[Photograph: Anna Markow]
What I love about this recipe is its extreme cocoa flavor. It’s not too sweet with a texture that’s dense and fudgy yet light, with wickedly delicious crunchy edges. Baked as cupcakes, the large shreds of zucchini are clearly visible in the middle, but undetectable upon consumption. Instead of a rich frosting, I opt for a modest topping of chocolate ricotta mousse, which is airy, not too sweet and decidedly very grown-up. I originally served the cake topped with hazelnut brittle but for my own tastes, chopped toasted nuts (pistachios, in this case) are all these cupcakes need to be perfect.
