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Baking recipe · from the recipe book

Zucchini Snack Cake with Cocoa Swirl

A moist, tender zucchini cake warmed with cinnamon and lemon zest, with a dark fudgy cocoa ribbon running through the middle.

Zucchini Snack Cake with Cocoa Swirl

Ingredients

  • 1½ medium300 gZucchinicoarsely grated, squeezed lightly
  • 2 cups250 gAll-purpose flour
  • ¾ cup150 gGranulated sugar
  • ½ cup packed100 gBrown sugarpacked
  • ½ cup120 gCanola oil
  • 2 large100 gEggsroom temperature
  • 4 oz120 gPlain Greek yogurt, nonfat
  • 2 tsp8 gVanilla extract
  • 1 tbsp6 gLemon zest
  • 1¼ tsp6 gBaking powder
  • ¾ tsp4 gBaking soda
  • ½ tsp3 gSalt
  • 1½ tsp4 gGround cinnamon
  • ⅓ cup30 gUnsweetened cocoa powder
  • 2 tbsp30 gWaterhot
  • ⅓ cup60 gSemisweet chocolate chips

Steps

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9-inch square pan with about 1 teaspoon of the canola oil and line it with parchment.
  2. Grate the zucchini, wrap it in a towel and squeeze out about a quarter of its liquid; set aside.
  3. Make the cocoa filling: in a small bowl, whisk the unsweetened cocoa powder, the hot water and the brown sugar into a thick, smooth paste. Set aside to cool slightly.
  4. In a medium bowl, whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon.
  5. In a large bowl, whisk the granulated sugar, the rest of the canola oil, the eggs, the Greek yogurt, the vanilla and the lemon zest until smooth.
  6. Fold the flour mixture into the egg mixture until just combined, then fold in the zucchini.
  7. Spread half of the batter in the pan. Drop spoonfuls of the cocoa filling over it, swirl gently with a knife, and scatter the chocolate chips on top.
  8. Spread the remaining half of the batter over the filling and swirl the top lightly once with the knife.
  9. Bake 40 to 45 minutes, until a toothpick in the center comes out clean of cake batter (melted chocolate is fine).
  10. Cool in the pan on a rack at least 1 hour, then lift out and cut into 12 slices.

Food safety: Don't taste raw dough or batter: raw flour and raw eggs can carry germs.

Contains: Milk, Egg, Gluten. Some brands contain soy.

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Saved in the Every Helping recipe book on October 24, 2026.

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