Hi Friends,

It’s that time of year again—the gardens are overflowing with zucchini, and I couldn’t be happier! I LOVE zucchini. In fact, I’ve had it three times in the last week—fried, baked, and now… in cake!

And not just any cake—Ooey Gooey Zucchini Cake. This rich, chocolatey, unbelievably moist treat is my favorite way to turn summer’s abundance into something irresistible. The zucchini keeps it perfectly tender, and the best part? No frosting needed—just a big glass of milk.

It’s the kind of cake that feels right at home in a cozy kitchen while a mystery novel waits for you in the other room. Perfect for sharing at potlucks, bringing to book club, or enjoying in your favorite reading chair.

If you try it, I’d love to hear what you think—bonus points if you send me a picture of your slice (before or after the first bite!).

And for my fellow Silver Mist Cove Cozy Mystery fans—you might recognize this as exactly the kind of treat Sage would serve up at The Green Brews. Imagine it arriving at your table with a steaming cup of your favorite latte while the scent of chocolate and coffee fills the air… pure cozy bliss!

Sage’s Book, The Faerie’s Vow comes out on August 12th. You can preorder here.

Happy baking and happy reading.

Here’s the recipe so you can bake a little summer joy into your kitchen:

Zucchini Cake Recipe

Ooey Gooey & Perfect for Summer’s Bounty

Ingredients:

• 2 cups shredded zucchini (set aside)
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tsp baking soda
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 cup cocoa powder
• 1 package mini chocolate chips
• ¾ cup oil
• 1½ cups milk
• 2 tsp vanilla

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together flour and baking soda.
3. Add sugar, brown sugar, cocoa powder, chocolate chips, oil, milk, and vanilla.
4. Mix until about 75% combined.
5. Stir in shredded zucchini until fully incorporated.
6. Spread batter into a deep 9×13 casserole dish—no need to grease.
7. Bake for 45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out mostly clean.
8. Let cool… if you can wait! (No judgment if you can’t.)
9. No frosting required—but grab a big glass of milk to enjoy with it.