eggs even turn it a pretty yellow color. Enjoy:@)
Great idea to include chocolate. I haven’t made zucchini bread in years, but my SIL makes it all of the time. I will pass this along.
Sam
Sam @ My Carolina Kitchen recently posted..Green on Green Salad with Charred Corn, Chicken and Homemade Green Goddess Dressing
Bookmarked! This looks fantastic Cathy!
Pam recently posted..Lemony-Orzo Veggie Salad with Fresh Dill
Mmmmm…this looks so moist, so dense, so wonderful!!! I’m still waiting for someone to drop off a bag of zucchini at my doorstep…LOL…
Liz recently posted..Potato and Green Bean Salad with Dijon Vinaigrette~
I’ve got to make three loaves of zucchini bread this weekend. I usually make my lemon zucchini, but will give this a try. Especially if you say it’s not over sweet.
Lea Ann (Cooking on the Ranch) recently posted..Happy Birthday Julia…Julie and Julia’s Bruschetta…Julia Childs Quotes
Your bread looks scrumptious!
Barbara @ Barbara Bakes recently posted..Julia Child’s French Bread
A scrumptious chocolate zucchini loaf!
Angie@Angie’s Recipes recently posted..Pearled Spelt Zucchini Salad with Sundried Tomato Vinaigrette
I’ve never made a chocolate zucchini bread. This looks so good and I sure want to give it a try.
Kitty recently posted..Lemon Blueberry Yogurt Cake
Oooh,…Waw! What a stunning & truly appetizing chocolate zucchini bread! Looks mouthwatering even!
Yummmm! I can’t wait to make it, Cathy!
Sophie recently posted..Vegan spelt banana breads individualized, ooh yeah!
all of these zucchini bread recipes make me wish i had a garden, SO bad! this looks so delicious!
teresa recently posted..Pasta with Ham and Leeks
Anything with chocolate added to it is good for me!
Linda recently posted..Maine’s Gardens II
I seem to add chocolate to all of my zucchini-baked recipes so this one seems like a natural to me. I miss my zucchini plants this year
Susan recently posted..Grilled Shrimp and Halibut with Herb and Dijon Marinade
Divine combination of flavours and a very mouth watering result!
Cheers and hope you have a fantastic weekend,
Lia.
Lia recently posted..Blackcurrant jam / Doce de groselha preta!
That looks so moist Cathy!
You know I’m not a big chocolate-eater, but the Garden Club is coming here in October and this would be a lovely idea for the table. The coffee addition is a winner….makes everything chocolate taste so much better.
(I did another cc cookie tryout….will post it in September….and Valerie’s recipe used browned butter, cinnamon AND coffee in the recipe. It was divine. I think everything chocolate ought to have coffee with it, don’t you?)
Barbara recently posted..Buttermilk Cake with Fresh Apricot Compote
What an awesome looking bread, Cathy. Perfect for any time. Slurppp…
Have a great weekend.
Kristy
kristy recently posted..Mocha Sour Cream Cheese Cake (Non-Baked)
I have made your tasty chocolate zucchini bread & it was ooh so tasty & well-flavoured too! A big thanks to you!
xxx
Sophie recently posted..Vegan spelt banana breads individualized, ooh yeah!
Darn it, Cathy, this is the chocolate bread I should have made last week when I was craving it! Instead I made one that turned out rather dry. I am making this one next time. Gorgeous!
Jamie recently posted..A VISUAL FEAST