Chocolate Chip Zucchini Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

Hi and welcome to Cakeday. Doesn’t that sound a million times better than Monday?

Chocolate Chip Zucchini Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting [only 2 Flours!] | edibleperspective.com #glutenfree
Chocolate Chip Zucchini Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting [only 2 Flours!] | edibleperspective.com #glutenfree

Me thinks so.

Chocolate Chip Zucchini Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting [only 2 Flours!] | edibleperspective.com #glutenfree
Chocolate Chip Zucchini Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting [only 2 Flours!] | edibleperspective.com #glutenfree

Now before I go ruining this post with terrible Monday jokes I have to tell you the most important thing about this cake:

This is quite possibly the best recipe I have ever created on the entire blog. I know that is a crazy thing to say but it may just be true. It’s definitely in the top 10 recipes and probably in the top 5 and definitely a contender for #1.

Do you know what this means?

YOU MUST MAKE THIS CAKE. I don’t care if you’re gluten-free or you eat all of the gluten—all of the time. This cake is about to be your best friend. You’re going to start having dreams about it and when zucchini season is over you’re going to cryyyy. But don’t worry because you can always switch up the zucchini for carrots. In fact, this recipe is based off my most recent carrot cake recipe that was adapted from my first carrot cake recipe, both of which I adore.

But this cake WINS.

Chocolate Chip Zucchini Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting [only 2 Flours!] | edibleperspective.com #glutenfree
Chocolate Chip Zucchini Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting [only 2 Flours!] | edibleperspective.com #glutenfree

And it’s totally going to bathe in cream cheese frosting, because sometimes you just need cream cheese frosting drenched over a cake.

Unless you can’t tolerate dairy. Then you don’t want to do that. But don’t worry, I’ve got you dairy-free peeps covered. Check: options 1 + 2 + 3

Chocolate Chip Zucchini Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting [only 2 Flours!] | edibleperspective.com #glutenfree
Chocolate Chip Zucchini Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting [only 2 Flours!] | edibleperspective.com #glutenfree

Also. No mixer required! You’re going to whip this right in your blender. Because it’s easier and creamier and oh my god so good.

I realize I’m slightly excited about this cake, but you will soon see why.

Chocolate Chip Zucchini Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting [only 2 Flours!] | edibleperspective.com #glutenfree
Chocolate Chip Zucchini Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting [only 2 Flours!] | edibleperspective.com #glutenfree

SEE!!!

photography side note: Do not even ask how I managed to get this photo. You should see the other 40 before this one. The frosting is quite thick and does not easily pour out of the creamer spout, making this pour shot nearly impossible. I used my remote shutter with my tripod set up and had the shutter speed cranked high. I also pre-focused the camera right in the spot I was pouring in hopes it would get a clear shot of the pour. Somehow, 1 out of 40 worked! Just keeping it real.

Chocolate Chip Zucchini Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting [only 2 Flours!] | edibleperspective.com #glutenfree
Chocolate Chip Zucchini Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting [only 2 Flours!] | edibleperspective.com #glutenfree

The funny thing about photographing cakes is that you basically have to photograph the entire thing and then HOPE it tastes edible [preferably better than edible] so you can post the recipe without having to remake it. I totally lucked out here because this would have been a pain in the buttocks to remake and photograph.

Chocolate Chip Zucchini Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting [only 2 Flours!] | edibleperspective.com #glutenfree
Chocolate Chip Zucchini Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting [only 2 Flours!] | edibleperspective.com #glutenfree

But holy moly the anticipation before that first bite! I could have died.

Chocolate Chip Zucchini Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting [only 2 Flours!] | edibleperspective.com #glutenfree
Chocolate Chip Zucchini Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting [only 2 Flours!] | edibleperspective.com #glutenfree

I’m not even going to try and describe the texture to you because I think you can tell from the photos. And it’s got this dense but light thing going on that is confusing and amazing and too hard to describe.

