The gooiest zucchini brownies ever! You’d never guess these are made a little healthier and made with whole grains (but can also be made with all-purpose or gluten-free flour) or that zucchini and that applesauce takes the place of oil! With gluten-free and dairy-free options.
I don’t like zucchini at all. I’m also not a fan of “hiding” veggies in my dessert recipes, because I can always tell that they’re in there. That’s not the case with these brownies!
These healthy zucchini brownies still have sugar in them, but they’re not quite as bad as your usual brownie recipe. If you want something especially naughty, try these gluten-free brownies, which are really the best brownies ever – gluten-free or not! They can also be made with whole wheat flour.
These chocolate zucchini brownies have no added fat* (except what’s in the chocolate chips) and are full of zucchini and whole grains (but really do not taste like it!) so you can feel good about giving these to your children.
* I love healthy fats and usually load up my recipes with them. But in this one, it’s just not needed!
Really, unless your kids watch you make these, or you grate the zucchini coarsely, there’s no way that they’ll be able to tell that these brownies have zucchini in them. Or that they’re whole wheat or whole spelt. The gluten-free version also doesn’t taste gluten-free!
Want some more kid-friendly recipes? Try my no-bake oatmeal cookies. They’re whole grain and naturally gluten-free + vegan. And perfect for the lunch box!
This whole wheat banana bread is also a favorite and you can always toss in some walnuts or chocolate chips for something different.
And if you have portion control issues, these brownies halve beautifully! Use a 9″ x 5″ loaf pan and bake for only 14 minutes.
I highly recommend not decreasing the amount of chocolate chips in the batter. You can definitely skip the ones on top but these zucchini brownies rely on the sweetness and flavor from the chocolate chips!
I’m pretty sure you’d be disappointed if you didn’t use the chocolate in the batter. And I definitely don’t want that!
Be sure to use Dutch-process cocoa powder in these zucchini brownies. If you use the regular natural kind (like Hershey’s) these zucchini brownies will likely come out cakey instead of nice and fudgy like you see!
Besides, once you have some Dutch-process cocoa powder, you’ll be able to make these whole wheat chocolate cupcakes! They’re seriously just as delicious as traditional cupcakes made with all-purpose flour.
If you don’t mind the brownies being cakey and want to use regular cocoa powder, then go for it! Some commenters have mentioned making them with regular cocoa powder and loving them.
Have more zucchini to use? This chocolate zucchini bread also looks great! As do these zucchini muffins.
Enjoy!
Zucchini Chocolate Brownies (100% whole grain, gluten-free, dairy-free options)
- Prep Time:
- Cook Time:
- Ready in:
- Yield: 16 brownies
Ingredients
- 2 large eggs (50 grams each, out of shell)
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 3/4 cup coconut sugar or unrefined sugar or granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup (60 ml) unsweetened applesauce
- 1 cup (125 grams) whole wheat flour or whole spelt flour or all-purpose flour or Bob's Red Mill Gluten-Free 1-to-1 Baking Flour for the gluten-free version
- 1/2 cup (45 grams) Dutch-process cocoa powder (using regular cocoa powder may result in cakey brownies)
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 cups (about 300 – 320 grams) peeled and grated zucchini
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips + 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips to sprinkle on top (for dairy-free, use Enjoy Life Chocolate Chips)
Directions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (176 degrees C) and line an 8"x8" pan with parchment paper or spray with baking spray.
- In a large bowl, mix together the eggs, vanilla, coconut sugar, and apple sauce and let this sit for 5 minutes to let the coconut sugar dissolve.
- In a separate medium bowl, mix together the flour, cocoa powder (sifted if lumpy!), baking soda and salt. Make sure there are no clumps before going on to the next step.
- Add the dry mix to the wet, gently stir until combined. Be sure not to over mix!
- Then fold in the zucchini and 1 cup chocolate chips.
- Pour the batter into the pan and even the surface with a spatula.
- Sprinkle 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips on top.
- Bake for 30 - 35 minutes (14 minutes for the half batch) or until a toothpick inserted in the middle doesn't come out gooey. It might still be sticky - just not have raw batter on it.
- Store in an airtight container for up to 2 days at room temperature or up to one week in the refrigerator. I recommend storing them in the refrigerator right from the beginning due to their high moisture content.
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517 comments on “Zucchini Brownies (gluten-free, dairy-free options)” — Add one!
12 comments are awaiting moderation!
We love zucchini and especially when paired with chocolate. We eat low fat and as much fruits and veggies as possible. We even made zucchini banana bread in the crock pot the other night, and it was excellent. Great blog!
We will eat out less frequently.
Veggies, veggies, and more veggies!
I’m working to include more vegetables in lunch!
What a wonderful cause to be participating in.
Two ways I promote healthy eating with my daughter is to limit snacks so she’s hungry at mealtimes, and to serve vegetables first. These two tactics ensure she enjoys eating her veggies!
Such an exciting giveaway – I could use new pans!!
