These Chocolate Cake Mix Muffins use a box of devil’s food cake mix to make the most irresistible dessert swirled with chocolate chips, walnuts, zucchini, and pumpkin.
Let’s get something straight here: I could not for the life of me figure out what to call this.
They’re not quite cupcakes… but no way should something packed with this much chocolate ever logically find it’s way into the standard bread category.
They’re fudge-y… and taste just like a cake-y brownie.
And since I couldn’t help myself, I let fruit + veggies in on the fun.
So let’s just roll with it and call them muffins. Deal? Deal!
Unless you top it with frosting. Then you’re gonna have to just go ahead and call them a cupcake!
Whatever you end up calling it, it’s positively delicious!
If you would like to help put an end to my recipe identity crisis and help me classify this crack-like concoction then I’ll love you forever.
Or you can just simply make it.
chocolate cake mix muffins with pumpkin and zucchini
Feel free to use your favorite brand cake mix (there are some yummy, all-natural, sketch-free ones on the market today!) or use your go-to chocolate cake recipe for the base.
I have one that I’ve been working on that I’ll post the recipe for super soon!
Chocolate Cake Mix Muffins with Pumpkin and Zucchini
Ingredients
- 1 cup finely grated zucchini (about one small-medium squash)
- 1 can (15 oz) pureed pumpkin
- 1 box Devil's Food Cake Mix
- 2 large eggs or 2 flax eggs (see notes)
- ¾ cup chopped baking walnuts plus extra for topping (optional)
- 1 cup chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and prep a muffin tin with paper liners.
- Coarsely grate your zucchini with a box grater, gather into a pile, and chop into teeny pieces.
- Pat/squeeze dry with paper towels to remove any moisture.
- Next pour your cake mix in a large bowl (make sure you use chocolate cake mix) and add your can of pumpkin, eggs (or flax eggs), and zucchini.
- Stir until just moistened, then fold in your chocolate chips and walnuts.
- Annnd you’re done!
- Pour batter into paper lined muffin tins or foil loaf pans spritzed with a little oil and fill each a little over half-way. Recipe should yield approx. 18-20 muffins.
- Bake at 350°F for 25-28 minutes. To check for doneness, insert a toothpick in the center to test for a fluffy fully-cooked center. Bake times may vary from oven to oven based on calibration/temperament.
- Remove from the oven and allow to cool on a wire rack.
- Faceplant.
Notes
Nutrition
I couldn’t resist whipping up one of my favorite icings for the photos, but this recipe didn’t need it one bit — but here’s the recipe just in case you’d like it! Simply combine the below ingredients and whisk together. Uber easy!
Honey Yogurt Glaze
- 3 Tbsp yogurt cream cheese
- 1/2 tsp honey
- 1/4 cup powdered sugar
- a dash of cinnamon
- a few drops of vanilla
This recipe received a LOT of attention from absolutely everyone that tried it.
Half its praise can’t be printed on this blog simply because the amount of happy expletives that popped out of the most unlikely mouths (you know who you are — and I love you for it!)
Even more f-bombs were dropped when the ingredients were revealed. They’re quite excitable, making for a very colorful two days of recipe testing!
Here is my favorite PG response:
“I took a bite and liked it then told Joey to take a bite. I walk out of the room and a minute later he walks down the steps… “I love this stuff. It isn’t crazy sweet. It has just the right amount of chocolate and other stuff mixed in. Tell her to hand over the recipe. Wait, no. I don’t want to have to wait for more. Tell her to make me a whole loaf and I will give her a thumbs up online or whatever it is that you do on a blog.” And that is after I had to explain to him what zucchini is. lol.” – Shauna
I love my friends… and this recipe! And you!
The End <3
hungry for more?
If you get a chance to try these Chocolate Cake Mix Muffins, let me know!
August 16, 2024: Because we were craving these muffins, I made them again and this time updated the post with some fancy new photos.
Questions & Reviews
This is THE best dessert (/snack/breakfast/lunch/dinner). They don’t last very long in our house. Once my family and friends find out I’ve made a batch they come steal a few for themselves. I sent some to my husband’s work for a Thanksgiving potluck, and I was just asked if I could make some again because they were such a hit! And they have veggies so they are totally healthy, right? 😉 I love that your recipes turn out perfectly every time I use them! Thank you!
Oh! And I forgot to add that out of the dozen times I’ve made these, I’ve only used the glaze/icing once. They are perfect on their own. 🙂
has anyone made this one with gluten-free mix? and the results?
