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    Home » Recipes » Cakes

    Published: Mar 7, 2017 · Modified: Jan 4, 2022 by joskitchenlarder · 20 Comments. · This post may contain affiliate links ·

    Chocolate Courgette Cake (Chocolate Zucchini Cake)

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe Bookmark Bookmarked!

    This super easy and "not so good for you" Chocolate Courgette Cake is super moist, fudgy & oh so chocolatey. It's a chocolate cake with a difference and with added veggie goodness that will surprise the biggest sceptics. No taste of courgette (zucchini) at all, just pure chocolate heaven!

    Iced Chocolate Courgette (Zucchini) Cake.

    I must warn you from the start, this chocolate courgette cake recipe is not even remotely healthy, sorry. Ok, it does contain a vegetable plus substantial amount of good quality dark chocolate so maybe a bit. Ok, let's say a bit!

    What it is for sure though, it is super moist, fudgy and oh so chocolatey! This really is one of the best chocolate cakes I have ever eaten!

    As far as courgette (zucchini) is concerned you REALLY cannot taste it! Yes it's there (lots and lots of it) and it provides goodness (of course!) and moisture but that's it. All you can taste is gorgeous chocolate! That's what it's all about!

    Useful tips when baking Chocolate Courgette Cake!

    1. There is no need to peel courgette (zucchini) before grating. However if you are using overgrown specimen you might want to scoop out and discard the seeds. You won't have to do this when using young vegetables. To grate I use coarse side on a standard box grater.
    1. Courgette (zucchini) contains a lot of water so once grated pop it onto a sieve over the sink and try to squeeze as much liquid out of it as possible. Alternatively, you can use clean tea towel or a muslin cloth to squeeze the liquid out.
    1. Make sure you start checking on your cake about 10 minutes before the end of recommended baking time. Baking time will be strictly related to the size of your tin. Do your first skewer test and if not clean, give your cake another 5-10 min and check again. Repeat if necessary. If you are using similar cake size to mine (24-25 cm round springform tin), it should take approx 50-55 min for the cake to be ready.
    1. When you start adding dry ingredients alternating with yogurt/sour cream, make sure you ONLY mix until the ingredients are incorporated. DO NOT overmix as this will result in a denser cake.
    Slice of Chocolate Courgette (Zucchini) Cake on a plate.

    How to make Chocolate Courgette Cake

    All the ingredients should be at room temperature. Sieve flour, salt, cocoa powder, baking powder and baking soda and put aside. Instead of sieving your dry ingredient you might want to use my little hack and give them a mix with a whisk (yes your regular kitchen balloon whisk). This will aerate all of your dry ingredients and get rid of any lumps.

    Put butter and sugar in a large bowl or bowl of your standing mixer and mix together until light and fluffy (use paddle attachment on your standing mixer or a hand blender). Add eggs one at a time and continue mixing. Gradually add oil and vanilla.

    Add sieved dry ingredients in three parts alternating with sour cream/yogurt. Mix only until all the ingredients are incorporated, do not over mix. Add courgette (zucchini) and chocolate chips and fold them in gently.

    Put the mixture in a baking tin lined with baking paper and bake for approx 50-55 mins at 160C/320F/Gas Mark 3 until the skewer inserted into centre comes out clean. Take the cake out of the oven and let it cool before spreading chocolate ganache.

    To make ganache, put butter and chopped dark chocolate in a pan on low heat and mix until melted and combined. Cool slightly, spread onto your cake and enjoy!

    • Grated courgette (zucchini) in a bowl.
    • Cake in a tin ready for the oven.

    Chocolate Courgette Cake - Storing & Freezing

    This delicious cake can be kept at room temperature in airtight container for 2-3 days or up to 5 days in the fridge. If storing in the fridge bring it to room temperature before serving.

    You can freeze the cake including ganache for up to 4 months but make sure that the ganache is well set first.

    It would be best if you pop it in the fridge first to firm up as it will make easier to wrap the cake in preparation for freezing.

    Make sure you wrap the cake tightly in cling film and aluminium foil or alternatively pop cling film wrapped cake into plastic container.

    Defrost at room temperature.

    Have you tried my Chocolate Courgette Cake?
    Please consider giving it ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating in recipe card below and share your views or tips in the comments.

    Chocolate Courgette Cake slice on a plate.

