Chocolate Courgette Cake

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This time of year, one tends to get overrun with certain vegetables if one happens to have an allotment or veg patch. Courgettes are one of those vegetables that can just take off and all of a sudden, you have a glut!

We have also been overloaded with courgettes at our project, hence creating something a little bit different than standard savoury dishes. A lot of people may pull a face at the thought of courgettes in a cake, however, bear with me, and think of carrot cake and how yummy that is.

This loaf cake is not only delicious, but also with lots of hidden nutrition.

CHOCOLATE COURGETTE CAKE

Joanne Iceton
A delicious and moist veg based bake
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 35 minutes
Course Dessert

Equipment

  • Scales
  • mixing bowl
  • Measuring Spoons
  • Loaf tin
  • Oven

Ingredients
  

  • 170 g wholemeal flour (or use plain)
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 40 g cocoa
  • 150 g brown sugar
  • 200 g grated courgette (about 2 small or 1 large courgette)
  • 100 ml rapeseed oil (or other neutral oil)
  • 50 g Greek yogurt (or use natural)
  • 3 eggs
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 100 g dark chocolate (chopped into 1/2 cm sized chunks)

Instructions
 

  • Oven 180c
  • Mix together the first four ingredients (dry). Stir through the courgette.
  • Add the oil, yogurt, eggs and vanilla to the flour and courgette mixture, then beat in well until all of the flour is incorporated.
  • Stir through about 70g of the chopped chocolate, reserving the rest for the top of the loaf cake.
  • Spoon the thick batter into a greased/lined loaf tin, smoothing the top slightly. Scatter over the remaining chopped chocolate.
  • Bake for up to 1 hour, 15 mins, checking after 1 hour. A sharp knife or skewer inserted into the cake should come out clean with no batter.
  • Leave to cool in the loaf tin for 30 mins, then remove from the tin to cool fully on a cooling rack.
    If wished, you can drizzle with melted chocolate (about 50g melted).

Notes

This loaf cake can be stored in an airtight container in a cool place for up to four days.
If keeping for any longer, store in the fridge as the veg content means it will not last as long. 

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Nutritional Benefits:

Courgettes like other squashes are diuretics and their potassium content benefits those with high blood pressure. They are also a source of immune system boosting vitamin C as well as  soluble fibre – essential for good digestion and helping to stabilise blood sugar.

Wholemeal flour contains more B vitamins (needed to release energy from nutrients and a healthy nervous system) and vitamin E content than white (helping wound healing, immunity and healthy eyes, skin and red blood cells) as well as insoluble fibre essential for good digestive health and stabilising blood sugars.

Dark chocolate contains more of the beneficial cocoa solids. Cocoa solids are full of antioxidant flavonoids which help to ‘mop up’ free radicals in the body. Free radicals cause inflammation, ageing, chronic disease and some cancers.  Cocoa is also a source of phenylethylamine which stimulates the feel good endorphins and may even help to boost serotonin production (low serotonin levels are associated with depression and anxiety). Bear in mind that chocolate also contains lots of sugars, so as with many foods, all in moderation.