I definitely going to have to try to make these!! <3 Awesome job :)
These look delicious! ;)
These brownies sound good. I would probably make them with some chocolate chips, just because… :-)
Wonderful that you are having an All-Clad giveaway. I had a whole set of their cookware and gave it away because my husband didn’t like having to wash them by hand.
I officially have a preschooler this year, he’ll be going half days and I plan on limiting snacks for the kids – or at least giving them HEALTHY snacks.
Great recipe, you are so creative!! I love the healthy twist on these :)
No kids yet, but I am going to work on making more “clean” meals for my husband and I!
Even more whole foods and more organic!
Hoping to use a lot less sugar and also more of the good grains and fats.
I’m working on adding more veggies to their diet, and this recipe is exactly what I needed! I never thought of incorporating them through desserts. Thank you
These look fudgy and decadent – I cannot believe there’s no added fat!
We don’t have kids but I’m constantly trying to incorporate more veggies in our diet. Not always an easy task with my veggie-hating husband :)
These brownies look decadent! And so healthy! Sneaking in veggies into my kiddos food is something I plan on doing a lot this year. :)
i am well on my way to having a healthy routine (chocolate is a bit tough to give up ;)) but breakfast is a MUST!! usually eggs and some form of protein. lunch is protein and veggies. dinner is usually the same! i am trying to get the hubby on the same page, that is my goal!
These look amazing and my kids will be excitd about the zucchini! They love zucchini bread and zucchini bites so this recipe, I’ll add to my zucchini collection :).
They shall eat more veggies- whether they like or know it or not! Thanks for the giveaway!
Oh…these look sooo good!
Hallo Erin, your chocolate zucchini brownie looks so good, normally I don’t like zucchini, it’s great way to prepare it chocolate. :-)
More veggies as snacks and less sugar as snacks.
Thanks!
Love that you snuck some zucchini into these brownies! I don’t have kids but I’m always trying to encourage my family to eat more veggies (we like to grill or roast them) and eliminate as many processed foods from our diets as we can.
yum!! these look SO good! i love that you lightened these up!! unbelievable!
yum! these look so good.
I will be preparing more vegetable dishes.
Wow, these look divine! I’m gonna have to make them. :-)
I hope you’ll enjoy them, Jessica! Let me know how they come out. :)
Your brownies sound so delicious wish I had some zucchini to make some plus all the other ingredients. Thanks for sharing. am definitely saving this recipe.
Yum, those brownies look good! I’d like to cook more of our dinners at home and include more veggies in our meals!
Those look delicious! But I thought it said “grain-free” instead of “whole grain” :P Guess I can’t eat them after all!
Aww, sorry, Erin! I promise to post some grain-free chocolate brownies soon, okay? :)
We are using less dairy ( I’m now dairy free:-)) gluten free, and are switching over to organic produce….woot-woot!!!!
Cheers!
Connie
PS~I’m looking forward to the challenge of making this recipe gluten and dairy free, lol…
Well, at least they’re already dairy-free! :) And I just told someone else that I’d post some grain-free chocolate brownies soon. But they won’t be zucchini because I’m all zucchini-ed out!
These look so good!
The best zucchini brownies I’ve ever laid eyes on, hands down. Erin, you’re the chocolate/zucchini queen!
If these taste as good as they look, I am very excited to eat them! Love a yummy but healthy treat. Thanks!
Adding more raw fruits and veggies!
I REAAAAAALLY want these brownies! They look sooooo gooey and delicious! I sure wish we lived closer to each other!
I want to cook more.
I really need to stop drinking diet drinks. I just love diet sunkist. )-:
Gorgeous brownies!! I have a zucchini brownie recipe coming too – but mine has oil in it. Love this version! Thanks for putting this great project together!
I love how ooey gooey and delicious your photos are!!!! I can’t wait to try this – i love zucchini and chocolate together.
Less sugar, more fruit & veggies.
These look delicious. I love new brownie recipes because they are the quickest thing to bake and bring to summer potlucks.
I want to eat less processed snacks. More whole foods, not so many store bought granola bars or chips!
I don’t have kids and I’m not in school, but I still see the end of summer as a time when I should really get my eating act together (because I know Thanksgiving and Christmas splurges are headed towards me fast). I like to improve my eating by sneaking fruits and veggies into pretty much everything I eat — so this brownie recipe will help me with that! :)
This set is incredible! Also, I cannot wait to pull some zucchini out of the garden to try this recipe – yum!
Our family has really been trying to get on a healthier track in terms of our daily meals. I think next we’re going to focus on cutting back on processed foods, as well as paying more attention to amount of refined sugar vs. natural sugar in our foods!
Yum!! Making these next weekend for some bridesmaids plannjng!
My kids would love me forever if I sent these in their lunch boxes! Great healthy snacks, Erin.
I seriously need to bake with zucchini more, because these brownies are awesome!!
We’ve been incorporating less “white foods” and more whole grains into our diet! It feel great!
Look at those beautiful brownies! I can’t believe you ‘lightened’ them up so much and still allowed for such gooeyness. Since you came to visit and educated me on coconut oil, I’ve been using it all the time and love it! Such a great recipe. A must try!