By Kevin Williams
Seems everyone has zucchini coming out of their ears this time of year. My neighbors recently generously foisted a huge one on us the other day and it sat in our kitchen for awhile. What to do with it? This was the size of a Louisville Slugger. Well, make the best zucchini cake ever!
I think both of my girls were horrified at the thought of putting zucchini into a perfectly fine chocolate cake. And Beatrice vowed she wouldn't eat it. But once it was out of the oven and she smelled the chocolatey goodness and saw how much her older sister liked the cake, Bea was quick to get onboard. And both girls declared it the "best cake ever." (until they try another cake and then they'll bestow that honor on that one and on and on)
I peeled and then grated the zucchini, but you wouldn't have to peel it. I was pressed for time and didn't want to dirty any more dishes than I already had so I just used canned frosting. SIGH, I used a "paddle" to spread the frosting on the cake and that crumbled the egg as I spread. When I switched dto a butter knife, I didn't have that issue. So, use a butter knife, although, honestly, I kind of liked the little cake crumbles mixed into the frosting.
This is a wonderfully moist cake, packed with flavor, and you can just mix everything with a wooden spoon. That is what Aster did, no need for a mixer. Enjoy the cake, this recipe comes to us from the original Amish Cook who put it in her column over 20 years ago.
Aster with the monster-sized zucchini
Mix your dry ingredients
If you are going to have your 6 year old crack eggs, make sure the kitchen drawers are closed. She is REALLY good at cracking eggs, but somehow, incredulously, she missed the bowl on one of them and cracked it right into an open drawer. Glad it missed the Scotch tape....
Eggs into the mix
Add grated zucchini
SIGH, forgot to photograph the whole cake after we frosted it or after it came out of the oven, but this is some of it...it is tasty!
I like the little flecks of cake in the frosting....
- 2 cups Flour
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- ¼ teaspoon Baking Powder
- 2 teaspoons Baking Soda
- 1 tablespoon Cinnamon
- 4 tablespoons Cocoa, unsweetened
- 3 Eggs
- 2 cups Sugar
- 1 cup Oil
- 1 Tablespoon Vanilla
- 2 cups Zucchini - grated
- 1 cup Nuts - I like walnuts in this recipe
- cups Flour
- teaspoon Salt
- /4 teaspoon Baking Powder
- teaspoons Baking Soda
- tablespoon Cinnamon
- tablespoons Cocoa, unsweetened
- Eggs
- cups Sugar
- cup Oil
- Tablespoon Vanilla
- cups Zucchini - grated
- cup Nuts - I like walnuts in this recipe
- Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees and lightly spray 13x9 pan with cooking spray
- Mix all ingredients in a large bowl until well combined, do not overmix
- Pour into pan and bake for 50-60 minutes or when a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean
- Cool completely
- Dust with powdered sugar and serve with whipping cream if desired
- Notes
- You can peel the zucchini or leave the peel on, either way is fine. Then roughly chop and grate in the food processor.
Lillian
Sure sounds good. I am going to make it. Loved seeing Aster with that large zucchini.
Kevin
Good luck with it, it was a good cake!
Cathie Kukec
Kevin,
You are the most patient father ever! I love your stories of Bea and Aster, they are going to grow up with wonderful values! Going to make the zucchini cake tonight, just picked up a couple zucchini and fresh cocoa yesterday.
Regarding the emails, I love receiving your daily updates. I feel like you are an old friend speaking to me and I anxiously wait for my daily updates!
Kevin
Thank you for the kind words, Cathie, and good luck with the cake, it turned out really well for us!
Judy Hill
I agree so much with Cathie! I will be making this cake! I just love the recipes and reading the updates. Thank you so much, Kevin!!
Kevin
Thanks, Judy, good luck with the cake!
Sande Sawyers
Your instructions threw me big time! I'm still not sure of it but.. we'll see... Have a great one and keep safe and keep prayers going for more festivals!!!!!!!!
Kevin
Thanks, Sande, good luck with the cake, it's basically just stir it and bake it!