Dark Chocolate Zucchini Brownies

Name: Dark Chocolate Zucchini Brownies
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 40 min
Ingredients: 1/2 cup melted refined coconut oil; 3.5 oz dark chocolate bar (90% cocoa); 1 cup coconut sugar; 2 tsp vanilla extract; 1 cup finely shredded (or grated) zucchini; 1 egg; 1/4 cup all purpose flour; 1/4 cup cocoa powder; 1/4 tsp salt; 1/4 tsp baking powder

by Kayla Berman on Feb 26, 2022 (updated Aug 26, 2022) 0 comments

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Dark Chocolate Zucchini Brownies are the perfect treat for chocolate lovers! These sneaky veggie filled brownies are made in one bowl with rich dark chocolate, finely shredded zucchini, and are topped with flakey salt. They’re everything a brownie should be – moist, fudgy, gooey in the middle, and crispy on the edges. Plus I promise you can’t taste the zucchini at all!

Why bake with zucchini?

I know this is a question lots of you are probably asking! Or honestly maybe not if you’re here reading this recipe … but my friends and family most definitely asked me this when I made these. And I’m sure yours will too!

But I have to tell you I love baking with zucchini if it’s done right! Zucchini is an essentially flavorless vegetable, so if shredded finely you cannot tell it’s in your sweets. It can provide extra moistness and nutrition to anything you add it too!

If you’re interested in baking with zucchini check out my Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread, Double Chocolate Zucchini Muffins, or Zucchini Bread Baked Oatmeal.

Ingredients needed for Healthy Chocolate Zucchini Brownies…

These brownies call for a few simple and wholesome baking ingredients. The result is a dairy free, refined sugar free, and sneakily veggie filled sweet treat. And trust me … you will not be able to tell there is zucchini in these at all!

Dark Chocolate Bar: A dark chocolate bar adds so much rich, deep, and delicious chocolate flavor to these brownies! You’ll need a 3.5 oz 90% cocoa dark chocolate bar.
Coconut Oil: Add 1/2 cup melted refined coconut oil to this recipe. Make sure to use refined, unrefined or virgin coconut oil tastes like coconuts!
Coconut Sugar: Coconut sugar is one of my favorite refined sugar free sweeteners. It is a granulated sugar that is similar to brown sugar in my opinion! 1 cup is perfect.
Zucchini: Zucchini is the star ingredient in these Zucchini Brownies of course. I know you may be skeptical, but trust me you won’t taste the zucchini at all in these decadently delicious brownies. You’ll need 1 cup shredded zucchini.
Flour: Add 1/4 cup all purpose flour here.
Cocoa Powder: You’ll also need 1/4 cup of cocoa powder for all things chocolate deliciousness!
Egg: 1 egg is used for binding and extra moisture in these brownies.
Vanilla Extract: 2 tsp of vanilla extract gives this recipe that classic taste! I just think vanilla makes chocolate brownies taste even more chocolatey.
Baking Powder: Only a tiny bit of baking powder is used here. 1/4 tsp is it!
Salt: Lastly, add a pinch (also 1/4 tsp) of salt to balance out the sweet.

How to make this recipe…

Zucchini Brownies are an easy and delicious dessert recipe! All you need is one bowl and about 40 minutes – then you’ll have rich, fudgy, and perfectly chocolate brownies ready to go.

Set the oven to 350 degrees.
Start by shredding the zucchini. Use the smallest side of your grater, so that you get very finely shredded zucchini. Place the shredded zucchini inside some paper towel and squeeze out almost all of the liquid. Set aside.
Next melt the dark chocolate bar slowly in a double boiler.
Add the melted dark chocolate, coconut oil, and coconut sugar to a large mixing bowl. Combine until smooth.
Then whisk an egg in a separate bowl for a few minutes until foamy and bubbly. Add the egg, vanilla extract, and shredded zucchini to the brownie batter. Mix until combined.
Next add the dry ingredients – cocoa powder, flour, baking powder, and salt. Combine until smooth.
Add the brownie batter to a parchment paper lined 8×8 baking dish. Bake for 23 minutes.
Remove from the oven, let cool completely, and then cut into squares.
Enjoy!

Dark Chocolate Zucchini Brownie Tips…

Follow the tips below for the perfect brownies each and every time!

Grate the zucchini finely: The smaller you grate or shred the zucchini the better! This ensures that you won’t bite into a big chunk of of zucchini. And makes sure absolutely no one will be able to tell these rich brownies are full of a secret vegetable.
Squeeze carefully: My preferred and recommended method of squeezing the liquid out of the zucchini is with a paper towel. But be super careful when squeezing! From personal experience, it is very easy to accidentally get some paper towel into your brownie batter.
High quality dark chocolate: The dark chocolate bar used in this recipe contributes greatly to the rich, deep chocolate flavor here. That’s why the bar you choose to use is very important! I recommend this.
Parchment paper: I highly recommend lining your baking dish with parchment paper for these brownies. It allows for them to come out easily and cleanly!
Let cool completely & use a hot knife to cut: Dark Chocolate Zucchini Brownies are quite fudgy, gooey, and a little underdone. Which is what I love and look for in a brownie! But it does make cutting them a little difficult. To get the cleanest cuts, let the brownies cool completely to the touch and cut with a warm knife. To warm up the knife simply run under hot water for a few seconds!
Flakey salt: There’s just nothing better than topping sweet chocolatey treats with big flakey salt. So so good!

How to store these brownies…

You can store Dark Chocolate Zucchini Brownies in an airtight container at room temperature for about 3 days. Since this recipe is super soft & moist, if you have any leftover after that time I recommend moving to the refrigerator! The brownies will last about 1 week there.

You could also store in the refrigerator for the entire time if you’d like.

Can I freeze Dark Chocolate Zucchini Brownies?

Yes, of course! Zucchini Brownies are freezer friendly.

Simply transfer to a freezer safe Ziploc bag or container and place in the freezer. They’ll last a couple of months!

Love this recipe? Check out some more healthy & delicious dessert recipes below…

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If you make Dark Chocolate Zucchini Brownies or any of my other recipes I would absolutely love to know! Tag me @wellnessbykay on Instagram, so I can see and share your recreation.

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