Best Chocolate Zucchini Brownies (+Video)

Best Chocolate Zucchini Brownies are loaded with chocolate cocoa, mini chocolate chips, and zucchini, and have the ultimate melt-in-your-mouth texture.  Best of all, they’re vegan, dairy-free, nut-free, and loaded with fiber.  And yes, this is the only brownie recipe you’ll want to keep forever and ever.

 

Why use zucchini in brownies?

• Zucchini is a great way to add moisture and nutrients to baked goods and especially to these brownies.  

• Serve these “healthier” brownies as a snack or as dessert.  Pop them into your kid’s lunch boxes as a special treat.

Some of our most popular treats are made with zucchini, such as Death by Chocolate Zucchini Muffins, Lemon Zucchini Poppy Seed Muffins, and Triple Chocolate Zucchini Bread.  These are all great recipes and easy to whip up too – so check them out.

But these chocolate zucchini brownies are the BEST!

Everyone will love them – you’ll see…

What makes these the BEST chocolate zucchini brownies?

• super moist and melts-in-your-mouth.
• high in nutrients.
• contains 2 cups of zucchini.
• no one will ever notice the zucchini in them.
• totally vegan, nut-free, and dairy-free.
• amazingly decadent chocolate flavor!

Similar to our recipe for Mint Chocolate Chip Zucchini Brownies, which are also vegan and happen to be amazing and simple too!

How To Make These Chocolate Zucchini Brownies?

There are 3-easy-to-follow steps to making these brownies! (*Full recipe card below!)

Ingredients for Best Chocolate Zucchini Brownies (with links):

• zucchini (about 2 medium or 3 small ones)
• unbleached all-purpose flour or (I used Caputo “O” Chef’s Flour)
• coconut sugar – or you can use light brown sugar in its place.
• granulated sugar – is also used.
• Olive oil or vegetable oil
• unsweetened cocoa powder
• pure vanilla extract
• salt, baking soda, and ground cinnamon
• mini semi-sweet chocolate chips
• powdered sugar, for dusting

Directions to Make the BEST Chocolate Zucchini Brownies…

1. First: you will need one mixing bowl, and a large wooden spoon to stir the mixture. Then mince or shred the zucchini and measure ONLY 2 cups packed! Place zucchini into a small bowl, and set it aside.

2. Next, you will need to stir the first half of the ingredients. Then stir in the flour and zucchini. Then WAIT at least 5 minutes. Set aside the bowl, for at least 5 minutes, and allow the zucchini to do “its magic! “

3. Final Step: Add the “mini” chocolate chips and stir the mixture until it is well combined. Transfer to your prepared baking pan and bake.

QUICK NOTE!: The batter will be very thick. The appearance will be speckled with bits of green and yellow zucchini. And it will spread to a very thin layer, and that’s ok.

 

 

WATCH: How to make these Best Chocolate Zucchini Brownies? (1-minute video)

Baking Notes and Tips…

• Do not add more or less than 2 cups of minced zucchini, or they will not turn out well.

• The mixture for these brownies will first appear to be very dry.  But once you stir in the zucchini and let it rest for 5 minutes, the zucchini “will work its magic” giving enough moisture for you to stir the mixture.
• Keep in mind, that the mixture will be very thick, so use the back of a spoon to help spread the batter in the baking pan.
• Do not overbake.  The brownies are baked for about 22 to 25 minutes.  They are done when you lightly press down in the middle and it springs back.

• Allow the brownies to cool before cutting into them, or they will fall apart.

Questions & Answers…

1. Can we taste the zucchini? Not at all.  In fact, the additional chocolate chips added to them make these brownies so incredibly decadent –  they are unsurpassed!

2. Should we scrape the skins off of the zucchini? If the zucchini are not organic, they may come too gritty and sandy from the farmer’s market.  Therefore, I prefer to lightly scrape the skins off the zucchini, using a knife.  Then give them a good rinse.

3. Should we “Shred” or “Mince” zucchini? Most recipes require shredding zucchini, using a traditional grater. Besides, using a traditional grater to shred zucchini is fine, but it takes more effort and is very time-consuming.  So why not go the easier route?

• Instead, I prefer to use my mini chopper and pulse my zucchini into tiny, minced pieces.  It’s so much faster, quicker, and easier.

4. Do we need to squeeze excess water from the zucchini? I never do.  No need to squeeze anything, or drain the zucchini.  We need the extra moisture for this recipe.

5. Does the size of the zucchini matter? Yes, the smaller size of zucchini contains more moisture than the large size and is better to use when making these brownies.

6. Can we make them gluten-free? Keep in mind, not all GF flours are the same.  And, while some may work, others will fail.

• I have tried this recipe using oat flour, and again with coconut flour, to which both did not work.  I have not tried this recipe with an all-purpose gluten-free flour … but if you do and it was successful? 
• Please tell us, it will benefit bakers who are looking for GF options.

7. Can we use a different sugar if we don’t have coconut sugar? Yes, replace the coconut sugar with an equal amount of dark or light brown sugar.

8. What can we substitute for 1/2 cup of granulated sugar? You can use honey, applesauce, or maple syrup. Keep in mind, that the texture may slightly turn out differently.

More Healthier Treats!  …try some of these:

• No-Bake Carrot Cake Bites
• Dairy-Free Chocolate Pudding
• No-Bake Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Cookies (Gluten-Free)
• Silky Chocolate Cream Pie (No-Bake & Dairy-Free)
• Cinnamon Sweet Potato Muffins
• Blueberry Lemon Oat Muffins

…Thanks for Pinning!

That’s it, friends!  Have you tried our Best Chocolate Zucchini Brownies?

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Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!

Happy and Healthy Baking!   🙂

Stay healthy and happy…

xo Anna and Liz