Very Chocolate Zucchini Bread

My mother-in-law gave this recipe for me to try. I loved it! I substituted unsweetened applesauce for the oil and it turned out amazing. I told Eli it was chocolate cake and he gobbled it up.

Chocolate Zucchini Bread
1 1/2 cups shredded zucchini
1 cup flour
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon allspice
1/2 cup oil (or unsweetened applesauce)
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup light brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup walnuts or pecans

-Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and place oven rack in the center of the oven. Grease a 9″x5″x3″ loaf pan and set aside.
-Grate the zucchini, using a medium sized grater; set aside.
-In a large bowl whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and allspice; set aside.
-In the bowl of your electric mixer, or by hand if you prefer, beat the oil, sugars, eggs, and vanilla until well blended (about 2 minutes). Fold in the grated zucchini. Add the flour mixture, beating just until combined, then the chocolate chips and nuts. Scrape the batter into the prepared pan and bake until the bread has risen and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 55 to 65 minutes.
-Place on a wire rack to cool for about 10 minutes, then remove the bread from the pan and cool completely on wire rack.

Chocolate Nutella Cupcakes

Chocolate Nutella Cupcakes

1 cup flour

1/4 cup cocoa powder

3/4 tsp. baking soda

1/4 tsp. salt

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

4 T. butter, softened

1 egg, room temp.

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1/2 cup lukewarm water

1/4 cup buttermilk

Nutella

Preheat oven to 350 and line muffin tin with muffin cup and spray with cooking spray. Sift flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt into a bowl. In another bowl beat both sugars and butter until light and fluffy, 2-3 minutes. Add the egg and vanilla and beat until combined. Add the flour mixture in 3 additions, alternating with the water and buttermilk beating on low speed until just combined. Beat on medium speed just until no traced of flour remain. Bake in prepared pan for 15-20 minutes. Let cool completely. Fill with Nutella.

Best Frosting EVER!!!

The ingredients seem weird but this is the best frosting!!!

3 T. flour

1/2 cup milk

1/2 cup butter

1/2 cup sugar

1 tsp. Vanilla

whisk together the flour and milk in a small saucepan over medium heat. Whisk continuously until it starts to thicken (you will be able to start to see the bottom of the pan. Strain through a mesh strainer (I use a spoon and press it into the strainer to get it all through). Put in the fridge and let it cool completely. Using the whisk attachment, beat butter and sugar until fluffy, while beating add the milk mixture and vanilla. Scrape the sides and beat on med-high for 7-8 minutes. Frost on cupcakes--or eat with a spoon which ever floats your boat!!

Another variation that is yummy, is to fill the cupcakes with the above frosting and then top the cupcakes with Chocolate Ganache which is super easy and yummy.

Chocolate Ganache

3/4 cup heavy cream

2 T. butter, melted

8 oz. semi-sweet or dark chocolate, chopped

Place chocolate in a bowl and pour melted butter over it. Place cream in microwave for about 2 minutes-it needs to be at a simmer. Immediately pour over the chocolate and cover with plastic wrap. Let it sit for about 3 minutes and then stir until smooth. Let it cool until it's a good spreading consistency and spread on cupcakes.

Chewy Brownie Cookies

We made these for FHE tonight. So yummy! If you want chocolate, make these. This recipe is from my Mother-in-law.

2/3 Cup Crisco (I use the butter flavor)

1 1/2 cups Packed brown sugar

1 Tbsp Water

1 tsp vanilla extract

2 eggs

1 1/2 cups flour

1/3 cup Hershey's cocoa

1/2 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp soda

2 cups semi-sweet Chocolate chips

Heat oven to 350. In large bowl, beat shortening, brown sugar, water, and vanilla until well blended. Add eggs. In a separate bowl, stir together flour, cocoa, salt, and baking soda. Gradually add to sugar mixture, beating on low speed just until blended. Stir in chocolate chips. Drop by rounder TBSP 2 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 7 - 10 mins. or until cookies are set. Cookies will appear soft and moist. Do not over bake. Cool 2 mins. remove from cookie sheet. Cool completely before serving. Makes about 3 dozen.

Hot Fudge Sauce

2c. sugar
4tbsp. cocoa
4tbsp. flour
1 can evaporated milk
1 cube butter
1tsp vanilla

Melt butter. Add cocoa and stir well. Mix flour and sugar together and add to cocoa mixture. Slowly add canned milk. Bring to a boil and boil lightly for 3 to 4 minutes. Stir constantly. Add vanilla.

Surprise Cookies

Since we had these at the shower tonight, I thought I would post. I have made these for showers and fun ladies night!

Surprise Cookies
1 ¾ cup flour (add 2 tablespoons for high altitude)
¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
½ t. baking soda
½ t. salt
½ cup butter (room temp)
1 cup sugar
1 egg
½ cup whole milk (I always use skim)
1 t. vanilla
About 15 large marshmallows halved crosswise

1. Stir flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt in bowl
2. Mix butter and sugar until fluffy (about two min). Add egg, milk, and vanilla. Add the flour mixture and stir until just combined
3. Using a 1 ¾ inch ice cream scoop, drop dough onto baking sheets lined with parchment paper
4. Bake on 375 for 8-10 minutes
5. Immediately press marshmallow halves on top of each cookie and bake 1 more minute
6. Frost cooled cookies with one tablespoon of frosting.
7. Store in air tight containers (if you have any left!!)

Frosting:
4 cups powdered sugar
6 T. butter
¼ cup cocoa powder
6 T. milk
¾ t vanilla
Melt butter and cocoa. Add to powdered sugar. Whisk in milk and vanilla.
*Adapted from ‘Martha Stewarts Cookies’