If you have a Gluten-Free chocolate cake mix that you adore it should work! I haven’t tested it with GF mix yet, but now that there are so many options on the market I want to! =)
oh my goodness this looks delicious! I’m pinning and making for sure! Thank you for linking up!
Brought these to a Christmas party the other night. Everyone loved them and I had to send the recipe out to friends the next day! Just another one of your recipes that will be made time and time again 🙂 Thank you!!
Oh my word…these are amazing!!! I’ve already had two! (Shhh…don’t tell anyone) Only difference is I made the frosting with greek yogurt instead. It was (almost) equally as yummy. Thanks for sharing this awesome recipe!
The brownie looks so delicious. I cant believe it contains Zucchini, but makes it even more likeable and als edible for those of us who try to loose weight and doesnt want to relinquish chocolate 🙂
I have one question though:
Do I really need “devils food cake mix”? Is there an alternative? I am from germany and cant get this here.
Thank you
Thank you!! =) You can use a homemade devils food cake [http://www.food.com/recipe/the-only-chocolate-cake-recipe-youll-ever-need-devils-food-26370] or purchase a standard chocolate cake mix too! =)
Great recipe!! My super picky kids love them… Also, made them for a playdate and they were a hit!! Thanks!
oh my goodness this looks amazingly perfect! thanks for sharing!!
I love the name! And this looks amazing. I clicked over from foodgawker and I”m so glad I did!
AHHHH Help me crop it! I’m having trouble!
“…and I will give her a thumbs up online or whatever it is that you do on a blog.” Bahaha! Well, I’ll top THAT…this is me giving you a high five! Even though you totally failed me in the recipe naming category…for that you get this 😛
Girl, that first pic is amazing! Please tell me you submitting to FG…how could they deny that perfectly drizzled icing?!
this looks so darn good! need to make this ASAP!
Wow. Just wow. I want. Now.
This looks delicious. I’ll DEFINITELY be making it in the near future. 🙂
Fantastic combination! This is definitely going on my must make list!!
Mine were definitely darker than yours so I may have mixed too much but they were still yummy muffins.
Looks A-M-A-Z-I-N-G. Yum Yum!
I don’t care what you call it… I’m eattin it! What a great combo of ingredients. 🙂
Christina
This is THE MOST DELICIOUS sounding recipe name EVER!
Uuum…excuse me…but the name brownie bread is the most perfectest name ever. Keep it. Loves it. Sold.
Brownie bread with some healthy stuff thrown in?? I’m there!
Oh my! Looks like a Friday Favorites to me!! <3
My daughter and I are drooling. We’re making this tomorrow.
Oh wow. It’s like zucchini bread porn. I need thing in mah belly. 🙂
Also, I want to hear the unpublished feedback. 😉
Hey sex kitten, I’m going to bring you black walnuts. You’re going to die of yum.
Brownie bread sounds pretty darn good to me…I’ve never made zucchini bread, but I have made brownies…so obviously I could handle this, right?
Haha it is a mouthful to say… but luckily its uber easy to make and when it’s actually IN your mouth — heaven =)
Thanks Spencer!
Sounds like a bit of a mouthful but looks absolutely delicious! I would love to be able to make something like this.
Eeeee thanks Nancy! You totally have to! Its amazeballs
Pinned this yummyness!!! I need to remember to make this one!!
Beautiful pics!! I love zucchini bread, so I have no doubt that I would love this. And I love that comment you got. It makes me so excited when Brandon tries a new health food and likes it! In the last week alone, he discovered the he likes both cherries and nectarines! I can’t believe he’d never tried either, but I guess he hadn’t!
That looks stunning! I love zucchini desserts. Delish!
if you want me to help you classify this, I must have a taste first. you have my address, yes?
I can imagine this is uuuhhhhMAZING!
Hello Gorgeous!! Sorry friend, not you, that little piece of heaven up there! ;P Great shot! You definitely captured every single calorie in that picture ha!
I’m putting this on my sweet treats pinterest board!
xoxo
I can’t wait to try this!! Whats a substitute for the yogurt cheese? I’ve never seen that and have no idea what it is. Is it yogurt? Is it like cream cheese?
This sounds amazing! Don’t you love when you make something your friends and family rave about? It’s the ultimate baker success, haha
I love you. And want this. That is all.
hahahahaha oh Jenn I love you! What a fantastic recipe! Your posts ALWAYS make me smile girl 🙂