Even more awesome news is that you only need oat flour + almond flour to make this cake! Ahh, simplicity.

Chocolate Chip Zucchini Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting [only 2 Flours!] | edibleperspective.com #glutenfree
Chocolate Chip Zucchini Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting [only 2 Flours!] | edibleperspective.com #glutenfree

Zucchini baked goods will always hold a special place for me as I’ve explained on the blog before. Every year growing up my mom and I would bake loaf after loaf of zucchini bread as my dad would pull the biggest zucchinis you’ve ever seen from our garden and pile them up on the back step.

By the end of the season our loaves were filled with chocolate chips [because, why not?] which were obviously my favorite. So each year I feel the need to come up with a fun new zucchini baked good and this year I think I’ll stop right here.

Make this if you know what’s good for you.

Chocolate Chip Zucchini Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting [only 2 Flours!] | edibleperspective.com #glutenfree
Chocolate Chip Zucchini Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting [only 2 Flours!] | edibleperspective.com #glutenfree

Print this!

adapted from: my carrot cake recipe

Chocolate Chip Zucchini Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

gluten-free, dairy-free option // yields about 12 servings

for the cake:

  • 1 1/3 cup large grated zucchini, use 1-2 small/medium sized zucchinis with skin on[or peel if desired]
  • 2 cups gluten-free oat flour
  • 1 cup blanched almond flour
  • 1/2 cup + 2 tablespoons lightly packed muscovado sugar, or brown sugar
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 4 large eggs
  • 1/2 cup 2% milk
  • 1/4 cup full-fat plain Greek yogurt, or low-fat
  • 3 tablespoons honey
  • 4 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • 1/3 cup unrefined coconut oil, melted and cooled
  • 1 cup dark chocolate chips

for the frosting:

  • 8oz cream cheese
  • 1/4 cup half + half
  • 1-4 tablespoons 2% milk
  • 4-6 tablespoons honey
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

*Take out all ingredients about 30 minutes before baking to let come to room temperature. Once the cake is cooling remove the cream cheese from the fridge to soften.*

Preheat your oven to 350* F.

Place your grated zucchini evenly on a kitchen towel with another on top. Press down gently and let the moisture absorb into the towel. Keep covered.

Thoroughly grease your bundt pan [I used a 9 3/4-inch by 3 1/3-inch bundt pan] or 2, 8-inch round pans on all sides with butter or coconut oil. Lightly flour and knock around to fully coat the pan. Flip over and knock on the pan to release excess flour.

In a large bowl stir together the flours, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt.

In another bowl whisk the eggs. Then whisk in the milk, yogurt, honey, and vanilla. Whisk in the oil until fully combined. Pour the wet into the dry and whisk until just incorporated [when you no longer see dry flour].

Fold in the grated zucchini and chocolate chips until evenly distributed. Pour into your pan and level. Place in the oven to bake for 42-52 minutes, or until the top is cracked and golden brown and a toothpick comes out nearly clean. You don’t want it gooey but just slightly moist.

Place the pan on a cooling rack for about 20-30 minutes. Carefully slide a thin spatula or butter knife around the center ring and edges. Flip over bracing with your hand and allow to cool fully on the rack.

Once cooled, place all frosting ingredients in your blender [starting with the lesser amount of milk and honey]. Blend until just fully creamy and add more milk for a thinner consistency or honey for sweetness. It will thicken a bit as it sits. Pour over the cake and store any excess covered in the fridge.

Serve cake and store leftovers fully covered in the fridge. Best eaten at room temperature or warmed for a few seconds out of the fridge.

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Notes: If you can’t find full fat Greek yogurt, low-fat and probably even non-fat will work okay. Plain whole milk yogurt can most likely be used but if it’s runny reduce to 3T.

Dairy-free: Use applesauce instead of yogurt. Use unsweetened almond milk or soymilk in place of 2%. Use one of the frosting recipes here: 1 + 2 + 3

Flours: Sub flours at your own risk. I would not attempt subbing the eggs with flax-eggs.

