Chocolate Zucchini Walnut Cake with Creamy Cocoa Frosting

Ingredients

For the Cake:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup oil
- 1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
- 1 1/2 cups sugar
- 3 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup buttermilk
- 2 cups grated zucchini
- 1 cup chocolate chips
- 3/4 cup walnuts or nuts, chopped

For the Frosting:
- 1/4 cup butter, softened
- 1/4 cup cocoa powder
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla flavoring
- 2 1/2 cups powdered sugar

Instructions

1. Preheat and Prepare:
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and lightly flour a 9x13-inch baking pan.

2. Mix Dry Ingredients:
In a medium-sized bowl, combine the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt. Whisk together until evenly mixed.

3. Cream Butter and Sugar:
In a large bowl, beat together the softened butter, oil, and sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy. This should take about 3-4 minutes using an electric mixer on medium speed.

4. Add Eggs and Vanilla:
Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract until incorporated.

5. Incorporate Dry Mixture and Buttermilk:
Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet ingredients, alternating with the buttermilk, starting and ending with the flour mixture. Mix until just combined.

6. Fold in Zucchini, Chocolate Chips, and Nuts:
Gently fold in the grated zucchini, chocolate chips, and chopped nuts into the batter until evenly distributed.

7. Bake the Cake:
Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan and smooth the top with a spatula. Bake in the preheated oven for 40-45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

8. Prepare the Frosting:
In a medium bowl, beat the softened butter until creamy. Gradually add the cocoa powder and powdered sugar, alternating with the milk. Add the vanilla flavoring and continue to beat until smooth and spreadable.

9. Cool and Frost:
Allow the cake to cool completely in the pan on a wire rack. Once cooled, spread the cocoa frosting evenly over the top of the cake using a spatula.

10. Serve:
Slice the cake into squares and serve, enjoying the rich, chocolatey flavors complemented by the subtle crunch of walnuts.

Preparation & Cooking Times

- Preparation Time:
PT20M
20 minutes

- Cooking Time:
PT45M
45 minutes

Total Time

PT1H5M
1 hour and 5 minutes

Type of Dish

Dessert

Keywords

Chocolate zucchini cake, walnut cake, cocoa frosting, zucchini dessert, nutty chocolate cake, chocolate chip dessert, easy baking, homemade cake, buttermilk cake, gourmet dessert

Recipe Yield

Feeds 4 adults

Calories

Total Calories: 2,500

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