YUMMY ZUCCHINI CHOCOLATE CAKE

Yummy Zucchini Chocolate Cake image

As a confirmed chocoholic, this is my all-time favorite treat. I found the original recipe more than 20 years ago, but have lightened it up quite a bit. Everyone asks for the recipe, and no one suspects that it's lighter than most chocolate cakes. -Carleta Foltz, Sunrise Beach, Missouri

Provided by Taste of Home

Time 50m

Yield 18 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 13

Ingredients

1-3/4 cups sugar
1/2 cup canola oil
2 large eggs, room temperature
2/3 cup unsweetened applesauce
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup baking cocoa
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup buttermilk
2 cups shredded zucchini
1 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup chopped pecans, toasted

Steps:

Preheat oven to 350°. Coat a 13x9-in. baking pan with cooking spray., Beat sugar and oil on medium speed 1 minute. Add eggs, applesauce and vanilla; beat 1 minute. In another bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt; add to sugar mixture alternately with buttermilk, beating just until blended. Stir in zucchini., Transfer to prepared pan. Bake 20 minutes. Sprinkle with chocolate chips and pecans. Bake until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, 10-15 minutes. Cool in pan on a wire rack.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 285 calories, Fat 12g fat (3g saturated fat), Cholesterol 21mg cholesterol, Sodium 159mg sodium, Carbohydrate 43g carbohydrate (27g sugars, Fiber 2g fiber), Protein 4g protein.