Chocolate Zucchini Cake

Ingredients

• 2.5 cups regular flour all-purpose
• 0.5 cup natural unsweetened
• 2.5 teaspoons double-acting baking powder 
• 1.5 teaspoons baking soda 
• 1 teaspoon salt 
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon 
• 0.8 cup butter soft
• 1 cup granulated sugar white
• 1 cup brown sugar 
• 3  eggs room temperature
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 
• 2 teaspoons orange peel grated
• 3 cups coarsely zucchini shredded (from 1 pound of zucchini, or 3 medium zucchini)
• 0.5 cup milk 
• 1 cup walnuts chopped
• 12 servings glaze (directions follow)
• 2 cups powdered sugar 
• 3 Tbsp milk 
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 

Equipment

• bowl
• frying pan
• oven
• whisk
• wire rack
• sieve
• blender
• wooden spoon
• spatula
• kugelhopf pan

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Drain the shredded zucchini: Set the shredded zucchini to drain in a sieve over a bowl. If no moisture drains out and the zucchini feels dry, sprinkle some water over it and let the excess drain.
3. Whisk together dry ingredients: Vigorously whisk together the flour, cocoa, baking powder, soda, salt, and cinnamon in a bow, and set aside.
4. Mix wet ingredients: With a mixer, beat together the butter and the sugars until smooth.
5. Add the eggs to the butter and sugar mixture one at a time, beating well after each addition. With a wooden spoon, stir in the vanilla, orange peel, and zucchini.
6. Mix dry with wet ingredients to make batter: Alternately stir in the dry ingredients and the milk into the zucchini mixture, including the nuts with the last addition.
7. Prep pan, add batter: Spray the inside of a 10-inch bundt pan or tube pan lightly with cooking spray (or grease with butter). Wipe off the excess.
8. Pour in the batter and use a rubber spatula to level the top of the batter.
9. Bake in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for about 50-55 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean (test at 45 min).
10. Cool in pan 15 minutes; turn out on wire rack to cool thoroughly.
11. Make glaze: Make the glaze by mixing together the glaze ingredients. You can easily do this by hand with a whisk or a spoon. If the glaze is too runny, add some more powdered sugar. If too thick, add more milk.
12. Drizzle glaze over cake.
13. Cut in thin slices to serve.