Chocolate Orange Zucchini Bread

This was my favorite thing to make this summer, so figured I'd share. I made a few tweaks to the original recipe.

Chocolate Orange Zucchini Bread
(Adapted from Studio 5)

2 cups shredded zucchini

1 orange

1/2 cup butter, softened

1/4 cup applesauce

½ cup brown sugar

1 ¼ cups white granulated sugar

3 large eggs

1 tablespoon vanilla

2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

3 cups flour

½ cup cocoa

½ teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking soda

½ teaspoon baking powder

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray 2 loaf pans (8 ½ x 4) with non-stick spray; and line with a slip of wax paper. Set aside.

Remove seeds from large zucchini, as needed, and shred. Finely grate peel from orange and squeeze juice. Measure ¼-cup juice; set aside juice and peel.

Beat together butter, applesauce, white and brown sugars; add eggs and vanilla; beat until fluffy. Stir in orange peel, ¼-cup orange juice, and shredded zucchini.

Stir together flour, cocoa, salt, baking soda, and baking powder. Stir dry ingredients into butter and sugar mixture, just until mixed. Stir in chocolate chips. Spoon batter into prepared loaf pans; shake gently to even out batter. Bake  45-55 minutes or until done.

Cool 5-10 minutes before removing from pan. Cool before slicing.