Chocolate Zucchini Bread – zucchini? What zucchini? Can’t taste it, can’t see it. All I see is the fudgiest, moistest, most decadent chocolate bread you will ever have. Full stop, period!
CHOCOLATE Zucchini Bread?? Are you MAD??
If you’re new to this whole Chocolate Zucchini Bread concept, here’s all you need to know: it is a “thing”.
Probably initially born as a way to use up an abundance of zucchini when they’re in season, dolled up to entice little people (and big people who are as fussy about greens as little people).
But then once people realised how ridiculously FUDGY zucchini makes it, the idea stuck.
And now it’s a “thing”
And we are very, very glad it is.
Because zucchini is the secret ingredient that makes this the fudgiest, richest, most insanely moist chocolate bread you will ever have in your entire life. And you cannot taste zucchini in it at all!!
Here’s what you need
When you cut into it and see the glistening, moist inside with drippy pockets of chocolate, it’s truly hard to believe there’s three whole zucchinis in this.
It can even take more. I find that the Chocolate Zucchini Bread starts getting a mild “this isn’t just chocolate!” flavour to it (iethe zucchini, but no normal human would guess that) but in terms of integrity of the crumb, rise etc., you can almost double the quantity of zucchini without compromising the recipe!!
Best chocolate?
I chose to use chocolate blocks which I would cut into some small and some large pieces because I wanted the wow! factor of little pockets of melty chocolate when I cut into it. For convenience, you can absolutely use chocolate chips instead, or in fact skip the chocolate all together!
The making part (super SUPER easy)
Usually when I cook with grated zucchini, like Crispy Zucchini Fritters, I salt the zucchini to draw out excess moisture followed by grabbing handfuls to squeeze out the excess liquid.
With this recipe, there is no need to do the salting step – just grate and squeeze. Get out what you can – you don’t need superhuman strength – because the residual liquid in the zucchini makes this chocolate zucchini bread super moist!
What it tastes like
It’s like fudgy brownies – in loaf form. It’s like Chocolate Fudge Cake – but fudgier. It slices like normal quick breads but it’s way more decadent!
Spot the Zucchini!
Can’t taste it.
Can barely see it – you’d have to inspect real close to spot a strand of what possibly could be a bit of zucchini…
Frankly, all I see is an outrageous chocolatey looking cake with drippy molten bits of chocolate. Any nutritional benefit from the zucchini is a freebie bonus!
But let’s be realistic.
Don’t make Chocolate Zucchini Bread to use up excess zucchinis.
Or to squeeze extra veggies into your diet.
Nope.
Just make this because you want to indulge in the most amazing chocolate bread you will ever make. Because I promise you, I have made plenty of chocolate breads in my lifetime and this is by far the most moist, and most chocolatey, and as crazy at it sounds, it’s because of the zucchini.
But if it makes you feel better to cling onto the concept of nutritional value as a basis on which you can justify making it for afternoon tea today, or to entice your “healthy” friends into having a slice, who am I to stop you? 🤷🏻♀️😂 – Nagi x
More amazing Zucchini recipes
Cheesy Zucchini Bread (No Yeast) – garlicky, cheesy goodness! (What zucchini??)
Crispy Zucchini Fritters – you’ll love how crispy these parmesan flavour fritters are!
Greek Zucchini Tots (Mini Fritters) – baked zucchini tots!
Super Low Cal Healthy Creamy Vegetable Soup – zucchini is the secret ingredient to an almost zero cal creamy soup!
Healthy Creamy Zucchini Soup – you’ll love how silky creamy this is
Watch how to make it
The most incredible Chocolate Zucchini Bread ever!
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Chocolate Zucchini Bread
Ingredients
- 3 cups grated zucchini (2 large or 3 small) (Note 1)
- 1 3/4 cups (260g) flour, plain/all purpose
- 1/3 cup (40g) unsweetened cocoa powder, preferably dutch processed (Note 2)
- 1.5 tsp baking soda (bi-carbonate) (Note 3)
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 2 tsp vanilla essence
- 1 1/4 cup (275g) white sugar
- 2 eggs
- 100g / 7 tbsp unsalted butter , melted
- 300g / 10 oz dark chocolate , coarsely chopped (keep some larger chunks!) (Note 4)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 180C/350F (160C fan).
- Grease and line a large loaf pan (mine is 28 x 15 x 6.5cm / 11 x 6 x 2.5″).
- Grab handfuls of zucchini and squeeze out excess liquid, then place in colander to drain while you prepare the batter. (Note 4)
- In a large bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together eggs and sugar. Then add butter and vanilla, and whisk until fully incorporated.
- Pour egg mixture into flour bowl and stir with wooden spoon until flour is just incorporated – batter will be thick!
- Add zucchini and chocolate and stir to mix through – it will be very thick at first but it will loosen into a thick, spreadable batter (see video).
- Scrape into loaf pan, bake 45 minutes. Cover with foil and bake a further 20 minutes or until skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean (except for melted chocolate streaks!)
- Stand in loaf pan for 15 minutes before removing. Cool on rack for a further 10 minutes before slicing.
