Chocolate Zucchini Bread
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This rich chocolate zucchini bread makes the perfect afternoon snack whenever you’re in need of a chocolate fix.
This chocolate zucchini bread makes the perfect afternoon snack whenever you’re in need of a chocolate fix. It has a deep chocolate flavor from unsweetened cocoa powder and semi-sweet chocolate chips, yet it’s not so sweet that it tastes like dessert. Plus, it’s loaded with zucchini, so there’s some virtue in it.
What you’ll need to make Chocolate zucchini Bread
How to make Chocolate zucchini Bread
Begin by grating the zucchini. I use a food processor as it’s a bit quicker, but you can also do it by hand with a box grater.
Next, melt the butter in a large mixing bowl.
Add the brown sugar.
And stir until smooth.
Stir in the eggs and vanilla, then set aside. (Note: it’s important to stir the brown sugar into the melted butter before adding the eggs, as the hot butter alone could cook the eggs.)
Next, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder and salt in a mixing bowl.
Add it to the wet ingredients.
And stir to combine — it will be very thick.
Next, add the grated zucchini and chocolate chips.
Stir until well combined. It will still be very thick — that’s okay.
Transfer the mixture to a greased loaf pan, and spread the batter evenly with a spatula.
Bake for about an hour, then let the loaf cool in the pan for about ten minutes.
Turn the loaf out onto a rack to cool completely. It’s delicious right out of the oven but it’s best to wait at least an hour to slice it, otherwise it may crumble a little. Enjoy!
Note: My starting point for this recipe was this recipe from King Arthur Flour. I replaced the vegetable oil with butter, swapped out the honey for more brown sugar, and reduced the salt.
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Chocolate Zucchini Bread
This rich chocolate zucchini bread makes the perfect afternoon snack whenever you’re in need of a chocolate fix.
Ingredients
- 1 stick (½ cup) unsalted butter
- ¾ cup plus 2 tablespoons light brown sugar, packed
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1⅔ cups all purpose flour, spooned into measuring cup and leveled off with a knife
- ⅓ cup Dutch-process cocoa powder (ok to substitute natural cocoa powder)
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon espresso powder or instant coffee (optional)
- 2 cups shredded zucchini, gently packed (you'll need about 2 medium zucchini; do not wring out the liquid)
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F degrees and grease an 8½ x 4½-inch loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray.
- Place the butter in a large microwave-safe mixing bowl and microwave for one minute, or until just melted. Stir in the brown sugar until completely smooth. Add the eggs and vanilla and stir until incorporated. (Be sure to add the eggs after the brown sugar is mixed in, as the hot butter alone could cook the eggs.)
- Whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, salt, baking powder, baking soda and instant coffee (if using) in a medium bowl. Add to the butter mixture and stir until well combined. It will be very thick.
- Stir in the shredded zucchini and chocolate chips. (It will still be thick -- that's okay.)
- Spoon the batter into the prepared loaf pan and spread evenly. Bake for 60 to 65 minutes, or until a toothpick or cake tester inserted into the center comes out clean (save for perhaps a smear from the melted chocolate chips). Let the loaf cool on a rack for about 10 minutes before turning out onto a rack to cool completely.
- Freezer-Friendly Instructions: The bread can be frozen for up to 3 months. After it is completely cooled, wrap it securely in aluminum foil, freezer wrap or place in a freezer bag. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before serving.
Nutrition Information
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- Per serving (16 1/2-inch slices servings)
- Serving size: 1 slice
- Calories: 231
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated fat: 6g
- Carbohydrates: 33g
- Sugar: 21g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 3g
- Sodium: 184mg
- Cholesterol: 41mg
This website is written and produced for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and the nutritional data on this site has not been evaluated or approved by a nutritionist or the Food and Drug Administration. Nutritional information is offered as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. The data is calculated through an online nutritional calculator, Edamam.com. Although I do my best to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates only. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Furthermore, different online calculators provide different results depending on their own nutrition fact sources and algorithms. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator.
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Best zucchini bread I’ve ever made!!!! Doubled the recipe because my kiddos eat a loaf of sweet bread in 5 minutes!
Forgot to add the extra tablespoons of sugar 😳 and only added half the chocolate chips because I ran out and it was still fabulous! Thank you
This is one of the best chocolate zucchini recipes I’ve made. Great texture and the flavor is just too good! My second time making it this month and it’s a favorite!
Am I the only one that had problems with the batter not cooking ? Stuck knife in to check on it after 1hr and it came out wet . Had to cook it for an additional hr .
I had the same issue. Kept testing and ended up cooking for 90 minutes.
Makenzie: I forgot to add that the bread was delicious! When I told my sister-in-law what I was going to make – she could not believe how great it tasted. Will make again for sure.
Thanks for the recipe. I went overboard with the chocolate but topped it with cream cheese and whipped cream then some fruit and everyone loved it! Very yummy!
Another winner. The look on my lad’s face as I added the zucchini was priceless! We all love it.
I made this in the summer with fresh garden zucchini – it is so moist and delicious! This recipe is definitely a keeper!
Jenn, if I make a *really* strong brewed coffee (like say, twice the strength of regular brewed coffee (where “regular” means 1-Tbsp-coffee-per-cup-plus-one-for-the-pot), can I use that in place of the instant coffee? If yes, how much?
Hi Tina, I wouldn’t recommend it as it would throw off the liquid to dry ratio in the recipe. It’s fine to omit the ingredient – it will still be delicious!
I’ve been home baking up a storm. This is my second time making chocolate zucchini bread and the first recipe I used was too salty. This recipe was just right. I especially love the way coffee brings out the chocolate flavor. Thank you for the step by step instructions and for calming my fears as to the texture.
This bread was delicious! I do think it tasted more like cake than bread, but that’s not a bad thing in my book. 🙂 You can’t tell at all that there is zucchini in it besides the fact that the bread is super moist – everyone loved it!
I love this bread along with my family. So easy to make and the final result is a moist chocolatey goodness! Made it a few times and will continue since I still have zucchinis left from my summer bumper crop. What a delicious way to use them up!