‘Tis the season for zucchini.  We were given squash after squash from co workers.  I’ve been making my traditional pineapple zucchini bread for sweets and on the savory side, I’ve made stuffed zucchini with tuna, salads with fresh zucchini, and zucchini patties.  We’re enjoying every thing zucchini.

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Today, I followed the pineapple zucchini bread recipe found here, but omitted pineapple for cherries and added chocolate. Lots of chocolate.  A sure crowd pleaser.

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Ingredients:

  • 1 1/4 cup canola oil
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 3 eggs
  • 3 cups flour
  • 3 TBS unsweetened dark cocoa powder
  • 2 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp each: cinnamon. ginger. nutmeg
  • 2 1/4 cups shredded zucchini (trim ends, do not peel) *Place shredded zucchini in a colander and allow to drain for at least 30 minutes.  Pat dry with a clean paper towel or two.
  • 1 cup well drained Dark Sweet Cherries (15 oz can). Save the liquid for a wonderful glaze! *Rough chop the cherries once drained.
  • 1 cup mini chocolate chipsPreheat the oven to 350 F.  and prepare two sheet pans, 9 x 9 and a 13 x 9 with non stick baking spray (the kind with flour).

    Beat the oil, sugar, vanilla and eggs until well blended.

    In a separate bowl mix the flour, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg.

    Mix the flour into the sugar – egg mixture just until blended.

    Fold in the shredded zucchini, cherries and mini chocolate chips.

    Spray a 9 x 9 square sheet pan and a 13 x 9 sheet pan with non stick baking spray then pour batter into the prepared pans.  Bake the  9 x 9 pan for about 30 minutes and the larger pan for 40 minutes or until a knife pulls out clean.

    Allow to cool before adding the glaze (optional).

    To make the glaze, simply add the reserved cherry juice to powdered sugar to the desired thickness. I used 1 cup of powdered sugar and 3 TBS cherry juice, stir until combined.  Drizzle over the top and prepare yourself for a wonderful chocolaty, cherry sensation!  Very moist. Delicious!

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How many recipes do you have for zucchini?  Please share your favorite.

 

Chocolate Zucchini Bread with Dark Sweet Cherries
Recipe Type: dessert
Author: Joanne
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 2
A twist on my traditional pineapple and raisin zucchini bread. I added a lot of chocolate and what goes better with chocolate than cherries! Dark, sweet Oregon cherries.
Ingredients
  • 1 1/4 cup canola oil
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 3 eggs
  • 3 cups flour
  • 3 TBS unsweetened dark cocoa powder
  • 2 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp each: cinnamon. ginger. nutmeg
  • 2 1/4 cups shredded zucchini (trim ends, do not peel) *Place shredded zucchini in a colander and allow to drain for at least 30 minutes. Pat dry with a clean paper towel or two.
  • 1 cup well drained Dark Sweet Cherries (15 oz can). Save the liquid for a wonderful glaze! *Rough chop the cherries once drained.
  • 1 cup mini chocolate chips
Instructions
  1. Preheat the oven to 350 F. and prepare two sheet pans, 9 x 9 and a 13 x 9 with non stick baking spray (the kind with flour).
  2. Beat the oil, sugar, vanilla and eggs until well blended.
  3. In a separate bowl mix the flour, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg.
  4. Mix the flour into the sugar – egg mixture just until blended.
  5. Fold in the shredded zucchini, cherries and mini chocolate chips.
  6. Spray a 9 x 9 square sheet pan and a 13 x 9 sheet pan with non stick baking spray then pour batter into the prepared pans. Bake the 9 x 9 pan for about 30 minutes and the larger pan for 40 minutes or until a knife pulls out clean.
  7. Allow to cool before adding the glaze (optional).
  8. To make the glaze, simply add the reserved cherry juice to powdered sugar to the desired thickness. I used 1 cup of powdered sugar and 3 TBS cherry juice, stir until combined. Drizzle over the top and prepare yourself for a wonderful chocolaty, cherry sensation! Very moist. Delicious!

Joanne

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