Monday, August 2, 2010

Zucchini Brownies

People from Utah know zucchini. If you don't grow it yourself, your neighbor does and is willing to unload an abundance of it on you for the duration of the summer. I am always shocked to hear how many non-Utah friends have never heard of zucchini brownies. It shocks them to hear I make them. Zucchini is versatile. You can fry it, bake it, eat it raw, julienne it into a delicious summer pasta, add it to a fresh salad, saute' it and even sneak it into brownies! Not only does it give brownies at least some nutritional value, it makes them heavenly. The zucchini gives the brownie added moisture and volume and really makes them quite irresistible. I top mine off with a dark cocoa butter cream and they don't last two days before they are eaten up.

This is a recipe that started in my father's kitchen, got better with my mother's touch and has been perfected (wink) in my kitchen. Enjoy
my fellow foodie friends!

ZUCCHINI BROWNIES

1 1/2C sugar
1/2C vegetable oil
2C all purpose flour
1/4C cocoa
2C peeled and shredded zu
cchini
2t vanilla
1t salt
1 1/2t baking soda

Preheat oven to 350 and grease an 8x11 baking pan.
In a stand mixer combine the sugar, oil and flour. While mixing, on low, add cocoa, zucchini, vanilla, salt and baking soda until completely combined. Pour into prepared pan and bake for 25-30 minutes or until edges are darker then center and center is set. Cool completely and frost with the following:
COCOA BUTTER CREAM

1C unsalted butter
4C powdered sugar
1/4C cocoa1t vanilla

Whip butter until very light and fluffy (about 5 minutes) and add powdered sugar, one cup at a time, until combined. Add cocoa and vanilla and whip an additional 3 minutes. Frost the brownies generously.


15 comments:

  1. Yum! I looove chocolate zucchini cake so I am definitely going to try these!

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  2. I've made a zucchini cake but not brownies. I will have to give them a go...if there is any zucchini left when I have my ovens:(

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  3. These look great! I also have only made zucchini bread and cake, never brownies, but I'll definitely be trying this. I already have more zucchini than I know what to do with!

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  4. I just happen to have two extra large zucchini waiting to be made into these delicious looking brownies!! Can't wait to try them

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  5. I *love* zucchini desserts. It just seems like you're pulling one over on somebody... who? I have no idea. "The man," perhaps. Thanks for posting this!

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  6. This looks like a fabulous way to eat zucchini. Almost like health food - right!

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  7. I'm like Becky, and have an overly large zucchini sitting on my counter that needs a home. Love that your father began the recipe and it's been getting better with loving cooks additions. Can't wait to give it a spin.

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  8. Made the brownies for a dinner party last night...I even subbed yoghurt for the oil. The entire pan was gone before everyone left. My guest kept going back "just to nibble".

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  9. catching up on my google reader... these brownies look perfect! I have a son who won't eat anything healthy... I'll have to feed him these!

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  10. I will say it again, I have NEVER had brownies that were this good. It's almost more like a cake but I don't care what you call it because there is nothing like the moistness and chocolate goodness that is in these. You would never know there is zucchini in them but I don't care. They are AMAZING. I will be hunting down zucchini just to make more.

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  11. Aloha,
    I made a version of your brownies with some whole wheat flour. They turned out great. Thanks for the inspiration!

    http://eatlittleeatbig.blogspot.com/2010/11/recipe-for-double-chocolate-zucchini.html

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  12. Picked up zucchini at farmers market, now I can't wait to try out this recipe! :)

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  13. I know, it's February... not zucchini season, but I picked up a bunch of Zucchini at Sunflower market to make soup with and I have 3 left. Our dog is sick and the mood is low at my house so I'll be making these this afternoon for a touch of comfort food. Thank you for the recipe!

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  14. Delicious! My whole family loved them. Thanks for the recipe!

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