The hot temperatures in Utah have made my garden explode. I picked my first zucchini on July 2nd and immediately went into the house and made zucchini pancakes. They were delicious.
Right on schedule the raspberries are ripe and ready around July 4th. While picking raspberries I noticed I had a basket full of zucchini ready to pick. Dang! I have to hide it before it mysteriously ends up on my roof or the garbage cans.
I decided to combine zucchini and raspberries. I’ll hide the zucchini in a cake, which makes an incredibly moist cake, and top it with raspberries and he will never know.
Spray a 12 x 18-inch baking pan with a non-stick stray or lightly grease and flour.
Line the baking sheet with parchment paper.
Spray the parchment with non-stick spray. This will make it easy to remove the cake from the pan without the cake breaking or sticking.
Grate 2 cups fresh zucchini. Set aside.
In a large bowl add 2 1/2 cups flour and 1/2 cup cocoa.
Add 2 teaspoons baking soda and 1 teaspoon salt.
Sift together.
Set aside.
In a large bowl, add the eggs.
Slowly add 2 cups sugar while mixing the eggs.
Beat until the mixture is light yellow.
While the mixer is running slowly add the 1 cup oil.
Add 1/2 cup buttermilk.
And 2 teaspoons vanilla.
Mix well.
Mix the in the flour/cocoa mixture.
Fold in shredded zucchini.
Add 1/2 cup boiling water and mix thoroughly.
Pour batter into prepared baking sheet.
Spread evenly and bake in a 350 degree oven for 25 minutes.
Or until the cake springs back when lightly touched.
Remove from oven and let cool for 5 minutes.
Run a knife around the edges of the cake to release from the sides of the pan.
Place the cooling rack on top of the cake and carefully invert cake onto the cooling rack.
Carefully remove the parchment paper.
Allow cake to completely cool.
Using a 3-inch biscuit or cookie cutter cut out 14 rounds of cake. Sometimes I partially freeze the cake, which makes this process a bit easier. Set the cakes aside.
You will have excess cake left over from around the circles. Not a problem. I have always found someone willing to eat them.
For the chocolate glaze and whipped cream filling you will need:
6 ounces chopped semi-sweet chocolate
6 tablespoons boiling water
2 cups heavy cream
2 tablespoons confectioners sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
Raspberries
In the top of a double boiler, bain marie, or a bowl placed over a small saucepan, add the chopped chocolate.
Stir chocolate over simmering water until completely melted.
Immediately pour 6 tablespoons of boiling water into the melted chocolate.
I know what you’re thinking…if she adds the water the chocolate will seize. Not if you add it all at once. This will make a wonderful chocolate glaze.
Stir until the glaze is smooth and has a thin consistency.
Place 1/2 of the cakes (7 of them) on a rack over a baking sheet.
Spoon chocolate glaze over the tops.
Spread the chocolate until the glaze begins to drip down the sides.
Let the cakes sit while the chocolate becomes firm. This will take 20-30 minutes. If you place them in the refrigerator the chocolate will loose it’s pretty shine.
For the cream filling:
Pour 2 cups of heavy cream into a large bowl.
Add 2 tablespoons confectioners sugar.
And 1 teaspoons vanilla.
Beat until stiff.
To assemble the cakes:
Place one of the un-iced cakes on a plate or platter.
Spread with whipped cream. You can put the cream in a pastry bag fitted with a large tip or just dollop the cream on top of the cake.
Add raspberries, or strawberries, or fresh fruit of your choice.
Top with a glazed cake.
Pipe on a bit more whipped cream.
Garnish with more raspberries. A delicious way to use the abundance of zucchini this season.
Oh my gosh! I’m in the process of devouring this photo…This. Is. Amazing.
Chocolate Zucchini Sheet Cake
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
- 1/2 cup cocoa
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 eggs
- 2 cups sugar
- 1 cup light flavored olive oil
- 1/2 cup buttermilk
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- 1/2 cup boiling water
- 2 cups grated zucchini
Glaze and filling:
- 6 ounces chopped semi-sweet chocolate
- 6 tablespoons boiling water
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 2 tablespoons confectioners sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- Raspberries
Instructions
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Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 12 x 18-inch baking sheet with nonstick spray. Line with a sheet of parchment paper and spray parchment with nonstick spray. Set aside. In a large bowl sift together flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt. Set aside. In the bowl of a stand up mixer beat eggs, With the mixer running, slowly add sugar and mix until light yellow in color. Slowly add olive oil, buttermilk and vanilla. Mix until smooth and light in color. Beat in flour and cocoa mixture until smooth. Fold in grated zucchini then boiling water. Pour batter into prepared baking sheet and place in preheated oven. Bake for 25 minutes or until cake springs back when lightly touched. Remove from oven and cool for 5 minutes. Invert cake onto a cooling rack and cool completely.
