Hang onto your seats, chocolate lovers. Are you ready for a supremely delicious cake recipe? Because have we got one for you! This chocolate zucchini cake is rich, chocolaty, and irresistibly good. Even if you don’t eat gluten free or dairy free (which we don’t), it’s an inventive way to eat real, whole foods in dessert form! This cake has gone on to be a family favorite in our household. The zucchini makes it ultra moist, and it’s gooey and just sweet enough. It’s truly a stunner! Here’s how to make it.
Ingredients in chocolate zucchini cake
Alex and I don’t subscribe to a specific diet, but we love the creativity making whole food recipes for people with different food philosophies. Often we create gluten free and vegan desserts for everyone to enjoy, like our fan favorite chocolate peanut butter bliss bites. That’s exactly the philosophy behind this gluten free dairy free cake! Here are the ingredients you’ll need for this chocolate zucchini cake. You’ll notice they’re all good for you whole foods: so you can feel good about serving it to your family!
Almond butter This adds fat and texture, instead of butter! For nut allergies, use sunflower butter. Zucchini Shredded zucchini brings moisture and a fluffy texture!Maple syrupCocoa powderEgg For vegan, use a flax eggVanilla extractBaking sodaDark chocolate chips If you eat dairy free, use dairy-free chocolate chipsInstant coffee powder (optional)
How to serve chocolate zucchini cake
From the first bite, this chocolate zucchini cake was a favorite in our house! It’s surprising how the texture of all the ingredients comes together into something cake-like, even though there’s no flour present. This cake would be perfect for a summer cookout, since it would satisfy almost every diet in the crowd! Usually we eat it plain, but here are some ways to step it up! Serve it with:
Vanilla ice cream, regular or veganWhipped cream, like this homemade whipped cream recipe or yogurt whipped creamVegan whipped cream, like our coconut whipped cream
Variations: make it vegan!
Want to make this chocolate zucchini cake vegan? It’s already dairy free, but it’s got 1 egg. How to make it vegan? Use a flax egg! A flax egg is simply ground flax seed and water, which combine into a binder that’s often used in vegan baked goods. It works well here as a binder for this cake, especially since it’s a sheet cake. Head to How to Make a Flax Egg.
About the book: Kitchen Matters
This recipe is comes from the cookbook Kitchen Matters by Pamela Salzman. Pamela is all about eating real food, not too much, and mostly plants: just like us! She says in the introduction to her book: “I believe with 100 percent certainty that what you eat matters more than anything else. You are the one who chooses what goes into your shopping cart and frying pan. If you want to be healthy, cooking as much nutrient-dense food as often as you can is a good place to start. Your health matters–and your kitchen matters.” The recipes in Pamela’s Kitchen Matters book are heavy on the vegetables and full of meals the entire family can enjoy no matter their food philosophies or eating preferences. Get the book here: Kitchen Matters by Pamela Salzman Congratulations to Pamela on an incredible chocolate zucchini cake recipe and a fantastic book! We’re applauding over here, our mouths stuffed with chocolate. Our little chocolate monster Larson is a HUGE fan of this gluten free chocolate cake! If you follow us on Instagram, you may have seen that he can say Chocolate now (even before Mama–and I couldn’t be more proud!).
This chocolate zucchini cake recipe is…
Grain free, Paleo, dairy free, gluten free, and vegetarian. For vegan, substitute a flax egg.
More gluten free desserts
This chocolate zucchini cake is one of our favorite dessert recipes…ever! Here are some more favorite gluten free desserts: 5 from 4 reviews
Gluten Free Peanut Butter CookiesVegan No Bake CookiesVegan Chocolate Chip Cookies Classic Strawberry Crumble or Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp (gluten free option)Easy Blueberry Crisp Chocolate Sweet Cherry Vegan TartsBalsamic Blackberry Vegan CheesecakesAmazing Gluten Free BrowniesEasy Bananas Foster
Last updated: June 2020