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    📋 Recipe

    Chocolate Courgette (Zucchini) Cake
    Print Pin
    4 from 4 votes

    Chocolate Courgette Cake (Chocolate Zucchini Cake)

    This super easy and "not so good for you" Chocolate Courgette Cake is super moist, fudgy & oh so chocolatey. It's time to get baking!
    Course Cake, Dessert
    Cuisine American, British
    Keyword chocolate cake, chocolate courgette cake, chocolate zucchini cake

    Equipment

    • Box Grater*
    • Stand Mixer*
    • Round, spillproof springform cake tin 24cm/9"*
    Prep Time 25 minutes minutes
    Cook Time 55 minutes minutes
    Total Time 1 hour hour 20 minutes minutes
    Servings 12 slices
    Calories 476kcal
    Author Jo Allison
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients

    Metric - US Customary
    • 115 g unsalted butter softened
    • 250 g caster sugar
    • 125 ml rapeseed or sunflower oil
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • pinch of salt
    • 2 large eggs
    • 125 ml sour cream or plain full fat yogurt
    • 300 g plain (all-purpose) flour
    • 1 teaspoon baking soda
    • ½ teaspoon baking powder
    • 60 g cocoa or cacao powder
    • 340 g courgette (zucchini) grated (see notes)
    • 60 g dark chocolate chips or roughly chopped dark chocolate

    Ganache

    • 100 g dark chocolate or chocolate chips
    • 40 g unsalted butter

    Instructions

    • All the ingredients should be at room temperature. Sieve flour, salt, cocoa powder, baking powder and baking soda and put aside.
    • Put butter and sugar in a large bowl or bowl of your standing mixer and mix together until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time and continue mixing. Gradually add oil and vanilla.
    • Add sieved dry ingredients in three parts alternating with sour cream/yogurt. Mix only until all the ingredients are incorporated, do not over mix. Add courgette (zucchini) and chocolate chips and fold them in gently.
    • Put the mixture in a baking tin lined with baking paper and bake for approx 50-55 mins at 160C/320F/Gas Mark 3 until the skewer inserted into centre comes out clean. Take the cake out of the oven and let it cool before spreading chocolate ganache.
    • To make ganache put butter and chopped dark chocolate in a pan on low heat and mix until melted and combined. Cool slightly, spread onto your cake and enjoy!

    Notes

    • Nutritional information is approximate, per slice and should be treated as a  guideline only.
    • There is no need to peel courgette (zucchini) before grating. However if you are using overgrown ones you might want to scoop out and discard the seeds. You won't have to do this when using young vegetables.  
    • Store at room temperature in airtight container for 2-3 days or up to 5 days in the fridge. If storing in the fridge bring it to room temperature before serving. 
    • Cake is suitable for freezing (see details above)  

       

    Nutrition

    Nutrition Facts
    Chocolate Courgette Cake (Chocolate Zucchini Cake)
    Amount Per Serving (0 g)
    Calories 476 Calories from Fat 252
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 28g43%
    Saturated Fat 13g65%
    Cholesterol 60mg20%
    Sodium 143mg6%
    Potassium 307mg9%
    Carbohydrates 51g17%
    Fiber 3g12%
    Sugar 26g29%
    Protein 6g12%
    Vitamin A 485IU10%
    Vitamin C 5.2mg6%
    Calcium 82mg8%
    Iron 2.3mg13%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
    Tried this recipe?Tag me @Joskitchenlarder or use hashtag #joskitchenlarder!

    Update Notes: This post was originally published on 7 March 2017 and updated in March 2019 with some more useful info.

    Recipe adapted from Moje Wypieki

    Pin Chocolate Courgette Cake For Later!

    Chocolate Courgette (Zucchini) Cake

    Linkies

    Cook Blog Share with Eb at Easy Peasy Foodie and Jacqui at Recipes Made Easy

    Cook Once Eat Twice hosted by Corina at Searching for Spice

    Simple and in Season hosted by Katie at Feeding Boys

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      4 from 4 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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    1. Pippa Wright says

      August 05, 2024 at 9:29 pm

      5 stars
      The search engine found this. I have a glut of courgettes, so couldn’t resist (and I’ve lost the last courgette cake recipe). This is fantastic, I made one for a tea party and one for the freezer. I used dark chocolate so it is very much an adult chocolate cake, as the adults loved it, the children didn’t as dark chocolate is an acquired taste. I would make it for a dinner party, served with good quality vanilla ice cream and raspberries.

      Reply
      • joskitchenlarder says

        August 08, 2024 at 8:12 am

        So happy you loved the cake Pippa!☺️

        Reply
    2. Mrs M says

      October 12, 2020 at 6:38 pm

      1 star
      Sorry Jo, but this was a resounding failure for me. Made it this afternoon, used exact ingredients, cooked for 55 minutes in fan oven at 160° and checked with the toothpick. It looked fab, but as it cooled the middle sank. I iced it with the ganache anyway, but on cutting, found the middle of the cake was almost completely uncooked and soggy, I could smell courgette and also taste courgette. I am very disappointed and confused. A lot of ingredients have gone straight in the bin.

