Moist Zucchini Dark Chocolate Bundt Cake

This Chocolate Zucchini Bundt Cake is rich, ultra-moist, and packed with deep chocolate flavor. You’d never guess it’s made with zucchini, but that’s the secret to its soft, tender crumb!

We always end up drowning in zucchini by mid-summer (anyone else feel personally attacked by their garden?), and this cake is the easiest, most delicious way to use it up. But let’s be clear: this isn’t your grandma’s bundt cake. We’re talking deep, dark chocolate, a generous handful of chocolate chips, and a glossy ganache that’s so good, you’ll want to lick the spoon.

Dark Chocolate Bundt Cake

Dark chocolate sounds intense, right? Like it’s going to be super rich and way more work. But thanks to dark chocolate cocoa powder. (which you can now find at most grocery stores! Target usually has the best price.) It’s shockingly easy to get that deep, decadent flavor without any extra hassle.

And the best part? It’s not overpowering. The shredded zucchini keeps the crumb moist and light, while the semi-sweet mini chocolate chips add just the right sweetness. You get a bold chocolate cake that’s actually balanced.

Can I Use Regular Cocoa Powder?

Absolutely. If you don’t have dark cocoa, regular unsweetened cocoa works just fine. Want to lean darker? Use dark chocolate chips or go all in with a bittersweet ganache. Honestly, whatever chocolate you’ve got—use it. This recipe is super forgiving, and your cake will still turn out delicious.

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Sharing a roundup of high volume low calorie recipes if your goal is to increase your fiber but not your total caloric intake. 

Hi friends! How are you?? I hope that you’re having an amazing week! We’re here in Spain living.the.life. I’m excited to share some of the fun in Friday Faves and I’m posting a ton on IG if you’d like to follow along.

Today, I wanted to chat a little about volume eating and share some of my favorite recipes that are high in volume and flavor, but still light and refreshing.

Ever finish a meal and feel like you barely ate? You’re not alone. When you’re trying to eat a little lighter, hunger can sneak up fast, and it’s not fun. That’s why I love high volume, low calorie recipes. You can eat generous portions that leave you feeling full and happy, without overdoing it on calories and feeling like you need a nap afterwards. Whether you’re working toward a health goal, trying to keep your calorie intake in check, or just want to eat more fruits and vegetables, these meals check all the boxes.

All of these meal ideas are loaded with whole, nourishing ingredients like lean proteins, fiber-rich veggies, and satisfying textures. Many are gluten free, simple to prep, and perfect for lunch, dinner, or meal prep.

What Makes a Meal High Volume?

Let’s chat about what makes a meal “high volume.” These types of meals usually include foods that are high in water or fiber, like leafy greens, berries, or green beans, and are lower in calories. That combo helps you eat more food (volume!) without racking up the calories.

What Are High Volume Low Calorie Foods?

High volume low calorie foods are filling, satisfying, and easy to love. Think big salads, soups, hearty veggie stir-fries, and meals that are piled high with lean protein and colorful produce.

These types of meals support healthy weight loss by keeping you full and reducing the need to snack all day. Plus, they’re a great way to get more nutrient dense foods into your diet.

Low Calorie High Volume Recipes

Egg Roll in a Bowl

This one-pan favorite is a lighter twist on a takeout classic. It’s packed with ground turkey or pork, cabbage, carrots, and a dash of garlic and ginger.

Calories per serving: ~250-300

Main ingredients: ground turkey, cabbage, carrots, garlic, coconut aminos

Gluten free and great for meal prep!

 Try this version from Skinnytaste

Sushi Roll in a Bowl

A deconstructed version of sushi that’s quick, fresh, and totally customizable. Use cauliflower rice for a low-carb option.

Calories per serving: ~350

Main ingredients: rice or cauliflower rice, cucumber, avocado, nori, shrimp or crab, coconut aminos

Pork, shrimp, and vegetables are folded into a paper-thin lumpia wrapper and then fried to crisp golden perfection in this traditional recipe for Filipino lumpia. Almost 30 years ago, I tasted lumpia for the first time and I fell in love with them at first bite.

Filipino Lumpia

Unfortunately, I lost touch with the friend who introduced them to me. Luckily, I remembered lumpia a few years ago and realized that I might be able to make them at home.

