Gluten-Free Chocolate Zucchini Cake is rich, delicious and has a divine, soft texture. It’s so good that it doesn’t even need a frosting or glaze. It’s perfect as is!
What does zucchini do in a cake?
Do zucchini breads and cakes taste like zucchini?
Nope, not really — but, here’s the deal, zucchini is naturally moist and in many ways it’s similar to oil in its baking characteristics, so it makes for a moist, luscious cake!
And this Gluten-Free Chocolate Zucchini Cake tastes mostly like deep, rich, luscious chocolate!
If you have a summer garden, it’s very likely you have more than enough zucchini on your hands.
Inspiration for Gluten-Free Chocolate Zucchini Cake
If you’ve been following my recipes for a while, you know one of my boys has Celiac Disease, which is why I make so many cookies and other desserts sans gluten.
I mean, how could I serve a super tasty, chocolaty dessert to everyone except him? I simply couldn’t.
Baking without regular all-purpose flour has certainly tested my baking skills over the years — and, it’s taught me a lot.
It’s often very difficult to perfect gluten-free baking, and baking is a science, which means it’s not very forgiving.
Sometimes I bake things a few times before determining it fit to serve, and by my definition, “fit to serve” means it has to be really, really delicious. And that’s exactly what this Gluten-Free Chocolate Zucchini Cake is!
My son told me this Chocolate Zucchini Cake is definitely one of his favorite desserts. And he’s a tough crowd, so I know you and your friends and family will love it too.
I hope you’ll try it! And not just if you have an abundance of zucchini in your garden.
A couple more gluten-free cakes:
- Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Banana Cake
- Gluten-Free Meyer Lemon Cake with Olive Oil
- Gluten-Free Spiced Carrot Cake with Cardamom Cream Cheese
Enjoy!
Gluten-Free Chocolate Zucchini Cake Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup plus 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted, divided
- ⅔ cup plus 1 tablespoon cocoa powder, sifted, divided
- 1½ cups gluten-free all-purpose flour
- 1½ teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1½ cups granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup sour cream
- 2¾ cups grated zucchini
Instructions
- Preheat the oven and get the pan ready. Preheat the oven to 350°F and adjust a rack to the center. Add 1 tablespoon of the melted butter to a 10-inch bundt pan and move it around and so it's completely coated. (Using a pastry brush or your hands will help.) Then sprinkle 1 tablespoon of the cocoa powder as evenly as possible over the butter. Set aside.
- Mix dry ingredients. In a medium-sized mixing bowl, combine the remaining ⅔ cup cocoa powder, gluten-free flour, baking powder, and baking soda. Stir until everything is evenly incorporated and set aside.
- Mix the wet ingredients. In a large mixing bowl, use an electric mixer to beat the eggs, sugar, vanilla and salt together. Mix on high until it's a thick and pale yellow, about 2 minutes. Once it's blended add the sour cream and mix until it's smooth.
- Combine the dry ingredients with the wet, and add butter. Gradually fold the dry ingredients into the wet, mixing just until everything is well incorporated. Now fold in the remaining 1 cup melted butter.
- Remove excess liquid from the zucchini. Use your hands to "wring out" the zucchini, to remove some of the liquid -- only what seems to drip off easily. Fold the zucchini into the batter and then immediately pour into the prepared bunt pan.
- Bake. Place in the preheated 350°F oven until the cake no longer jiggles when the pan is moved, and it's starting to crack on top, about 35 minutes.
- Cool. Let it cool in the pan for about 10 minutes, then invert it on a large platter. Let it cool for about an hour before serving.
Notes
Christine | Vermilion Roots says
Great way to sneak veggies into desserts! Bet it’s hard to tell there’s zucchini in there. 🙂
valentina says
Yes, you really don’t taste the zucchini, it just adds to the super soft texture. Thanks! 🙂
Bryanne says
A tasty cake but I found it to be quite greasy. Maybe my ratios were off?
valentina says
Hi there, I’m not sure why this could’ve been greasy . . . . sometimes over mixing or under mixing can cause this, but I’m wondering if it was just super moist? The zucchini creates a lot of moisture, which is usually what we want. I’m sorry I can’t be more helpful without seeing/tasting the cake. Thanks for trying it and I’m happy you found it tasty. 🙂 ~Valentina
khadija says
I can’t believe I still haven’t had zuchinni chocolate cake, i have even made eggplant bread so this seems unnatural that I haven’t tried yet. This is going up on my To-do – now list
valentina says
Okay, well now eggplant bread is on my list! That sounds so intriguing! Thanks! 🙂
Krysten (@themomnoms) says
Wow, this looks amazing.
I have to be one to admit that I am so afraid of making things gluten free because most of the time it turns out to be way too dense, but this looks perfect!
If your son likes it, I’m sure I will too!
~Krysten
valentina says
You will! I know what you meant about GF dense baked goods.This is the opposite. Thanks for visiting! 🙂
Just Jo says
Oh wow! Would you look at that luscious cake! I’m so excited that it is gluten free as my dear old Daddums is Coeliac and it’s a minefield trying to bake for him. Great idea to make this a courgette cake – the moisture will definitely be a good thing in a GF cake. Does it last well if you have leftovers?
valentina says
Yes, leftovers are great. Just had some tonight. 😉 (I leave it out, wrapped tightly in foil. And after a couple of days, it goes in the fridge — not that there’s anything left at that point.) 🙂
Brian Jones says
Such a glorious looking texture, it is almost reminiscent of an English ‘pudding’ rather than a cake, definitely my kinda thing 🙂
valentina says
Thanks so much, Brian! Hope you give it a go. 🙂
Sara | Belly Rumbles says
What a beautifully moist looking cake. I do love sweet treats that use vegetables. It gives them a big positive tick with the hidden veggie value 😉
valentina says
Thanks so much, Sara! I totally agree!
John says
The pictures of this cake are stunning, and even though it’s 92 with a heat index of 102 outdoors, I’m going to bite the bullet and make this, using my oven/stove for the first time in three days!
valentina says
Hi John, thanks so much! Turn of the fan and go for it. I hope you love it as much as we do. 😀
David says
It looks moist and perfect and chocolatey…
valentina says
oh it is! thanks, David! xo
Patti says
I made this yesterday and it is absolutely delicious. I don’t know if it matters but I made it a traditional way similar to a traditional pound cake. I creamed the butter with the sugar and vanilla, added the eggs, then added the dry ingredients with plain greek yogurt instead of sour cream and folded in the grated zucchini. It is now our favorite chocolate cake. Can’t wait to share it with out grandchildren. It is moist and doesn’t need anything added. It is just the right amount of chocolate!!! Thank you!
valentina says
Thank you, Patti for sharing! You made my day, as it bring me great joy when my readers try my recipes and love them! Hope the grand kids love it also. 🙂
Cindy K says
I made this recipe today, and it is absolutely amazing! I must say it is the best, most moist gluten free cake I have ever had. I don’t have a bundt cake pan so I used 2- 4.5 x 8.5 loaf pans and baked for ~ 40 minutes . Total yummy goodness!
valentina says
Hi Cindy, you just made my day! 😀 Thanks so much for sharing, and I’m so happy you loved his cake. It’s one of our favorites! ~Valentina
Tracy says
This is so yummy! Made it last night but put it into a large 11×14 pan.
valentina says
Thanks, Tracy. I’m so happy you liked this recipe! We love it, too. 🙂 Enjoy! ~Valentina
Christina says
Not crazy about zucchini bread, but this cake is 🤩
valentina says
Ha! Yes it is. 😀 Thanks! ~Valentina