Description
Rich, moist, and loaded with chocolate flavor, this chocolate zucchini bread is the perfect way to use up garden zucchini while satisfying your sweet tooth.
Ingredients
For the base
2 cups shredded zucchini, about 2 medium zucchini
2 cups all-purpose flour
½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder, Dutch-process for deeper color and flavor
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon, optional but adds warmth
For the wet mixture
1 cup granulated sugar
½ cup packed brown sugar, for extra moisture and depth
½ cup vegetable oil, or use canola or melted coconut oil
3 large eggs, lightly beaten and at room temperature
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Add-ins
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips, or chunks if preferred for gooey texture
Instructions
1. Preheat your oven to 350°F. Lightly grease a 9×5 inch loaf pan or line it with parchment paper for easy removal.
2. Shred the zucchini using a box grater. Do not peel. Set aside. If it’s very watery, lightly pat with a paper towel but do not squeeze it dry.
3. In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon. This helps distribute the leavening agents evenly.
4. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the granulated sugar, brown sugar, oil, eggs, and vanilla extract until smooth and fully blended.
5. Add the shredded zucchini to the wet mixture and stir to combine. The batter will look loose at first but will thicken once the dry ingredients are added.
6. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture. Stir just until no dry streaks remain. Overmixing can lead to dense bread.
7. Gently fold in the chocolate chips using a spatula. This helps keep the batter light and evenly distributes the chocolate.
8. Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan. Smooth the top with a spatula.
9. Bake for 60 to 70 minutes. Check for doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center. It should come out clean or with just a few moist crumbs.
10. Let the bread cool in the pan for 10 to 15 minutes. Then transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely before slicing. This helps lock in moisture and prevents crumbling.
Notes
If you have an abundance of zucchini, you can either use a box grater or the grating attachment on your food processor to process large batches quickly. Freeze any extra in 2-cup portions and use for more zucchini bread in the future.
When slicing, don’t use an overly serrated knife. Make sure to clean the blade between each slice.
This can also be made as muffins by adjusting your bake time to only 18 to 24 minutes (depending on the oven).
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 65 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 411
- Sugar: 29g
- Sodium: 242mg
- Fat: 23g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 48g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 6g
- Cholesterol: 63mg