Chocolate Orange Zucchini Cake with a Chocolate Orange Ganache

I could lie to you, and say this cake is extremely healthy, because it is made with zucchini......but I would be lying right through my teeth. I could have, just left this cake with no frosting...but it looked naked, and a naked cake would be , just sad !. I went for the gusto and made a chocolate ganche, because I just happen to have, some full fat cream  I have know idea who bought it in my fridge. Please, please make this cake.....life is to short not to. Convince yourself that you are eating a serving of vegetables if you must, I promise, it will be the best zucchini you ever ate !

ingredients

mix your dry ingredients first

then add in all the rest of the ingredients (trust me)

mix everything up

pour into a greased and floured cake pan

bake for about 60 minutes @ 180º

cool the cake , them turn out, and enjoy OR.....

make some ganache

add the chocolate and the cream into a bowl

heat both in the microwave...when hot whisk

add in the grated orange peel

do not eat this by the spoonful.....remember it is for your cake

spread the ganache on the cake

Chocolate Orange Zucchini Cake

2 1/2 cups flour

1/2 cup cocoa

2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon cinnamon

3/4 cup butter ( I used oil)

2 cups sugar

3 eggs, lightly beaten

2 teaspoons vanilla

1/2 cup milk

3 cups grated zucchini

1 tablespoon grated orange zest

1 cup chopped walnuts

Preheat oven to 180/350°F.
Sift the flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon together and set aside.
 In a bowl, cream the butter and sugar until fluffy.
Add the eggs, vanilla and milk to the butter mixture.
Stir in the dry ingredients and mix until well blended.
Fold in the zucchini, orange zest and nuts.
Pour into a greased and floured bundt cake pan.Bake 50 to 60 minutes.
Allow the cake to cool for 15 minutes before turning out onto a rack.           

*** I used oil, instead of butter, and just mixed everything in one big bowl :)

Chocolate Orange Ganache

1 cup whipping cream
200g dark chocolate
orange zest of 1 orange

Place the cream and the broken up chocolate in a bowl, and microwave on high, for about 4-5 minutes, the whipping cream, should be starting to bubble around the edges of the bowl. Remove from the microwave, and whisk, till the chocolate and cream are combined, it will be smooth and shiny. Add in the orange zest, and stir to combine.

Pour over the cake.



xo, Diana