Recipe: Chocolate Zucchini Roll

2010 August 21

by Sarah

I haven’t posted a recipe in awhile so I thought I’d share this dessert I just made on Wednesday for a dessert fellowship at church on Thursday night. It’s basically like a swiss cake roll, only way tastier and with vegetables in it.

Chocolate Zucchini Roll
(from Taste of Home via Allrecipes.com)

3 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup baking cocoa
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup shredded peeled zucchini

Filling:
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup butter or margarine, softened
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup confectioners’ sugar
Additonal confectioners’ sugar

In a mixing bowl, beat eggs and vanilla. Combine flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt; add to egg mixture and mix well. Batter will be thick. Stir in zucchini. Spread into a greased and waxed paper-lined 15-in. x 10-in. x 1-in. baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees F for 10-15 minutes or until cake springs back when lightly touched.

Turn onto a linen towel dusted with confectioners’ sugar. Peel off waxed paper and roll up the cake and the towel, jelly-roll style, starting with a short side. Cool on a wire rack.

In a mixing bowl, beat cream cheese, butter, and vanilla until fluffy. Beat in confectioners’ sugar. Unroll cake; spread filling to within 1 in. of edges. Roll up again; dust with confectioners’ sugar. Refrigerate until serving.

*****

Now, the first time I attempted to make this cake, I failed miserably. Well, actually, I turned it into a layer cake and it still tasted good, but I was disappointed my cake didn’t roll. I thought this was because I let it cool too long before attempting to roll it. This time I was sure I could do it right if I rolled the cake while it was still fresh from the oven. Not so much. It started to crack again so I did what any self-respecting baker would do: I turned to the internet for help.

I found this extremely helpful tutorial, appropriately also from Taste of Home:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzSs1I9gi9s]

You see, the original recipe directions didn’t say anything about rolling the cake in the towel. Apparently you’re just supposed to know this. Magically.

Anyway, the recipe is actually pretty quick and easy. And delicious. So go forth and eat your veggies, chocolate cake style.