Frosted Chocolate and Zucchini Brownies

It's Zucchini Week here on the blog!  What you've never heard of that before?  That's because I just made it up.  But on Friday, I found myself with a surplus of the vegetable...

I'm a regular person that does regular things.

Our friend delivered those from her garden and so as you can see I am up to my earlobes in zucchini (I even had a dream last night about a killer zucchini that was making everyone crazy a la "bath salts" style - true story).  So, I hereby declare it... Zucchini Week!!

Don't worry - not every recipe will include chocolate.  But I just had to try out the pairing because I've seen so many intriguing recipes over the years.  If you're afraid of the idea of putting vegetables in a brownie DON'T BE.  Especially because the mild flavor of zucchini seems to disappear in the chocolate and I'm telling you, you have ZERO clue that you're eating it.  And your son has no clue, and your skeptical boyfriend has no clue.  

But don't be fooled.  Even though you're getting something green in them, they taste nowhere near "healthy" - they are decadent and fudgy and rich in chocolate flavor.  (And with no eggs, very little butter and the option of swapping applesauce for oil - you can please health nuts too.)   

Frosted Chocolate and Zucchini Brownies
Adapted from Mommy I'm Hungry
Printable Recipe

Brownies:
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
2 tsp vanilla
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tsp salt
2 cups shredded zucchini
1 pkg. chocolate chips

Frosting:
1/4 cup unsalted butter
6 heaping T unsweetened cocoa powder
2 1/4 cup powdered sugar
1/2 cup milk
1/2 tsp vanilla

Preheat the oven to 350.  Using an electric mixer, combine oil and sugar until it resembles wet sand.  Add vanilla, flour, cocoa powder, salt and zucchini.  Mix until a dough forms.  Stir in chocolate chips.

Spread in a greased 9x13 baking pan (I lined the bottom of mine with parchment as well).  Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.  Let cool completely.     

To make frosting, melt butter and cocoa powder in a small saucepan over low heat.  Let cool slightly.

In a bowl, combine powdered sugar, milk and vanilla until creamy.  Stir in chocolate/butter mixture.  Spread over cooled brownies (frosting will be on the liquid side but will firm up eventually).