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Using a 3-inch circle cookie cutter, cut 14 circles out of the cake. Place 7 of the round cakes onto a rack placed over a baking sheet. Spread a heaping tablespoon full of glaze over each cake. Spread until the glaze starts to drip over the edges of cakes. Allow glaze to harden for 20-30 minutes.
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To assemble: Place an un-glazed cake on a serving plate and top with a large dollop of whipped cream. Top with fresh raspberries. Top with the chocolate glazed cake round. Add another dollop of whipped cream and garnish with more raspberries. Refrigerate until ready to serve. Makes 7 double layer cakes.
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To prepare the glaze:
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Place chopped chocolate in the top of a double boiler that is sitting over simmering water. Stir until chocolate is melted. Immediately add the boiling water all at once. Stir until smooth.
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For whipping cream filling:
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Add heavy cream to a large mixing bowl. Add confectioners sugar and vanilla. Beat until soft peaks form.
That's sound great. This recipe is pretty versatile. You can even make it as a sheet cake. Thanks so much for sharing your birthday cake idea.
Just made this yesterday for my birthday. So simple and easy… my 2 year old helped. I made is as 1, 2 layer cake and just had to bake it a little longer, but it came out great. Thinking about doing it your way for a baby shower I am throwing this weekend. Delicious! Thank you!!!
Just found your blog while searching for chocolate zucchini sheet cake recipes!! I'm also a fellow Utahan! I'm needing this recipe for a part of 55 people… should I make 2 or three of these cakes. I will not be serving them in stacks but just in simple squares from the pan (it's kind of a rustic affair). Please let me know what you think. Thanks!!
Hi Becky, I love your blog. I found you a couple of years ago while searching for vintage anything in SLC for my daughters wedding. I've been checking your blog regularly ever since. If you cut the squares into 3 x 4 you would get about 20 servings. You may want to make 3 to be safe, depending on how large you cut each serving. Leftovers freeze great. I tend to lean having more than worrying about running out. Sounds like a fun affair. I hope your guests love the cake. It's really delicious. My husband had no idea there was zucchini in it. He pretty much polished off any scraps. Enjoy.
i was going to ask if he ate the cake! hahaahaha look amazing and delicious! very good recipe, i'll try it soon, here in Brasil is always easy to find good Zucchini, that we call "abobrinha" like a little pumpkin (abรณbora).
Congratยดs
Thanks for your comment, Rafaella. I would love to try your abobrinha.
Yum! Don't leave us in suspense! Did Keith eat the cake?!
He totally ate the cake along with all the leftover pieces that were cut away. Deception works!
Oh my gosh, zucchini or no zucchini, Keith is one lucky dog to have a wife who can cook like this! That cake looks moist and incredible and the fresh raspberries are amazing. I would be a stalker if I lived in Utah!!
I keep telling him how lucky he is. I've been telling him for 34 years now. I don't think he's convinced. You can stalk my garden anytime.
The zucchinis have to go somewhere, right? Gorgeous cake. Gorgeous photos. I only wish I were actually in your kitchen eating those leftover cake nibbles.
You are so right. I wish you were her to eat the leftover cakes nibbles too. My thighs definitely don't need that much cake.
Janet, that looks amazing! What about this: Your husband and I make a house swap: He comes here, where the courgette season is like six months away (and my mom is harvesting the firsts citrus) and I go to your place and eat all those evil zucchinis?? Everybody wins!
I haven't forgotten to tell you about my dad's cake, is just that he has to travel for work and we will celebrate when he returns in mid August.
I hope that you're having a lovely summer!
Kisses,
Dani
It's a deal!!!! Where do I send him?
Holy cow! This looks amazing!! Who knew you could take zucchini cake to such decadence?? I love your blog. I'm so making this. And the timing couldn't be more perfect because I just happened to purchase a biscuit cutter that size a few weeks ago:).
With chocolate anything is possible. I hope you try them soon.
It looks really beautiful, like you could serve in those fancy coolers or in a nice restaurant–good job! ๐
Thanks Heather.
Love your story, the beautiful pictures and the lovely cake! Can't wait to try making it and sharing with my family.
Why thank you Lucy. I hope you try it.