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Chocolate Chip Zucchini Cake

Chocolate Chip Zucchini Cake – a tender and moist zucchini cake with lots of chocolate chips, and topped with a Nutella frosting.

I love baking with zucchini. There are so many great zucchini recipes, I just want do nothing but bake all August long. Zucchini bread might be one of my favorite things to make, but this zucchini cake is right up there!

Zucchini recipes are obviously more than just baking.  Using it place of pasta is all the rage, but I am more of a Zucchini Fritters or grilled zucchini kind of person.  It is actually one of my favorite things to put in my Kung Pao Chicken too.

zucchini chocolate chip cake with nutella buttercream frosting on a plate

 

My family loves muffins. I almost always have a freezer full of muffins for quick weekday breakfast. And zucchini muffins are a staple in the fall. They really are just an excuse to eat cake for breakfast. But this chocolate chip zucchini cake is topped with a Nutella frosting, which makes it over the top amazing!

Chocolate and zucchini go really well together, but I wanted a cake that just had a little chocolate.  This Chocolate Zucchini Cake is full on chocolate with chocolate frosting if that is more your thing.  This one is full of cinnamon, so it has the spice and fall flavors I think of with zucchini and fall baking.

Chocolate Chip Zucchini Cake {Dinners, Dishes, and Desserts}

In case you hadn’t noticed, I kind of have a thing for Nutella.  I actually make this same Nutella frosting years ago when I made these Nutella Cupcakes.  I have always wanted to make it again, and this zucchini cake seemed like the perfect pair.  I mean, when isn’t Nutella the answer?

The cake is dense but still super tender and moist, with just a hint of cinnamon.  It is perfect if you have zucchini sitting around and aren’t sure what to do with it.  Make this chocolate chip zucchini cake and impressive everyone.

zucchini chocolate chip cake with nutella buttercream frosting on a plate

So if you are looking for something new to try with zucchini, this zucchini cake is it!  It is perfect for parties and any summer entertaining that you have. And the Nutella frosting is what takes this over the top. You can use your favorite chocolate frosting, but trust me and try this version with Nutella!

And if you have picky eaters feel free to peel the zucchini before shredding it and putting in this cake.  Then they will never see any green flecks or have any idea they are eating anything but a delicious chocolate chip cake.

close up of zucchini chocolate chip cake with nutella buttercream frosting on a plate

Yield: 24

Chocolate Chip Zucchini Cake

zucchini chocolate chip cake with nutella buttercream frosting on a plate

Chocolate Chip Zucchini Cake - a tender and moist zucchini cake with lots of chocolate chips, and topped with a Nutella frosting.

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes

Ingredients

Cake

  • 3 cups flour
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 3 eggs
  • 3/4 cup oil
  • 3 cups zucchini, , shredded
  • 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

Nutella Frosting

  • 1/2 cup butter, , softened
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1/3 cup milk
  • 1/2 cup Nutella
  • 2 - 3 cups powdered Sugar

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Generously grease a 13x9 inch baking pan. Set aside.
  2. In a large bowl mix together flour, sugar, brown sugar, salt, baking soda, baking powder and cinnamon.
  3. In a separate bowl mix together vanilla, eggs and oil. Add flour mixture and fold until mostly combined. Add zucchini (do not drain), and mix until fully incorporated. Fold in chocolate chips.
  4. Pour into prepared pan. Bake for 35-40 minutes until a tester comes out clean.
  5. Cool completely.
  6. Meanwhile prepare the frosting. Mix together all of the ingredients until well blended. Beat until fluffy. Adjust the milk and sugar as necessary to get a spreadable consistency.
  7. Once the cake is completely cool frost.

Nutrition Information

Yield

24

Serving Size

1

Amount Per Serving Calories 432Total Fat 17gSaturated Fat 7gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 9gCholesterol 34mgSodium 244mgCarbohydrates 69gFiber 2gSugar 54gProtein 4g

Did you make this recipe?

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Erin S
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Julie

Tuesday 8th of August 2023

By far the BEST zucchini cake I've ever made or had. I love that it uses a good amount of zucchini with no draining/squeezing is required. I've made this twice now, one as a 9x13 and the other as a layer cake (two 9-inch round pans) and both times the results were perfect. The only change I made was to reduce the chocolate chips to one cup (it's quite sweet) and I used an ermine icing, which is less sweet. This one is a keeper!

Diane West

Friday 3rd of July 2020

I used butter instead of oil.No other changes. This cake was moist and delicious, and the frosting was perfect with it! Try it!

Sandra | A Dash of Sanity

Sunday 12th of August 2018

This looks and sounds amazing! Would love to give it a try!

Abeer

Friday 10th of August 2018

This cake would be so great for breakfast!

Cathy

Friday 10th of August 2018

Ooooh I love that there's frosting on this! It sounds so good!

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