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 a while. 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 Amish chocolate zucchini 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).
📋 The Amish and Zucchini
Zucchini is a rite of summer on most Amish farms. Zucchini is a versatile vegetable that can be used in many different dishes, making it a popular choice for Amish cooks. Some popular Amish zucchini recipes include:
- Zucchini bread
- Zucchini fritters
- Zucchini soup
- Zucchini lasagna
- Zucchini casserole
- Zucchini Brownies
- Zucchini Muffins
The Amish also use zucchini in their gardens as a way to control pests. Zucchini plants are a good trap crop for cucumber beetles, which can be a major problem for Amish farmers. The beetles are attracted to the zucchini plants, and they lay their eggs on the leaves. The eggs hatch into larvae, which feed on the zucchini plants. However, the larvae do not survive to adulthood, as they are unable to find food.
📜 Step-By-Step Zucchini Cake
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 cake as I spread. When I switched do 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. But a homemade cream cheese frosting or a brown sugar frosting would be super, and easy to make.
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.
You really do need a large mixing bowl for this, because there are a lot of ingredients. And since you are already adding cocoa to the mix, you could throw in some chocolate chips. Add a teaspoon salt if you like a little salty in your sweet.
Large eggs work best in the batter, not so much in a drawer.
Use a whisk or a wooden spoon to stir. You can also use an electric mixer. By the way, while all purpose flour is fine for this recipe, whole wheat flour is another great option for this zucchini cake recipe.
As far as cake recipes, go this is all pretty self-explanatory and easy to follow. But add grated zucchini into the flour mixture and wet ingredients.
This Amish zucchini cake recipe does not require much prep time, and the total time for doing this cake, baking included is less than 90 minutes.
The cake can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature, or you can stick in the fridge for a few days. I like a cold cake.
🥒 More Amish Zucchini Recipes
Zucchini Casserole - Delicious!
Zucchini Pecan Bread - Wow!
Zucchini Pie - A good pie!
Zucchini Cake - Moist!
🖨️ Full Recipe - Amish Zucchini Cake
Amish Zucchini Cake
Ingredients
- ¼ teaspoon baking powder
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 2 cups flour
- 1 tablespoon cinnamon
- 4 tablespoons cocoa, unsweetened
- 3 eggs
- 2 cups sugar
- 1 cup vegetable oil
- 1 tablespoon vanilla
- 2 cups zucchini, grated
- 1 cup walnuts
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
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!