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Monday, March 31, 2014

Chocolate and Coffee Zucchini Bread



There is no doubt about it that my daily cup of coffee is a BIG part of my life.  It is usually the one of last things I think of when I go to sleep at night (looking forward to my morning cup) and the first thing I think of when I wake up! So yes, a hot cup of coffee is a delight to me.  I also enjoy baking with coffee as it truly accents the flavor of chocolate so well. And yes chocolate is yet another essential in my life.  Coming across this recipe for Chocolate and Coffee Zucchini Bread was a complete delight!  I found the recipe on Shockingly Delicious - a food blog by the lovely and kind, Dorothy.  I have followed Dorothy's blog for quite awhile now and have always enjoyed her recipes and stories. I was delighted to be assigned to her blog this past month through the Secret Recipe Club.
 
 
I dove right into my assignment to Dorothy's blog making her Best Onion and Mushroom Burgers.  Such. Delicious. Burgers!!! I highly, highly recommend whipping up a batch of these burgers.  Simple recipe for a family week night dinner or a fun and comforting dinner idea for the upcoming BBQ season.  I had all intentions of making these burgers again and photographing them for my Secret Recipe Club assignment but then switched gears drastically when I discovered this chocolate, coffee and zucchini delight of a quick bread.  What a treat! A perfect quick bread that can be made year round with ready available ingredients.  Easy to put together and lovely to eat.  Perfect!
 
 
I added some chocolate chunks and chopped walnuts on top of my bread.   I like to show what may be inside.... :-)
 
Chocolate and Coffee Zucchini Bread
                  (recipe from Shockingly Delicious)
 
Ingredients:
 
1cup grated unpeeled zucchini
1/2 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
3/4 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla extract
4 Tbsp good quality cocoa
1 tsp instant coffee (or espresso) powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 cup mini (or regular) semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 1/2 cups flour
*1/4 cup chopped nuts (I used walnuts) - optional
1/4 cup chopped chocolate - optional
 
Directions:
 
1. Preheat oven to 350.  Grease a 9x5 loaf pan - set aside.
 
2. Take grated zucchini and gently roll into 2 layers of paper towels.  This is will help get rid of a lot of the moisture in the zucchini. Set aside.
 
3. Cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy.  Add in eggs, vanilla extract, cocoa and coffee powder, salt and baking soda. Beat all together to combine.
 
4. By hand mix in zucchini and chocolate chips.  Also by hand, gently mix in flour - just until combined. Pour batter into prepared pan.  Top with chopped nuts and chocolate if you wish. Bake for 55-60 minutes.  *Cover bread with tin foil if the nuts begin to brown. Cool bread and enjoy with a hot beverage of your choice and a lovely book. Happiness!
 
 
 
Happy Chocolate and Coffee Zucchini Bread Baking!
 
 
 
 



17 comments:

  1. Wonderful job on the bread! Love your chunky choc and walnuts on top additions, and your photos are gorgeous! Thanks for poking around my blog this month. It's a pleasure to be in SRC with you.

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  2. Don't you love Dorothy's site? And she is such a great participant of this club, always leaving comments, and brightening up the blogosphere!

    loved the recipe you chose!

    Have a great Monday!

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  3. Oh my goodness. This bread looks absolutely incredible! will have to try this. great src pick this month!

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  4. Oh my gosh, this looks great! Especially all those delicious bits on top. Soon enough my garden will be spitting out zucchinis like crazy... can't wait!

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  5. Yum, this looks so good! I love zucchini bread, and everything is better with nuts & chocolate!

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  6. Everything about this bread sounds absolutely amazing. I am adding this to my "must make" list soon!!! Awesome pick this month :)

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  7. Such a wonderful combination of flavors! The bread looks beautiful, great pick!

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  8. Yum! I love the addition of coffee to this!!!

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  9. Also known as super duper zucchini bread. I love the chocolate and coffee addition. Happy Reveal Day!!

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  10. Gorgeous bread, and I can't wait to try the burgers too. Isn't Dorothy's blog fabulous?

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  11. Yummy! This looks so good!!! Yum!

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  12. This looks amazing. I think I might have to use the last couple of this season's zucchini from my garden to make this fabulous loaf.

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  13. YUM! This looks amazing!! And dangerous!

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  14. This looks wonderful! I think my family would go crazy for it.

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  15. This is really beautiful Avril! Looks delicious! :) Miss you at TCSB!

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  16. pretty nice blog, following :)

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