This easy, gluten-free, refined sugar-free summer squash chocolate sheet cake is a great way to use up all that squash your summer garden has been producing!
Chocolate on the brain…
There are many ways to use up all that summer squash you’ve been seeing at the store. Or if you’re lucky enough to have a productive garden, use up all that homegrown goodness! Of course I love my zucchini as zoodles, but sometimes you just need a healthy dose of chocolate, ya know?
The other night I was sitting on the couch with my hubby, lazily watching Britain’s Got Talent (yeah… it was his idea), when all of a sudden I absolutely needed a chocolate zucchini cake. Absolutely. Needed. Nothing else would do.
So into the kitchen I went. Into the fridge, rummaging around in the produce drawers. Sadly, all I had on hand were 3 tiny zucchini, not enough for a sheet cake. (Now don’t judge, I could’ve just made an 8×8 cake, I know.) Happily, though, I had quite a few courgettes and crookneck squash. I’m not too picky when it comes to squash, so I grated up those summer squash and saved my zucchini for zoodles.
The perfect blend.
I based my recipe for this summer squash chocolate sheet cake off a blending of these to delicious recipes: my Buttermilk Carob Zucchini Cake, and this crazy good-lookin’ Double Chocolate Zucchini Bread. Though I do like to make recipes egg-free and dairy-free, too, this cake is not (but the frosting is!). You can make it both, though, by using flax eggs, mixing a dairy-free milk (like coconut milk) with apple cider vinegar, and using dairy-free chocolate chips.
More chocolate goodness…
If you’re on the lookout for more zucchini goodness, there are a few other recipes I n the mood for some chocolate deliciousness, but don’t have any summer squash on hand? Here are a few of my go-to zucchini recipes you might enjoy:
- Summer Squash Zoodles with Chicken Sausage Alfredo
- Buttermilk Carob Zucchini Cake
- Scalloped Zucchini & Crookneck Squash
- Carob Zucchini Milkshake
- Chocolate Berries & Greens Smoothie Bowl
- Italian Wedding Soup in the Instant Pot
In the recipe card I’ve linked to some of the products from my affiliate partners that I like to use. Purchasing through these links won’t cost you anything extra. Thanks!
Summer Squash Chocolate Sheet Cake
Free of gluten and refined sugar, with egg/dairy-free options.
Ingredients
- 3 cups shredded summer squash (zucchini, courgette, or crookneck)
- 2 eggs (fresh or flax eggs)
- 1/2 cup buttermilk
- 1 cup applesauce
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1 tablespoon vanilla (I use my homemade extract)
- 1 cup sorghum flour (or brown rice)
- 1/2 cup tapioca starch
- 1/4 cup arrowroot powder
- 1/2 cup cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup chocolate chips
Instructions
Grease 9×13 inch pan and preheat the oven to 350.
Grate squash into large bowl and add in liquid ingredients.
Dump dry ingredients on top of wet ones and quickly mix in until no dry streaks remain.
Pour into prepared pan and bake at 350 for 35 minutes.
Easy Chocolate Frosting
Free from grain, gluten, eggs, dairy, and refined sugar.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup each cocoa powder, honey, and coconut oil
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Instructions
Mix everything in a small bowl and drizzle over cooled cake.
Smooth with a spoon.
Lick out the bowl.
Pin this Summer Squash Chocolate Sheet Cake for later!
In the mood for some chocolate deliciousness, but don’t have any summer squash on hand? Here are a few of my go-to chocolate recipes you might enjoy:
- Dark Chocolate Triple Berry Muffins
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Pudding
- Dark Chocolate Marshmallows
- Frozen Hot Chocolate
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Love this Raia. It looks so moist and the icing is beautifully glossy!
I love baking cakes with squares and courgettes….. I will definitely be trying this one xx
I hope you enjoy it, Kate! It’s definitely one of my favorite ways to eat squash. 😉
I love desserts that sneak veggies in – especially chocolate ones!
Me, too! 😉
I never don’t have chocolate (and zucchini) on the brain!
Haha! Yeah… I think I suffer from the same malady. 😉
I love squash and make zucchini brownies often. I’ll have to try this cake soon too! It looks delicious. 🙂
Thanks Keeley! 🙂
LOVE zucchini + cocoa. Doesn’t seem like a natural combo, but it WORKS! YUM! ?
It definitely works! Of course, I pretty much think cocoa + anything is a natural combo… 😉
This looks so good! Squash and zucchini are such great carriers for flavor and make everything more moist!