Chocolate Chip Zucchini Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting [only 2 Flours!] | edibleperspective.com #glutenfree
Chocolate Chip Zucchini Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting [only 2 Flours!] | edibleperspective.com #glutenfree

Happy Cakeday, people.

Ashley

I’m on vacation this week so if your comment or email goes unanswered I’ll get to it when I return! Thank you!

Peach Bourbon Ice Cream Sandwiches with Lemon Cornbread Cookies {vegan/gf}

How can this be the first time I’ve ever made ice cream sandwiches?

I love cookies.

I love ice cream.

This makes no sense.

Peach Bourbon Ice Cream Sandwiches with Lemon Cornbread Cookies | edibleperspective.com #vegan #glutenfree
Peach Bourbon Ice Cream Sandwiches with Lemon Cornbread Cookies | edibleperspective.com #vegan #glutenfree

I decided it was finally time.

It started last week with the lemon cornbread cookies but it took awhile to decide on the ice cream flavor. I wanted the ice cream to have a kick of summer so peaches seemed like the right choice. I’m also now thinking cherries would be excellent with the lemon cookies as well.

Peach Bourbon Ice Cream Sandwiches with Lemon Cornbread Cookies | edibleperspective.com #vegan #glutenfree
Peach Bourbon Ice Cream Sandwiches with Lemon Cornbread Cookies | edibleperspective.com #vegan #glutenfree

I wanted to bring out the sweetness and flavor in the peaches even more, so naturally, I grilled them.

And then it seemed only right to liven up this ice cream with a little booze. Bourbon to be exact. The kick of flavor isn’t the only reason to add a little booze, though. The alcohol will keep the ice cream soft and creamy after you freeze it. No ice crystals or rock hard ice cream here! Nope! The very low freezing point of liquor helps prevent the ice cream from freezing into a brick. This means you don’t have to wait for it to defrost. Just scoop + eat.

Peach Bourbon Ice Cream Sandwiches with Lemon Cornbread Cookies | edibleperspective.com #vegan #glutenfree
Peach Bourbon Ice Cream Sandwiches with Lemon Cornbread Cookies | edibleperspective.com #vegan #glutenfree

Look at those peach flecks!!!

Peach Bourbon Ice Cream Sandwiches with Lemon Cornbread Cookies | edibleperspective.com #vegan #glutenfree
Peach Bourbon Ice Cream Sandwiches with Lemon Cornbread Cookies | edibleperspective.com #vegan #glutenfree

If for some [crazy] reason you’re not going to make the Lemon Cornbread Cookies I still highly recommend making this ice cream. It’s not quite as heavy as most coconut milk vegan ice creams because it uses just 1 can of coconut milk and a LOT of peaches. This helps to lighten things up while still resulting in an ultra creamy texture.

Peach Bourbon Ice Cream Sandwiches with Lemon Cornbread Cookies | edibleperspective.com #vegan #glutenfree
Peach Bourbon Ice Cream Sandwiches with Lemon Cornbread Cookies | edibleperspective.com #vegan #glutenfree

I’m not sure what the typical method for wrapping ice cream sandwiches is but what you see below worked perfectly. I tore pieces of parchment, rolled the sandwich on its edge, and twisted the ends.

Peach Bourbon Ice Cream Sandwiches with Lemon Cornbread Cookies | edibleperspective.com #vegan #glutenfree
Peach Bourbon Ice Cream Sandwiches with Lemon Cornbread Cookies | edibleperspective.com #vegan #glutenfree

I’m pretty sure our freezer is going to have ice cream sandwiches stocked at all times.

And these are mini-sized so it’s totally justifiable.

