CHOCOLATE ZUCCHINI CAKE

3/4 cup butter
1 1/2 cups sugar
3 eggs
1/2 cup milk
2 Tbsp. grated orange
1 Tbsp. vanilla
2 1/2 cups flour
6 Tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder
3 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
2 cups peeled and grated zucchini
1 cup chopped walnuts
Chocolate Cream Frosting (optional, recipe follows) or powdered sugar

Cream together butter and sugar. Beat in eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in milk, orange and vanilla until blended.

Stir together and beat in the next 5 ingredients until blended. Beat in the zucchini and walnuts. Spread batter in a greased 10 inch tube pan.

Bake in a 350 degree F oven for about 50 minutes. Allow to cool in pan.

When cool, swirl top with chocolate cream frosting, if desired, or sprinkle with powdered sugar.

CHOCOLATE CREAM FROSTING

2 Tbsp. light cream
1/2 cup sifted powdered sugar
2 Tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1/4 tsp. cinnamon

stir together all the ingredients for the frosting until blended. Add a little more cream or sugar, if needed, to make frosting a creamy consistency.

Makes 1 (10-inch) tube cake
Adapted from source: Easiest and Best Coffee Cakes and Quick Breads by Renny Darling