Zucchini Chocolate Cupcakes

Moist and Decadent Zucchini Chocolate Cupcakes hiding loads of Veggies in them. But you will never be able to guess. Pile them high with Chocolate Fudge Frosting and you are eating the Best Chocolate Cupcakes ever!

Try my Chocolate Zucchini Muffins next! Find all my Chocolate Dessert Recipes here!

If you love to bake with zucchini you are sure to like these Cute Chocolate Cupcakes. Is it not the best way to eat your Greens! 😉

Cupcakes Taste and texture:

• Soft and squishy Cupcakes
• Decadent Chocolate Flavor
• Creamy Chocolate Frosting takes them over to the top
• Loaded with Chocolate chips in every bite

Recipe ingredients:

• Unsweetened Natural Cocoa Powder: Don't use dutch cocoa powder for this recipe. If you don't have natural one right now, try my chocolate zucchini muffins linked at the top of this post.
• Espresso Powder: Do not skip it. A little espresso powder amplifies the chocolate flavor and you won't taste coffee at all!
• Oil: Oil makes these cupcakes super moist. With so much chocolate flavor going on in the cupcakes, you won't miss butter at all.
• Sugar: For this recipe we are using both granulated and brown sugars.
• Sour Cream: If you don't have sour cream on hand, you may replace it with plain yogurt (full fat).
• Mini Chocolate Chips: I like to use choc chips inside the cupcakes batter and to top coz why not! 😉 If it's a lot of choc chips for you, skip them inside the batter or for decoration.

How to make Chocolate Cupcakes:

It can not get any easier!

• Shred and blot your zucchini.
• Sift all the dry ingredients together.
• Whisk all the wet ingredients together.

• Fold dry ingredients in wet.
• Add chocolate chips and blotted zucchini.
• Pour in liners
• And Bake!

Chocolate Fudge Frosting:

You may use natural or dutch processed cocoa powder to make this frosting. I like it both ways. For this recipe I used natural cocoa.

I also like to add ½ tablespoon of corn syrup to make this frosting. You may leave it out, it you like. But it makes frosting super glossy and smooth.

How to Shred Zucchini?

• I used medium shredding blade to shred zucchini for this recipe. There is no need to peel the skin off.  
• You may blot the shredded zucchini using a paper towel, on a fine strainer or just squeeze out all the extra liquid out of it.

How many zucchini are in a cup?

One medium zucchini yields about 1 cup of grated zucchini.

How long do frosted cupcakes stay fresh?

I'd say a day or 2 at room temperature. If you plan to store them for a longer period of time, keep them in refrigerator. Always store them in air tight containers.

More Chocolate Desserts for you:

Small Batch Fudgy Brownies

Cream Cheese Chocolate Cookies

Small Batch Easy Chocolate Cupcakes

Decadent Chocolate Bundt Cake

If you liked these Cupcakes give them a star review. Also, tell me in the comments below, how did this turn out for you! And don’t forget to share your creations with me on Instagram at #greedyeatsblog Also follow me on Pinterest and Facebook! 

Recipe

Zucchini Chocolate Cupcakes

Moist and Decadent Zucchini Chocolate Cupcakes hiding Veggies in them. Pile them high with Chocolate Fudge Frosting and you are gold!

5 from 18 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Dessert

US Customary - Metric

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 22 minutes minutes

Cooling and Frosting: 1 hour hour

Total Time: 1 hour hour 37 minutes minutes

Servings 12 Cupcakes

1x2x3x

Calories: 451kcal

Author: Neha

Ingredients

• ▢ 1 Cup (250 g) All Purpose Flour
• ▢ 6 Tbsps (31 g) Unsweetened Natural Cocoa Powder
• ▢ 1 teaspoon Baking Powder
• ▢ ¼ teaspoon Baking Soda
• ▢ 1 teaspoon Espresso Powder
• ▢ ¼ teaspoon Salt
• ▢ ½ Cup (120 ml) Oil (Canola or vegetable)
• ▢ ½ Cup Granulated Sugar
• ▢ 6 tablespoon Brown Sugar
• ▢ 2 Large Eggs (at room temp)
• ▢ 2 ½ tablespoon Sour Cream (or plain yogurt, at room temp)
• ▢ 1 teaspoon Pure Vanilla Extract
• ▢ 1 ½ Cup Zucchini
• ▢ ½ Cup Semi sweet Chocolate Chips

Chocolate Fudge Frosting

• ▢ ½ Cup Unsalted Butter (softened to room temp)
• ▢ 2 ¼ Cups confectioners' Sugar
• ▢ 6 Tbsps (32 g) Natural Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
• ▢ ¼ Cup Whole Milk
• ▢ ½ tablespoon Light Corn Syrup
• ▢ Pinch Salt
• ▢ ¾ teaspoon Pure Vanilla Extract
• ▢ ½ Cup Mini Chocolate chips (for topping, optional)

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350 deg F and line a 12 count pan with cupcake liners.
• In a medium bowl, using a hand held mixer beat eggs, both sugars, oil, sour cream and vanilla together till combined.
• Sift flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, salt and espresso powder over wet ingredients. Fold them gently till the flour disappears.
• Now add blotted zucchini and chocolate chips to the batter and fold them in.
• Pour batter in the prepared liners and bake for 18-22 minutes. Or till they pass the toothpick test.
• Allow cupcakes to cool completely on a wire rack before frosting.

To make Chocolate Fudge Frosting:

• Using a hand held mixer beat room temp. butter until pale and creamy. About 1 ½ minutes. Add sifted cocoa and confectioners' sugar to butter. Also add milk, corn syrup, vanilla and salt.
• Beat the frosting for 2 more minutes. Add a little splash of milk if you find the frosting way too thick. And a little more confectioners' sugar if you find it too thin.
• Frost on cooled cupcakes as desired and top with chocolate chips.

Notes

Storage Information:

• Any leftovers will keep in the fridge for 3-4 days.
• Unfrosted cupcakes can be frozen for about 2 months. Thaw completely before frosting.

Cocoa Powder: You may use natural or dutch processed cocoa powder to make this frosting. I like it both ways. For this recipe I used natural cocoa.

Corn Syrup: I also like to add ½ tablespoon of corn syrup to make this frosting. You may leave it out, it you like. But it makes frosting super glossy and smooth.

Blotting the Zucchini: This can be done using a paper towel or a fine mesh strainer. You may also press zucchini between your hands and squeeze all the excess liquid out.

Nutrition

Serving: 1Cupcake | Calories: 451kcal | Carbohydrates: 58g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 23g | Sodium: 97mg | Sugar: 41g

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