Peach Bourbon Ice Cream Sandwiches with Lemon Cornbread Cookies | edibleperspective.com #vegan #glutenfree
Peach Bourbon Ice Cream Sandwiches with Lemon Cornbread Cookies | edibleperspective.com #vegan #glutenfree
Peach Bourbon Ice Cream Sandwiches with Lemon Cornbread Cookies | edibleperspective.com #vegan #glutenfree
Peach Bourbon Ice Cream Sandwiches with Lemon Cornbread Cookies | edibleperspective.com #vegan #glutenfree

It’s like taking a bite right into summer.

Peach Bourbon Ice Cream Sandwiches with Lemon Cornbread Cookies | edibleperspective.com #vegan #glutenfree
Peach Bourbon Ice Cream Sandwiches with Lemon Cornbread Cookies | edibleperspective.com #vegan #glutenfree

Print this!

Peach Bourbon Ice Cream Sandwiches with Lemon Cornbread Cookies

gluten-free, vegan // yields

  • 5-6 medium peaches, ripe
  • high-heat oil + muscovado sugar for grilling
  • 1, 13.5oz can full-fat coconut milk
  • 1/3 cup brown rice syrup, or coconut nectar or honey
  • 2-4 tablespoons muscovado sugar, or sucanat/coconut sugar/pure cane sugar
  • 2-3 tablespoons bourbon, source gluten-free bourbon if needed
  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • 1 batch Lemon Cornbread Cookies

Freeze your ice cream bowl according to your manufacturer’s specifications.

Preheat your grill to 400* F. Cut 5 peaches in half or slice in large pieces and discard pits. Lightly brush with oil and sprinkle the cut sides with muscovado sugar.

Grease your grill grates and grill the peaches until deep grill marks appear. About 3-5 minutes. Flip and grill for another 3-5 minutes. Place on a plate and let fully cool in the fridge.

Place the peaches, coconut milk, brown rice syrup, 2 tablespoons muscovado sugar, 2 tablespoons bourbon, and 2 teaspoons vanilla in a high powered blender. Blend until smooth. Taste the mixture and add more sugar or bourbon if desired. If it’s not peachy enough for your liking slice a 6th peach and blend that in as well [it’s fine that it wasn’t grilled]. Blend again until smooth.

Pour into a large sealable bag and squeeze excess air out. Submerge in an ice bath until fully chilled. Or, pour into a bowl and place in the fridge until fully chilled. Once chilled, pour into your ice cream maker and churn until the ice cream collects on the sides and blade and resembles a thick, soft serve texture. [Refer to manual for appx. time.]

Scoop into a freezer safe container and pack down. Place plastic wrap or parchment directly on top of the ice cream, close with a lid, and freeze for about 3-4 hours. Place cookies in the freezer on a baking sheet for 1 hour before preparing [not mandatory but helpful to firm them up a bit].

Tear pieces of parchment for each cookie sandwich you’re going to make [or wax paper]. Scoop about 1/4 cup onto each cookie, place the other cookie on top, then lightly squeeze. Scrape excess with a small spatula around the edges. Place the sandwich on it’s side at one end of the parchment, roll up, then twist the ends together. Place in the freezer. Repeat with remaining cookies. Freeze for a few hours [or longer] before serving. Eat within 2-3 weeks.

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Notes: If you want the peach and bourbon to stand out more with the lemon cookies be sure to pack in as much ice cream as you can. You can also cut down the lemon zest in the cookies by half. I used 2 tablespoons bourbon in this ice cream and it did harden some in the freezer but was still immediately scoopable. Adding 1 more tablespoon would soften the ice cream a bit more and add more bourbon flavor.

Peach Bourbon Ice Cream Sandwiches with Lemon Cornbread Cookies | edibleperspective.com #vegan #glutenfree
Peach Bourbon Ice Cream Sandwiches with Lemon Cornbread Cookies | edibleperspective.com #vegan #glutenfree

Currently thinking of a plan to make summer last forever. Idea #1: Keep these in the freezer all year long.

Ashley