This low carb chocolate zucchini cake recipe is the best way to use up all that summer zucchini. Rich and moist, with a gorgeous chocolate glaze, it just may be the best keto chocolate cake recipe ever! Updated recipe with a how-to video. Dairy-free options too.
This low carb chocolate zucchini cake is so rich and moist, it makes me do the happy dance. I don’t get out much! My town just north of Boston isn’t the most exciting place to live. It’s what you might call a little sleepy.
There isn’t much happening here and for a city kid who grew up around the hustle and bustle of downtown Toronto, it’s often too quiet. It’s a good location with a good school system for my kids, but I find it a bit too suburban for my tastes.
There is one thing, however, that I absolutely adore about it, and that’s our really great farmer’s market. It’s a surprisingly good one, with a wide variety of vendors. It was brand new the first year we lived in the area, and it’s grown to be one of the more popular markets in all the surrounding towns. And now it extends well beyond the summer and into October.
How To Make Low Carb Chocolate Zucchini Cake
Because it’s New England, our growing season is short and our produce selection is more limited than other regions. We simply don’t have the climate for some of the more exotic fruits and vegetables.
But it’s always so fun to see what the vendors have on offer and what changes through the season. Zucchini seems to grow really well in this climate. It’s been available since mid-July and it’s still going strong, so I pick up a few every time I go. I’ve had zero luck growing it myself, and it’s such an inexpensive, versatile ingredient.
We eat a lot of it every summer, but my kids generally don’t like it unless it’s baked into something. There is just something about baked goods with zucchini that appeal to everyone.
Updated Recipe!
My kids hovered over me as I made this cake. They have a funny habit of doing that when I make any sort of low carb chocolate cake. We’ve now made this quite a few times and on this last go round, I decided to make it dairy-free so that I could share it with my neighbours.
I used coconut oil for the batter and coconut milk for the chocolate ganache, and it tasted just as good as the original. I also modified it to make it easier and to use less bowls. Because this is such a delectably moist cake, I’ve found it doesn’t matter if you beat in the butter or oil or melt it and stir it in. Melting and stirring is easiest so I went with that. Life’s complicated enough, why make it even more so?
I highly recommend getting a good non-stick bundt pan, because they make any cake look more elegant. But you can always make it in a 9×13 pan too, or even 2 or 3 round layers. It would even make great low carb cupcakes (baking times will vary depending on what pan you use). It’s an incredibly versatile keto cake recipe, so sock this one away in your arsenal for when all that zucchini comes in!
Low Carb Chocolate Zucchini Bundt Cake
Ingredients
Cake
- 2 cups finely grated zucchini 8 ounces
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- 2 cups almond flour
- ⅔ cup Swerve Sweetener
- ½ cup cocoa powder
- ⅓ cup coconut flour
- ⅓ cup unflavored whey protein powder
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 4 large eggs
- ½ cup butter or coconut oil melted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- ½ to 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
Glaze
- ½ cup whipping cream or coconut milk
- ¼ cup confectioner’s Swerve Sweetener
- 2 oz unsweetened chocolate finely chopped
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
Cake:
- For the cake, place zucchini in a sieve and sprinkle liberally with salt. Mix to combine and let drain 1 hour. Press and squeeze to release the excess liquid and set aside.
- Preheat oven to 325F and grease a large bundt pan well.
- In a large bowl, whisk together almond flour, sweetener cocoa powder, coconut flour, whey protein, and baking powder.
- Add the eggs, melted butter or coconut oil, vanilla extract and ½ cup almond milk. Add the drained zucchini and mix until well combined. If your batter is very thick add a few tablespoons additional almond milk at a time until it thins out. It should be spreadable but not pourable.
- Spread batter in the prepared pan and smooth the top. Bake 45 minutes or until set and a tester inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Let cool in pan 15 minutes, and then flip out onto a wire rack to cool completely.
Glaze:
- In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine cream or coconut milk and the sweetener. Bring to just a simmer, then remove from heat and add chopped chocolate and vanilla. Let sit 5 minutes and then whisk until smooth.
- Pour over the top of the cake and let set.
Rebecca says
What do you think about adding one of your cream cheese filling from your zucchini bread to the middle of this cake?
Carolyn says
Sure! I can’t see why not! It will take longer to bake through.
Cindy says
2 cps zucchini = 8oz???
Carolyn says
Lightly packed, shredded zucchini? Yep. But you can use more.
Linda says
Made this for non keto Thanksgiving meal party on Sunday. Sliced and applied ganache and stored in fridge. It was perfectly moist 4 days later and good with a little shipped cream.
Last night had s piece with chunky peanut butter and it was Reeses cake taste. Very good and would make again. I used egg white power and that worked well. Next time I may add some shredded unsweetened coconut to the zucchini and not worry about draining it so much.
Thanks for all your tasty creations!!!
Lauri Cunningham says
What is the purpose for using whey protein powder in this recipe ? I’ve never used it and would love to know. Is it generally used in most baked goods ?
Carolyn says
Gluten is a protein. In its absence another dry protein helps baked goods rise and hold their shape.
kim mix says
Hi Carolyn, can I use egg white protein powder instead of the whey? Love your recipes!! Thank you!!
Carolyn says
Yes, should be fine!
Melody says
I’m allergic to whey protein, what would you suggest as a substitute?
Carolyn says
The recipe states your best option.
witchhazel3 says
I also cannot due whey protein and I do not see any recipe comment stating what can be substituted for it. What is the purpose using it?
Carolyn says
Egg white protein.
Cara says
Hi there!
I read through most of the comments (there are a lot of them!) but didn’t see this one. Could I substitute the whey protein powder with collagen peptide powder? I see in one comment you said a dry protein so I’m guessing this would work?
Thanks so much! I’ll report back once I’ve made it!
Carolyn says
No, it will make it very gummy and hard to cook through.
Beth G says
Can I use HWC instead of Almond Milk. That is an ingredient that I just never use except the occasional recipe.
Carolyn says
Just use water.
Courtney says
This cake was absolutely incredible! It wasn’t dry in the slightest and even got two thumbs way up from my sweets-loving 7 year old (who could NOT believe there was zucchini in it). You truly are the queen of keto baking!
Debby Carlson says
Really dumb question I guess. I don’t have whey protein powder can I use pb fit powder?
Carolyn says
That is not a good sub. You can skip it but your muffins may not rise as well.
Nicole says
I added some extra zuch just because; it turned out so good! Thanks for the creative way to use all that summer squash!
Donna says
Made this recipe two days ago and it is the bomb. Family loved it. I did bake it in my convection oven and reduced the cooking time by 10 mins. Came out perfect. I’m assuming this needs to be refrigerated for storing?? Thanks for sharing all your hard work with us. Love following you.
Carolyn says
It should be okay on the counter for 2 days, if you don’t live in a super humid area. After that, refrigerate. Or if you think it will be around for a bit, refrigerate from the get-go.
Joanne says
Can you use canned pumpkin instead of the zucchini?
Carolyn says
It’s going to be a lot more moist so I don’t think it’s a great substitution.
Esther says
Thanks for sharing. Is temperature for baking for a fan forced oven?
Carolyn says
A regular oven.
Angela says
Can I use 90% whey protein isolate instead?
Carolyn says
Sure that should be fine.
Angela P. says
Hi Carolyn,
I want to make this today but I only have vanilla protein powder, would that be okay or would it change the flavour too much??
Jennifer Blake says
So delish!