1-3/4 cups sugar 
1/2 cup canola oil 
2 large eggs, room temperature 
2/3 cup unsweetened applesauce 
1 teaspoon vanilla extract 
2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour 
1/2 cup baking cocoa 
1 teaspoon baking soda 
1/2 teaspoon salt 
1/2 cup buttermilk 
2 cups shredded zucchini 
1 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips 
1/2 cup chopped pecans, toasted
1. Preheat oven to 350°. Coat a 13x9-in. baking pan with cooking spray. 
2. Beat sugar and oil on medium speed 1 minute. Add eggs, applesauce and vanilla; beat 1 minute. In another bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt; add to sugar mixture alternately with buttermilk, beating just until blended. Stir in zucchini. 
3. Transfer to prepared pan. Bake 20 minutes. Sprinkle with chocolate chips and pecans. Bake until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, 10 to 15 minutes. Cool in pan on a wire rack.
TOTAL TIME: Prep: 20 min. Bake: 30 min. 
YIELD: 18 servings. 
Nutrition Facts
1 piece: 285 calories, 12g fat (3g saturated fat), 21mg cholesterol, 159mg sodium, 43g carbohydrate (27g sugars, 2g fiber), 4g protein.