Chocolate Zucchini Treats

My mother has a great chocolate zucchini cake recipe. I played around with it to make it gluten free and dairy free. I will include both recipes here. I wasn't sure whether to call my version of this recipe muffins or cupcakes (no frosting so not a cupcake, right?!) so I have called them treats!

1/2 c coconut oil
1/2 c applesauce
1 3/4 c granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 c almond milk
2 1/2 c oat flour (put 3 cups oatmeal in your blender and blend until you have a fine powder)
4 tbsp unsweetened cocoa
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp cloves
1/2 tsp salt
2 c grated zucchini
turbinado cane sugar (to sprinkle on muffins)
1/4 c semisweet chocolate pieces (optional)
1/4 c chopped walnuts (optional)

Put cupcake liners into cupcake tin. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Cream coconut oil, applesauce and sugar together. Add eggs, vanilla and almond milk. Blend thoroughly. Mix together flour, cocoa, soda, cinnamon, cloves and salt. Blend with creamed mixture. Stir in zucchini (and chocolate chips or nuts, if using). Spoon into cupcake tins. Fill about 2/3 full. Sprinkle with turbinado cane sugar.

Bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.

Original Chocolate Zucchini Cake Recipe:

1/2 c butter, softened
1/2 c vegetable oil
1 3/4 c granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 buttermilk
2 1/2 c all purpose flour
4 tbsp unsweetened cocoa
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp cloves
1/2 tsp salt
2 c grated zucchini
1/4 c semisweet chocolate chips (optional)
1/4 c chopped walnuts (optional)

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Grease and flour 9x13 pan.

Cream butter, oil and sugar together. Add eggs, vanilla and buttermilk. Blend thoroughly. Sift together flour, cocoa, soda, cinnamon, cloves and salt. Blend with creamed mixture. Stir in zucchini. Spoon into greased and floured 9x13 pan. Sprinkle chocolate pieces and nuts. Bake in a preheated oven for 45 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.

Cool cake completely. Cover with frosting.

Frosting recipe:
1/4 c butter
6 oz cream cheese
1 3/4 c powdered sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/2 c chopped walnuts

Beat butter and cream cheese. Add powdered sugar, vanilla and nuts.