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Kaleb Wyse wearing a black shirt standing in front of a taupe background.

Why I Love This Zucchini Cake

I love it when my nieces visit The Farm. Their humor and personalities give me so much joy! Every time we’re together, they want to bake together, and I have no problem with that! I’ve made this previously, but I hadn’t brought it to you in a video. So I’ve updated the recipe just slightly, but this is still the cake I grew up with. When you have an abundance of zucchini – and if you grow it, you most certainly do — this is a perfect way to use it!

Top down view of three brown colored zucchini cakes sitting on white plates with chocolate sauce drizzled all over the top all on white marble surface
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Chocolate & Zucchini Cake

4.67 from 9 votes
Whoever discovered that zucchini was useful for baking was a genius! This chocolate zucchini cake always turns out super moist and delicious!
Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 1 hour
Total: 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings: 18 mini Bundt cakes
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Ingredients

For the cake

  • 8 tbsp (1 stick) unsalted butter room temperature
  • ½ cup neutral oil
  • 1 ¾ cups granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • ½ cup buttermilk or sour milk (2 tsp vinegar with ½ cup milk)
  • 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
  • 4 tbsp Dutch-process cocoa powder
  • ½ tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • ½ tsp kosher salt
  • ¾ tsp ground cinnamon
  • ¾ tsp ground cloves
  • 2 cups grated zucchini seeds removed
  • ½ cup chocolate chips (miniature variety preferred)

For the ganache

  • 4 oz semi-sweet chocolate
  • ½ cup heavy cream

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray pans with nonstick baking spray and set aside.
  • Prepare the zucchini: Cut off the ends, scoop out the seeds, and grate the zucchini. Set aside.
    2 cups grated zucchini
  • I like to leave the skin on, but it can also be peeled.
  • Mix wet ingredients: Cream together butter, oil, and sugar until light and fluffy, 4 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, and vanilla extract, and mix until incorporated.
    8 tbsp (1 stick) unsalted butter, ½ cup neutral oil, 1 ¾ cups granulated sugar
  • Mix dry ingredients: In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and cloves.
    2 ½ cups all-purpose flour, 4 tbsp Dutch-process cocoa powder, ½ tsp baking powder, 1 tsp baking soda, ½ tsp kosher salt, ¾ tsp ground cinnamon, ¾ tsp ground cloves
  • Finish batter: Alternately add the dry ingredients with the buttermilk in three additions, beginning and ending with the dry. Stir in zucchini and chocolate chips.
    ½ cup buttermilk or sour milk (2 tsp vinegar with ½ cup milk)
  • Bake: Pour the batter into the prepared baking pans. Bake in the preheated 350°F oven until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean, about 20 minutes. I used miniature Bundt pans, which make approximately 18 cakes. Remove from oven and cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then turn out onto a cooling rack.
  • You can also make one large Bundt cake. Increase baking time to 45-60 minutes.
  • Prepare the ganache: Heat the heavy cream until steaming. Pour over the chopped chocolate and stir until smooth and melted. Drizzle ganache on slightly cooled cakes.

Video

YouTube video

Nutrition

Serving: 1 mini Bundt cakeCalories: 329 kcal

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Did you make this? Leave a comment below!

Close up view of brown colored chocolate zucchini cake dripping with chocolate frosting made from ganache sitting on white plate

Kaleb Wyse is a New York Times bestselling author behind the popular Wyse Guide website. Living on his fourth-generation Iowa farm, he loves sharing recipes and gardening tips that come from traditions that feel comfortably familiar. His down-to-earth style makes sustainable living and farm life feel like home!

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4.67 from 9 votes (4 ratings without comment)

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14 Comments

  1. Lori says:

    I made 100 loaves of zucchini bread one summer. I’ve never had chocolate zucchini cake sounds delicious .I swear I have a hobby of collecting recipes. I enjoy watching your videos

  2. George Lane says:

    Have this in the oven now! I will say it has a different aroma, probably from the cloves. But I can’t wait to taste it! Bringing it out now and letting it cool. I am also making the ganache because, well, why not!

  3. Trina says:

    Love watching your videos ! I’ve learned a lot and found things that we do the same way . Thank you for doing this ! Always watching from WVa

  4. Lisa P says:

    This is the first time I made this. Next time, I will not add the cloves. I may not add the cinnamon, either. Other than that, pretty good!

  5. Mary Lemieux says:

    Just made the chocolate cake. Its amazing!!!

  6. Jo Martinez says:

    5 stars
    Love this recipe. Been watching your videos on Facebook. Was wondering if there’s a way to make as cupcakes? What the baking time would be if its possible? Its for a pandemic treat to give as gifts to my hard working colleagues. Thanks. – Jo

  7. Grandma Meme says:

    5 stars
    Tried this today and it was a huge and amazing success! My 7 yr granddaughter who has such a negative attitude towards fruits and vegetables, that have to hide them in her food just loved this cake so much she wanted seconds. When her aunt, my daughter told her it had zucchini in it her mind was blown and still wanted more and a bigger piece.
    I have admit I did make some minor changes. I added espresso and exchanged brown sugar for granulated sugar. I also only used one egg verses two.
    This cake was moist and super fudge.
    Thanks for sharing this recipe.

  8. Nan says:

    Kaleb,
    Love your recipes! Thank you.
    Most zucchini recipes call for wringing the zucchini dry before using it. Did you dry yours in this recipe?

  9. Mariaelena says:

    Ty DELICIOUS 🎃🤗

  10. Corrine Hightower says:

    Watched you cook this cake last night you made it look so easy I want to try it this weekend. I love your show