CHOCOLATE ZUCCHINI CAKE. Serves 12-15

From Mountain Feed & Farm Supply blog comes this very moist and yummy cake!  It can be made with any summer squash. 

INGREDIENTS FOR CAKE

4 oz unsweetened baking chocolate, chopped

1/2 cup butter

1/2 cup coconut oil

1 1/2 cups sugar

3 whole eggs, beaten

1 TBS vanilla extract

2 cups all purpose flour

1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

2 tsp baking soda

2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp kosher salt

1/3 buttermilk or sour cream

3 cups zucchini or other summer squash, grated (blot with paper towel, but DO NOT squeeze dry)

1/2 cup pecans, chopped OR 1/2 c chocolate chips 

INGREDIENTS FOR FROSTING (optional idea) *

3/4 cup butter at room temp

8 oz cream cheese at room temp

1/2 c unsweetened cocoa powder 

4 plus cups powdered sugar

1 tsp vanilla

DIRECTIONS

1) PREP

Preheat your oven to 375° F. Butter and flour a 13" x 9" pan, or two 9" round pans, if you want a layer cake.

2) COMBINE YOUR INGREDIENTS

Melt the baking chocolate and oil in a small saucepan over very low heat, and set aside. In a bowl or stand mixer, cream butter and sugar until light in color. Then add the eggs and vanilla and beat well until no streaks of color form either can be seen. In the same bowl, add the cooled, melted chocolate mixture and blend until fully incorporated. Sift or stir together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cocoa powder and salt then stir them into the batter with the buttermilk. Mix the squash and nuts into the batter. Scrape the mixture into a buttered pan and lick the spoon.

3)  BAKE

Bake a 13" x 9" cake for 45 minutes, 9" cakes for 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

4) COOL AND FROST

Cool the cake completely before frosting with whipped cream or your favorite frosting. Remove the cooled cake from the pan if you are going with the layered style before frosting. 

* Try this cream cheese frosting recipe of ingredients above: Cream butter and cheese together until the mixture is light and fluffy. Add vanilla and cocoa powder. Slowly add the powdered sugar until well blended, adding more sugar if necessary to get a spreading consistency. Enjoy!