Then I ran into a problem. Where would I find the recipe? I looked online and didn’t find anything that sounded quite right. The lumpia I remembered was not your average eggroll.

There wasn’t cabbage or an abundance of vegetables in them. I simply remembered that there were a lot of different flavors packed into a very thin wrapper.

I mentioned my lumpia craving to a friend, (thanks, Sandra!) who told me to look for one of her friends on Facebook. I did that and proceeded to message back and forth with her friend, Irene, who was happy to chat about lumpia recipes for a bit to make sure I had it right.

The lumpia turned out fabulously and my middle son immediately requested them for his birthday meal the following year. We like to serve lumpia with this simple Asian-inspired Rice and bowls of Egg Drop Soup.

In my house, a birthday request is the very highest of food compliments. Everyone in the family devoured these and my youngest actually cried when they were gone. There wasn’t a single one left or we probably would have eaten more.

Over the years, I’ve made traditional lum

Crispy, piping hot, and irresistible with an abundance of great flavors from pork, shrimp, and vegetables, air fryer lumpia is a new lunchtime favorite.

Air Fryer Lumpia

This air fryer lumpia was inspired both by my intense love of Filipino lumpia and a desire to enjoy lumpia more frequently, with a bit less hassle. The added benefit of not frying the lumpia in oil is a pretty nice perk too. Far less mess, and air-fried lumpia gets bonus points for being a healthier option too.

Is air-fried lumpia exactly the same as deep-fried lumpia? Definitely not. However, it is crunchy, flavorful, and just as irresistible. The friends I shared it with all gave it two thumbs up and agreed that it satisfies our lumpia cravings perfectly.

While the air fryer is perfect for preparing just a serving or two at a time, if you need a meal for the whole family, you can bake lumpia too. And when you’re craving lumpia and short on time, all the lumpia flavors come together in this Filipino Lumpia Skillet. Made with a heaping helping of fresh vegetables, ground pork, and shrimp: this is a dinner that my family cheers for each time we make it.

Air Fryer Frozen Lumpia

Last time I made a batch of lumpia, I froze some to see if I might be able to cook them later, just a serving at a time in the air fryer for lunches. It turns out that was a brilliant idea – if I say so myself. The frozen lumpia cooks exactly as the fresh lumpia does in the air fryer.

To freeze a batch of lumpia, roll the lumpia as directed in the recipe and place them on a plate or tray. Set the tray of lumpia in the freezer for a few hours, until the lumpia is firm enough to transfer to a zipclose freezer bag until ready to cook.

When you’re ready to cook them, just pop the frozen lumpia into the air fryer, give them a light spray with oil, and add a minute or two to the listed cooking time.

Bright and colorful and decidedly retro in the best way, bubble gum ice cream is a unique ice cream with a whole lot of whimsy and hints of banana, cherry, and strawberry.

Bubble Gum Ice Cream

My earliest ice cream memory is a trip to Baskin Robbins with my Grandpa Zintz. This is the grandfather that introduced me to Pralines and Cream ice cream – my forever favorite as an adult, however my taste buds simply did not appreciate its awesomeness as a young child.

I remember ordering a scoop of bubble gum ice cream “in a cup, please” and Grandpa humored me as I carefully saved every tiny piece of bubble gum and took them home with me. Never had I had such richness as a whole little cup half filled with pieces of bubble gum.

I’m not going to lie, the very thought of all that saved bubble gum makes me cringe now. But boy, did it rock my 6-year-old world.

Whether you choose to actually stir in the bubble gum balls or simply have them on the side, the flavors here are so nostalgic, I can’t help grinning.

The most popular question I get is whether it’s possible to make ice cream without a machine. The answer is YES. You can make ice cream without a machine. Find the full directions here!

Retro Ice Cream

To make this sentimental and delicious ice cream, you’ll need the following ingredients:

• strawberries
• banana
• cherries
• sugar
• kosher salt
• vanilla extract
• almond extract
• milk
• heavy cream
• small bubble gum balls

Combine the strawberries, banana, cherries, sugar, salt, vanilla extract, and milk in the blender. Blend until smooth. Add the cream and pulse to combine.

Pour into the ice cream maker and churn according to the manufacturer’s instructions.