Chocolate Zucchini Cake with Chocolate Glaze

RECIPE BY: San

DATE: October 7, 2025

Total Time 1 hour

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This Chocolate Zucchini Cake with Chocolate Glaze is a deliciously decadent fall treat.

Whoever originally added shredded zucchini to a cake was a genius. It takes this simple chocolate cake to an extraordinary level – it’s so moist and decadent. Make this Chocolate Zucchini Cake for your next holiday party, and everyone will fall in love.

A slice of cake on a plate.

I love zucchini squash in bread, pasta, enchiladas, fried, floured, really any way you can prepare it, but my favorite to use it is in a cake! Specifically, Chocolate Zucchini Cake! It is easy to make, appealing to the eye and everyone loves it. By far, one of my favorite fall recipes.

I seriously love this cake, I have no idea why I don’t make it more often, it’s really perfect all year long. I got the recipe from my Aunt Patty – she makes the best desserts, and I’m so grateful she shares all of her delicious recipes with my family.

It might seem like a simple frosted chocolate cake, but it’s so much more than that. Rich, decadent, incredibly moist – the total package!

The only thing we changed with the original recipe was the amount of ganache frosting. I doubled the amount because the original recipe was nowhere near enough. I mean I can see why it would be fine….but the more ganache, the better, right?

overhead shot of the glazed cake.

Sandra’s Tips

  • I’ve tried this recipe with both grated and shredded zucchini, and either works well. You can use a box grater or a food processor with a grating blade. There’s no need to squeeze out the moisture—just grate and mix it straight into the batter.
  • Bake the cake a day ahead! Once it’s fully cooled, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap. Just before serving, make the glaze and drizzle the ganache over the top, letting it drip beautifully down the sides.
  • “After greasing your bundt pan with cooking spray, dust it lightly with cocoa powder. This prevents sticking by creating a thin barrier, ensuring the cake releases cleanly from the intricate pan design. Plus, for chocolate cakes, cocoa powder blends in seamlessly, leaving the outside rich and chocolatey instead of a white, floury coating.
the batter in the cake pan.

how to make ganache Frosting

In a double boiler over medium heat, melt together the butter, chocolate chips, and corn syrup, stirring until smooth and fully combined.

Carefully remove the cake from the pan and place it on a wire rack set over a baking sheet or parchment to catch any drips.

Pour the ganache frosting evenly over the cake, letting it drip down the sides.

You can’t taste the zucchini in the cake – it’s added for the moisture and gives the cake the most incredible tender crumb. If you aren’t a fan of zucchini you might want to try my Triple Chocolate Pumpkin Cake.

Let me say it got rave reviews at my house. I mean, it’s chocolate cake….Need I say more? Who cares that it has veggies?!

The kids didn’t mind the veggies and loved it! The only complaint I got was the audible “ugh!” when I gave half of the cake to the neighbors. There wasn’t a crumb left at our house. Enjoy!

pin to pinterest.

collage image of chocolate zucchini bundt cake

Chocolate Zucchini Cake with Chocolate Glaze

Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 50 minutes
Total: 1 hour
Servings: 16
Calories: 357 kcal
This Chocolate Zucchini Cake with Chocolate Glaze is a delicious rich fall treat. Make it for your next holiday party, everyone will fall in love.
a slice of chocolate cake on a plate.

Ingredients
 

Zucchini Cake

  • 2 cups sugar
  • 3/4 cup oil
  • 3 eggs
  • 2 teaspoon vanilla
  • 2 1/2 cups flour
  • 1/2 cup cocoa powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 2 cups zucchini grated or shredded

Glaze

  • 3 tablespoons butter cut into 1/2 inch squares
  • 3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 1 tablespoon light corn syrup

Instructions
 

Zucchini Cake

  • Preheat oven to 325°F. Grease and dust a bundt pan with cocoa powder.
  • Using an eletric mixer, beat together eggs, oil, sugar, and vanilla.
  • In a separate bowl whisk together flour, salt, baking soda, cocoa, cinnamon and baking powder. 
  • With the mixer on medium speed, slowly add in the flour mixture.
  • Add milk and zucchini slowly while mixing on low speed until combined. Pour the batter into the prepared pan.
  • Bake for 50 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool completely before making the glaze.

Glaze

  • In a double boiler over medium heat, combine butter, chocolate chips, and corn syrup. Stir until completely melted and well incorporated. Drizzle over cooled cake.

Calories: 357kcalCarbohydrates: 48gProtein: 4gFat: 17gSaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 37mgSodium: 286mgPotassium: 210mgFiber: 2gSugar: 30gVitamin A: 160IUVitamin C: 2.8mgCalcium: 46mgIron: 2.1mg

a slice of chocolate cake on a plate.
Tried this recipe?Let us know what you think!

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4.79 from 14 votes (6 ratings without comment)

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17 Comments

  1. Dear Sandra,

    Thank you so much for sharing this recipe!
    I used it as an inspiration to create a slightly healthier version, feel free to check it out! I mentioned you as a source at the bottom of my post if that’s OK with you.

    Lots of love from Vienna,

    Wendy

  2. 5 stars
    Oh wow! My chocolate lovers are going to be all over this cake! I’m beyond excited to make this scrumptious and very delicious cake again this weekend! Definitely one of our favorite treats.