      Reply
      • joskitchenlarder says

        October 12, 2020 at 9:00 pm

        I'm so sorry to hear that your cake didn't come out as it should I can imagine your disappointment. I assume you have squeezed the moisture out of courgettes as advised and baked your cake in the same size round tin as per my recipe (24-25cm in diameter)? If too much moisture from courgettes is not the reason there are other causes for cake sinking in the middle: 1) over mixing the batter and incorporating too much air into it 2) not putting your cake into the oven as soon as batter is ready 3) incorrect oven temperature (perhaps your oven isn't heating up to the temperature it indicates). I'd baked this cake numerous times and it definitely doesn't taste or smell of courgette so am puzzled as to why this result. Hope my troubleshooting helps.

        Reply
    3. Christine Smith says

      August 22, 2018 at 7:45 pm

      Tried this last week, it is delicious!.. being coeliac I used gluten-free flour which can make dry, crumbly cakes, but I added zantham gum and a little glycerine and it stayed moist until we finished it ... lovely cake or pudding ... thankyou!

      Reply
      • joskitchenlarder says

        August 22, 2018 at 7:57 pm

        I'm so happy you've enjoyed the cake Christine, it really is music to my ears. 🙂 Thanks so much for the tip on how to make it gluten free without the loss of moisture too. 🙂

        Reply
    4. Katie Bryson says

      September 02, 2017 at 4:12 pm

      I love how moist courgettes make cakes, it's such a lovely ingredient to bake with! Thanks so much for entering your recipe in Simple and in Season xxx

      Reply
    5. Ryan Bridges says

      August 28, 2017 at 7:58 pm

      Wow now that just looks incredible! I love courgette cake but never added chocolate before! I must try it, thanks for sharing this!

      Reply
    6. Midge @ Peachicks' Bakery says

      August 12, 2017 at 1:19 pm

      Ooh yum! I love a courgette cake & this one looks amazing - who doesn't love chocolate! x

      Reply
    7. Jenny (Accidental Hipster Mum) says

      August 09, 2017 at 11:34 pm

      This look sooooo good! I'll have to give it a try , yummy!

      #Brillblogposts

      Reply
    8. Jacqui says

      August 07, 2017 at 6:18 pm

      Ive pinned to try later. I keep meaning to make a courgette cake and this looks like a great one.

      Reply
    9. Kat (The Baking Explorer) says

      August 07, 2017 at 3:44 pm

      This looks delicious! I've baked with courgette before and loved it, but never thought of adding chocolate!

      Reply
    10. Angela / Only Crumbs Remain says

      August 06, 2017 at 2:39 pm

      This looks sooooo delicious Jo! I have to admit that I've never tried caugetter cake before, but hearing your words of it being super moist and fudgey (and super chocolately - always a winner!) I know it'd be popular with our family! Pinning.
      Angela x

      Reply
    11. Eb Gargano | Easy Peasy Foodie says

      August 05, 2017 at 1:35 pm

      Wow this cake looks and sounds totally scrumptious and I definitely think it counts as healthy if it contains a vegetable AND dark chocolate, I mean it's practically a superfood, no? 😉 Thanks for linking it up to #CookBlogShare! Eb x

      Reply
    12. Corina says

      August 03, 2017 at 3:14 pm

      I would love to try this out on my family! My husband hates courgettes and only one of my children sometimes eats them so it would be an interesting experiment. It sounds delicious! Thanks for sharing with #CookOnceEatTwice

      Reply
      • joskitchenlarder says

        August 03, 2017 at 5:21 pm

        I promise you, they will be none the wiser, unless they see you bake it! All the courgette does here is help to keep this cake moist and it does it well! 🙂 x

        Reply
    13. Nat @ Intolerant Gourmand says

      August 02, 2017 at 4:41 pm

      Love a chocolate courgette cake, always a favourite in our house, and this one looks delish! 🙂 Natx #cookblogshare

      Reply
      • joskitchenlarder says

        August 02, 2017 at 9:32 pm

        Thanks Nat! Same here which is funny really as I'm the only one who likes courgettes as a veg. My hubby and two boys cannot stand it. The best bit is when my 6 year old helps me make the cake and adds grated courgette to the mix with utter disgust saying "It's really weird I can't taste it mummy but it's a good thing" ?x

        Reply
    14. TurksWhoEat says

      August 02, 2017 at 3:25 pm

      I love chocolate zucchini bread but this cake version looks even better!!!

      Reply
      • joskitchenlarder says

        August 02, 2017 at 9:22 pm

        Thank you ? That is chocolate heavy stuff but oh so good!

        Reply

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    Hi! I’m Jo and this blog is where I share lots of simple, family friendly and mostly plant based recipes we enjoy eating and now you can easily recreate at home.

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