Don’t tell the kids this is zucchini bread. Tell them it’s chocolate cake. I promise they will believe you, and will beg to have for it for breakfast. They’ll tell their friends that their Mom is the coolest, because she let them have cake for breakfast. At least that’s how it went in my house.
This little quick bread is full of goodness. By adding some cocoa powder to the batter the zucchini magically disappears – so picky little people will never know they’re getting veggies in their breakfast. It makes a great after school snack, or a treat after dinner. Serve it with a big glass of milk and a napkin to clean all that chocolate off their faces.
Chocolate Zucchini Bread
3/4 cup sugar
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 large eggs
1 cup applesauce
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa
1 1/4 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups finely grated zucchini
1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup finely chopped walnuts, optional
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Place first three ingredients in a bowl and beat with a mixer on low speed just until blended. Stir in applesauce.
Combine flour and next 4 ingredients, stirring well with a whisk. Add flour mixture to sugar mixture in bowl, beating until just moist. Stir in zucchini, chocolate chips, and nuts if using.
Spoon into a 9×5 loaf pan coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350 degrees for 50 minutes , or until a wooden toothpick inserted in center comes out almost clean. Cool in pan about 10 minutes, then transfer to wire rack to cool completely.
adapted from Cooking Light Everyday Favorites
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This really does work! Will and I made it this weekend and by the time it was finished baking, both boys were begging me for some. They ate it right up and asked for more. Great recipe with lots of familiar and fun ingredients for little ones to enjoy using (minus the quick dump of zucchini so no questions were asked). I had to keep filling up the chocolate chips as Will would eat them while we were making it.
Thanks for a great recipe and a great time!