on Jul 24, 2015, Updated Aug 17, 2023 36 Comments This Chocolate Zucchini Bread recipe makes such a decadent yet simple bread! Perfect for serving for breakfast, brunch, or dessert, and is one of my favorite zucchini recipes! One of my favorite ways to incorporate a little green into our baked goods is with zucchini. I remember growing up, Mama would make her zucchini bread throughout the summer. I always thought it was absolutely delicious. When I had my own kitchen and made my own, I loved creating this recipe for Chocolate Zucchini Bread! It’s so decadent, simple to make, and can be served anytime!
Chocolate Zucchini Bread Recipe
This recipe makes an ultra-moist bread recipe that can easily pass for cake. And it’s a great way to get more vegetables into my family while using that most prolific zucchini from the garden. My chocolate zucchini bread also uses melted coconut oil which does leave a slight coconut scent and flavor to the bread. You can substitute softened butter and cream it with the sugar if you prefer or you could even use a lighter flavor oil such as grape seed instead.
How to Make Chocolate Zucchini Bread
Ingredients
Be sure to see the recipe card below for the full listing of ingredients, instructions, notes, and estimated nutritional information.
Zucchini – you’ll need 1 1/2 cups of grated zucchini (about 2 small zucchini) for this recipe. The zucchini adds moisture while also adding fiber to this quick bread recipe. There is no need to peel the zucchini as it doesn’t add flavor or texture differences to the baked bread. Oil – I love to use oil in my chocolate recipes for baking. It coats the cocoa powder and makes for an incredibly moist and delicious chocolate treat. I use melted coconut oil most often, but another light or neutral-flavored oil will work as well. Sugar – I originally shared this recipe in 2012 and used granulated and brown sugar. Lately, I’ve been using all brown sugar more and more and find that I like the rich molasses-kissed flavor that it gives the recipe. Eggs – I recommend using room-temperature eggs in your baking recipes. They blend more easily into the other ingredients. Flour – I use all-purpose flour for this recipe. I recommend spooning the flour into the measuring cup to make sure your flour is measured correctly. Cocoa powder – I use natural unsweetened cocoa powder in this chocolate zucchini bread recipe. I do not recommend substituting with Dutch process cocoa powder. Again, spoon the cocoa powder into the measuring cup as you do with the flour. Salt – I use kosher salt in this recipe. Baking soda and baking powder – I use baking soda and baking powder in this recipe to achieve the best rise in the zucchini bread. Espresso powder – Like with my Chocolate Cake Recipe, I highly recommend using espresso powder in your chocolate baking recipes. It enhances the chocolate flavor without adding a coffee or espresso flavor to the baked good. Vanilla extract – I love to use my homemade vanilla extract in my baking recipes. It is so simple and easy to make and makes great gifts! Chocolate chips – I highly recommend including them in your chocolate zucchini bread for the double chocolate impact. The morsels melt into the bread as it bakes, leaving little areas of chocolate deliciousness throughout the fudgy zucchini bread. Use your favorite chocolate chips. I prefer to use good-quality dark chocolate chips or semi-sweet chocolate chips. Semi-sweet will give your finished chocolate zucchini bread a sweeter flavor.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Preheat and Prep. Preheat your oven to 350º F. Prepare a loaf pan with butter or shortening and lightly flour or line it with parchment paper to make it easy to lift out of the pan for cooling and slicing. Set the pan aside.
Combine Ingredients and Mix. Add the coconut oil and sugar to a mixing bowl. Then add the eggs and whisk together until smooth. Add the flour, cocoa powder, salt, baking soda, baking powder, and espresso powder and combine. Stir in the grated zucchini, vanilla extract, and chocolate chips. Bake. Pour the chocolate zucchini bread batter into the prepared loaf pan and place it in the oven. Bake until a toothpick comes out clean when inserted into the center, about 1 hour. Cool and Serve. Allow the bread to cool in the pan for about five minutes. Then remove the bread from the loaf pan. Slice and serve.
Recipe Variations
Chocolate Zucchini Muffins
Like my best banana muffins and my banana bread, you can easily turn this incredibly delicious chocolate zucchini bread into a portable, handheld treat with these delicious chocolate zucchini muffins.
Storage Tips
To store. Allow the chocolate zucchini bread to cool. Store under a cake dome at room temperature for up to a week. To make ahead. Follow the tips to store the bread. To freeze. Cool the chocolate zucchini bread completely. Wrap well with parchment paper and then with foil or another freezer-safe wrap. Store in the freezer for up to 6 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight and then slice and serve.
Other Favorite Bread Recipes
Chocolate Banana Bread The Best Banana Bread Three Ingredient Buttermilk Biscuits Blueberry Muffins Salted Caramel Zucchini Bread Here’s my chocolate zucchini bread recipe. I think your whole family will go nuts over it! Enjoy!Robyn xo