- Extra amazing served warm – you get melty chocolate bits and it’s extra fudgy in the middle!
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition Information:
Life of Dozer
This is how Dozer gets lectured for doing something naughty…….
….and this is how he responds…. rolling around with laughter. 😖
(OK, he’s asking for a tummy rub, but it looks like he’s laughing!!😂😂)
This is sooo good and you don’t feel guilty eating it because of the zucchini. I’ve shared it wIth several friends to enjoy as well.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it Yvette!
Made it with ¼ cup of sugar and 100g of chocolate and it still tasted amazing!
Your recipes have never ever failed me 😍
I’m so glad it worked out for you Zala! N x
That ‘cake’ is amazing, says my 6 year old who has no idea it has Zucchini in it. Thanks for a great recipe
I have made this recipe at least 10 times for lots of different crowds, and get rave reviews each time. I make it in a bundt pan. I particularly love it in a bundt pan with lots of ridges = more crispy edges to contrast with soft insides.
Love this idea Elizabeth, although I think it would be great however it was served 🤤
According to the 8 year old, I should make these all the time… so obviously she couldn’t detect the zucchini, since all vegetables are evil 😉
Reduced the sugar to 150g and baked in a muffin tin for 20 minutes, yielded 16… this is such a great recipe, they’re delicious!
Nailed it Marie!!!
Thanks for the yummy recipe.
I made 12 muffins and cooked the remainder of the batter in a small 20cm cake tin.
We could see the zuchini but that’s fine,
Only used a 250g block of 72% choc and was plenty chocolatey enough.
Really moist and not too sweet.
This is so delicious Nagi, and so super easy to make. I served it with a dollop of cream, strawberries and blueberries. Everyone loved the bread/cake!
YUM! Sounds perfect Kathrina!
I Love this recipe and so does everyone else that I have shared it with. I have a question regarding the density (fudge-e-ness)of the loaf. I have made it three times and the results have been the same. In reading your recipe for Carrot Cake, I notice that you add vinegar. Do you think that it would lighten up this recipe if vinegar is used?
Hi Deb, this bread is supposed to be dense from all that moisture in the zucchinis – and that’s why we love it! Using vinegar wont make much of a difference here – N x
EVERYBODY lOvES this recipe!!
WOOT!!! And so they should 😉
I will definitely be making this again! So moist and chocolaty! My daughter loved it as well! Of course, I didn’t tell her that there was zucchini in it. 😉
I’ll keep your secret safe 😉
I’ve tried soooo many of your recipes (they are amazing and I never fail returning day after day to try something new or make again!) but this is the first time commenting.
I had zucchini’s I wanted to use so found this. I reduced the sugar as I simply didn’t have enough on hand and I only used a 200g bag of dark choc chips. I also added some cinnamon as I had run out of vanilla. Baked in a mini muffin tray so they were easier for the toddler to handle and quicker cook time Delicious!!!! I’ll make again!
That’s awesome to hear Natalie, love the idea of cinnamon – I bet they smelt amazing!! N x
Made this with homegrown zucchini and subbed white sugar for ground up raw sugar. It was DELICIOUS fresh and even more moist and delectable the next day. I served with thickened cream and raspberries.
I reckon I could cut down the sugar next time and it would still be excellent.
Hi, this zucchini bread looks totally amazing; however my husband and I are on the Keto diet. It is possible to sub the flour for almond flour and sugar substitute (like swerve) for the sugar? I am just not sure if I would use the same measurements or have to tweak it a bit. Thanks!
Hi Nikole, sorry I haven’t tried to be honest! N x
Hi. Zucchini is not very common here nor cheap. Is there any other vegetables i can use to replace it?
Hi Nagi!
I love your recipes. I’ve made the chocolate zucchini bread a few times and it has always gone down a treat.
My son is vegan though and I would like to ask what would you suggest I use instead of eggs for a vegan version?
Thank you.
Hi Nagi.
The recipe sounds awesome. Could I ask why I should not use unsweetened chocolate. My family and I usually only eat and use 85 – 90 % cocoa chocolate. So I think using other sort of chocolate would be far too sweet for us, especially that there is lots of sugar in the recipe. We also rather do not use sugar. Please tell me if the recipe will work with chocolate that we normally use and perhaps less sugar (or just I could use coconut sugar)? Thank you.
Hi Paulina, you can use unsweetened if you prefer! Enjoy! – N x
Can I substitute bananas for the zucchini in this recipe?
Hi Paula, I don’t think it would have the same effect here (but I haven’t tried to be honest) – N x
Hello, Nagi, thank you for a lovely shortbread recipe, detailed, thanks.
I am sure i will try it very soon now to give away as a little yummy gift.
Marie J. .
Thanks so much Marie!
Totally delicious! We had it warm out of the oven with ice cream, frozen and reheated and cold – and it was all yum. This is a great recipe and I’m making it again next week!
Wahoo! Perfect Beck!
This loaf is delicious and my partner begs me to make it again and again.
YESSSS! So glad you love it Lauren – N x