If I were to say what my favorite kind of cake to bake is, it would be easy to say a Bundt.The simple and humble Bundt that is for me, always reliable and very versatile.
When I was back in Italy this summer, my in-laws were picking zucchini and their flowers every single day.
About this cake? Amazing! A super fun way to get my kids to eat a veggie without knowing. I thought I was so stealth. Maybe not. My daughter asked me, “What’s this green thing in the cake.” I told her it’s zucchini. She asked, “Zucchini? Why?" I responded that it makes the cake taste better. And that was it. This cake was enjoyed by all. Moist and wonderful. You can omit the rum if you’d like. You could add a little more if you’re not baking for kids. Just make this squirrel, I mean swirl cake. My son asked me what kind of a cake is it. I told him, “It’s a swirl cake.” He asked, “A squirrel cake? It has squirrel in it?” So no, no squirrels were sacrificed for this delicious cake. Just lots of pretty swirls.
The ingredients to put into 3 separate bowls:
Chocolate Zucchini Swirl Bundt Cake
1st bowl: lighter part of swirl ingredients:
1 cup flour
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
2nd bowl: dark part of swirl ingredients:
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup cocoa
1/4 teaspoon espresso powder
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
The wet ingredients (I mixed together in a stand mixer)
3 eggs, room temperature
1 cup oil (I used 1/2 extra virgin olive oil and 1/2 canola oil)
1 cup sugar
1 Tablespoon rum
2 Tablespoons orange (or lemon) juice
1-½ teaspoon Vanilla
1 cup dark chocolate chips, melted
2 cups zucchini, shredded
Directions:
Grease and flour your Bundt pan. I personally prefer to use baking spray for Bundt pans.
Shred the zucchini and wring it together in a clean dish towel to get rid of the zucchini liquid. Set aside the zucchini.
Whisk together the first bowl’s ingredients; set aside. Whisk the together the second bowl’s ingredients; set aside.
In the bowl of a mixer, beat the oil with the eggs until combined (1-2 minutes). Beat in the eggs one by one, waiting until each has been incorporated to add the next. Beat in vanilla extract, rum, juice and melted chocolate. Gently mix in the shredded zucchini.
Divide the liquid batter into the two dry bowls. Fold gently the ingredients in each bowl until incorporated. (You’re going to have a dark batter and a caramel colored batter to swirl together.)
Let’s make some pretty swirls!
Spoon the batter into your prepared Bundt pan in alternating colors. I ended up with 3 scoops of each batter color.
When batter is all in the pan, swirl the batter around gently with a butter knife. Don't overswirl or you will take away the marbled pattern.
Bake for 45-50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean and the top springs back when lightly pressed. Allow cake to cool for 10 minutes in the pan, then turn cake out onto a wire rack to cool completely. I had some leftover melted chocolate and drizzled it over a slice.
source: adapted from Every Day is Gourmet
Buon appetito! Happy Bundt Baking and we can't wait to see your Beautiful Bundts!:)
Brian @ A Thought For Food says
I love zucchini breads, so I'm sure I'd just adore this bundt cake!
Kate | Food Babbles says
I adore the chocolate swirls going on here! Chocolate and zucchini go so well together. Thanks again for having me join you in the launch of such a delicious idea!
Savoring Italy says
thanks for baking along, Kate:)
Baker Street says
I love this swirly bundt. Oops. Bundt. Adding espresso to one part was a great idea.
YAY for #BundtaMonth! 🙂
Renee Dobbs says
Oh my Lora I wanted to stick my fork in the screen to get a bite of that slice. Looks so good!
Thanks for kicking off #BundtaMonth so us bundt loving bakers can share our favorites. I'm so happy I was invited to participate today.
Savoring Italy says
I will trade a slice for yours:)I'm happy you were too:)
Angie's Recipes says
A gorgeous budnt! I would love one for my tea now.
Jenny @ BAKE says
I love the two different sponges swirled together! beautiful!
Savoring Italy says
It's fun! I want to experiment with other swirl Bundt flavors:)Thank you Jennny:)
Anonymous says
First off, thank you for inviting me to join in BundtaMonth. A cake close to my heart. As for your cake, I just love the swirly idea. I must make this one it just looks so yummy! Happy baking!