Thank you, Elise! 🙂
Yum! Summer squash is one of my favorites right now at the farmer’s market and this looks like the perfect treat to use it in!
Thanks, Jennifer! I hope you get a chance to enjoy it! 🙂
You know I’m pinning this one. Looks luscious, Raia.
Thanks so much, Barbara!
Love this Raia! You know I love all things chocolate, I bet this is so yummy with the summer squash.
Thanks, Emily! 😉
This looks SO good! Love the “lick out the bowl” in the instructions, haha! Last time I got a late night craving for something I just HAD to have, it was my first sign that I was pregnant again… 😉
Haha! Just keeping it real, ya know? 😉 And let’s not mention the ‘p’ word… Haha. Not quite ready for that again, yet!
Veggies always make baked goods so moist and I bet the summer squash makes it taste better the zucchini. Necessity is the mother of invention after all.
Agreed. 😉 And I always have a necessity for chocolate. 😀
This looks so good! I love adding zucchini to chocolate desserts.
Thanks, Maya! 🙂
LOVE the idea of using Summer Squash! I have a boat load of it in my garden, so will give this a try!! Pinned 🙂
I hope you get a chance to enjoy it, Angela! 🙂
I love baking with yellow squash, but have never tried a chocolate cake. Well done!! I can’t wait to try my hand at your amazing recipe 🙂
Thanks, Sammi! I like squash, but seriously, everything’s better in a chocolate cake. 😉
OMG… This looks amazing! I’m on vacation at the beach right now but all I want to do is go home and make this recipe!
Haha! I hope you get a chance to enjoy it soon, Kayla!
This looks so yummy! I love how there’s only a few ingredients 🙂
Blessings,
Edye | http://gracefulcoffee.wordpress.com
Thanks, Edye! 🙂 I like to keep things as simple as possible (and as chocolatey as possible).
Mmm, I love sneaking in vegetables in chocolate cake. It’s a nice way to get extra nutrition, plus moisture, into the cake.
Me too, Audrey. 😉 Summer squash are so easy to sneak in, too!
We just got a lot of summer squash in our CSA box, and I’ve been trying to figure out what to do with them. Thanks for the solution! The chocolate helped make it easy. 🙂
Haha. Yeah… chocolate helps. 😉 I hope you get a chance to enjoy it!
That cake does NOT look like it has squash in it! And that frosting! Wish I had seen this when I was trying to come up with something for my daughter’s birthday cake. Thanks for sharing with Simply Natural Saturdays.
Thanks, Beth! I love finding new ways to hide fruits and veggies in my foods. 😉
I so much want to make this soon! Chocolate and gluten free! I’m in heaven!
I hope you enjoy it, Sarah! It’s a wonderful way to use up squash and enjoy chocolate at the same time. 😉
This looks amazing! I am definitely going to have to give this a go! I have never tried to make a courgette cake but this is going to change that! pinned for later! #freefromfridays
I hope you enjoy it, Midge! It’s probably my favorite way to eat courgette. 😉
HI Raia,
This looks fabulous – who thought that yellow squash could make such a wonderful looking dessert. Thanks for sharing on Real Food Fridays. Pinned & tweeted!
Thank you, Marla! 🙂
Such a great idea – and it looks so moist, chocolatey and delicious! Squash and zucchini really are the secret weapons of cooking…they work in so many sweet and savory recipes!
They are great ingredients, Casey. 😉 Thank so much for stopping by!
This cake looks delicious! The perfect use for summer squash!
Thank you, Bethany! 🙂
With so many of my favorite ingredients, who can resist this tasty delight? We’re so glad you shared this healthy and delicious Summer Squash Chocolate Sheet Cake recipe on the Healthy, Happy, Green and Natural Party Blog Hop. I’m Pinning and sharing!
Glad to share, Deborah! Thank you for pinning. 🙂
Thanks so much for stopping by Weekend Potluck to share your wonderful Summer Squash Chocolate Sheet Cake recipe, Raia!
Glad to share, Mary! Thanks so much for stopping by!
This is a fabulous sheet cake and I can’t wait to try it! Your recipe looks awesome and thanks so much for sharing it with us at Full Plate Thursday. Have a great day and come back to see us real soon!
Miz Helen
Thank you, Helen. 🙂
I love all the goodness that goes into this! Seriously amazing!
Thank you!