Savoring Italy says
It is close to my heart and stomach too, Deb;)Thank you for baking with us:)
Munatycooking says
The cake looks delicious, I love super moist chocolate cakes, and adding zucchini always makes cakes moist. But the picture with the chocolate sauce on top killed me. Wish I can bite it 🙂
Savoring Italy says
That chocolate slice was a dangerous idea;)Thank you so much, Muna:)
CJ - Food Stories says
What a great concept! Love your swirled version, too 🙂
Savoring Italy says
Thanks, C.J. Maybe you'll join us w/ a zucchini Bundt;)
Laura (Tutti Dolci) says
I'm in love with bundts - I may just have to join this party! 🙂
Savoring Italy says
Yay-Laura. I bet you bake pretty Bundts:)
RavieNomNoms says
I love chocolate zucchini bread/cake. I think it is so delicious! Has a nice moisture to it!
Savoring Italy says
I love zucchini any thing, Raven. Thank you:)
Monet says
Beautiful cake, sweet friend! I love bundt cakes too. A slice of this would go perfectly with my coffee!
Kate@Diethood says
Soooo pretty! I love the swirl! So glad I joined in...can't wait for next month's challenge. 🙂
Savoring Italy says
I'm glad you joined in and love your baking, Kate:)Thank you.
Carolyn says
Hello, gorgeous bundt!
Roxana | Roxana's Home Baking says
I'm always amazed by the beautiful bundt cakes I see.
Somehow I haven't yet mastered the art of removing the cake out of the pan in one piece 🙁
Great baking challenge Lora
Savoring Italy says
I like using the baking spray; it seems to really help, Roxy. I bet you make gorgeous Bundts:)
Nidhi says
That looks yummilicious..
You mentioned adding eggs to the wet ingredients, I do not see any mentioned in the ingredient list though. Could you please tell the number of eggs to add.
I do not eat eggs and would like to know the exact replacement for eggs that go into this cake.
Savoring Italy says
I fixed that-3 eggs. Thank you:)Yes-very yummilicious!
Nidhi says
I have been following your recipes for a while now.. and I must say, they are awesome..
I don't eat eggs and I usually try different egg replacements, but they don't give the best of the results always.
Could you please share more recipes for egg less bakes..
Jennie @themessybakerblog says
This cake looks so yummy, and I can't wait to participate in this cake making party next month. I'm going to buy a new pan to celebrate. Yay!
Lisa says
THis is arguably one of the best chocolate bundts..much less zucchini bundts (or cakes) I've ever seen! The dark batter is so fudgy and the light batter so fluffy! Once again - another masterpiece by Lora!
Jen @ Savory Simple says
This is a gorgeous bundt cake! What a fun challenge.
Marina@Picnic at Marina says
I would eat this cake zucchini or not: it looks beautiful and very delicious! And it would be the first time I had zucchini in a dessert. 🙂
Nami | Just One Cookbook says
I think this is the best looking zucchini bread I've seen! Maybe because chocolate is in it and I'm biased. =P The glaze is calling me to get a piece or even more. Absolutely delicious and my kids would ask to make more zucchini bread, which sounds very healthy! hahah!
Lisa says
I have silicone mini- bundt molds, and I love them! They make everything look special.
I've been making a chocolate zucchini loaf cake with coconut and choc. chips for years; very tasty! the coconut, which I do love coconut. In fact, I think I will have to make it for Rosh Hashanah,along with the prune plum torte (Marion Burros) that I always make.
Jeanette says
I love the idea of using zucchini in chocolate cake, and your swirls are beautiful!
Claudia says
What a nice change from my standard zucchini-chocolate cake! I also love bundts - because I'm lazy and they are always pretty with minimal effort.
Michelle @AmourBeurre says
I am all about the zucchini lately! This looks awesome!
Maureen | Orgasmic Chef says
this looks great and if I make it I'll call it the squirrel cake
Paula says
I love chocolate and zucchini cake (just tasted my first one two weeks ago) and your bundt is beautiful. This is going to be a delicious collaboration between you and An!
foodwanderings says
Love this challenge. I love bundt cakes especially along with my tea. Believe it or not I love zucchini breads but somehow the get lost in traslation when I bake them. Love a slice of a neighbor's or a friend's, I wish you lived closer!
Jamie says
Wow!!! You know, Bundt's always remind me of my dad who had an original Bundt cake pan (which I now own and use) and he always made Bundt cakes, especially Tunnel of Fudge. Yours reminds me of that! Stunning! I want to make one of these!
Bunkycooks says
Anything chocolate gets my vote. Zucchini and all. Love this cake and I hope you have fun with the Bundt Baking round-up!
Julia says
I would love to participate! Love bundt cakes.
Averie @ Averie Cooks says
I just posted a bundt on my site but didn't know about your challenge so didn't link it up or anything but your bundt looks amazing! I want it...now! The flavors of choc + zuke are just awesome!
Kiran @ KiranTarun.com says
That's one delicious looking bundt cake! Full of chocolaty goodness!