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!!😂😂)
Love chocolate zucchini cake! What makes it “bread” instead of “cake”… just the fact that’s in a loaf tin or are there ingredient differences? Love your blog!
Hmm, that’s a good question Saritha! Just the shape I guess 🙂 Loaf / bread / cake – same thing really! I use the words interchangeably 🙂 N xx
Hi Nagi,
This is on the list to be made this weekend, looks yummy.
In case you wanted to know according to the Women’s Weekly 180 grams of grated zucchini is equal to 1 cup.
Love the little snippets about The Life of Dozer, he is a cutey.
Oooh, thanks Carol! I’ll pop that in the recipe 🙂 N xx
Well chocolate and zucchini bread is in the oven and Zucchini and cheese bread is just out! I think that mine looks better then yours, PS: years ago I used to make Avocado chocolate mousse so I definitely love this concept!
So… DID it look better than mine?? 😉 I hope it did!! N xx
Can’t wait to try this.
I hope you get a chance to try it! N xx
Well you knew I would sit on the fence with this : a non-baker and non-dessert-eater . . . but I do make banana and pumpkin bread on occasion and barely have a day without eating zucchini ! And the sugar and butter amounts are within reason 🙂 ! So shall definitely try and report back . . . Chocolate in the mix: no problem for me . . . remember chicken mole – chicken in chocolate sauce in Mexico . . . !!
OK I have to confess, I never got into mole…. and I think we went to some really great mole places in Oaxaca! But it’s just not for me I think 🙂 N xx
It’s definitely a Canadian thing, my mom made it, I make it and everyone loves the combination of zucchini and chocolate. Try muffins, cakes, scones, zucchini works in so many recipes.
Maybe its just a north american thing, as a plethora of Americans bake this, as well… from at least back to the 70’s. Though… zucchini is an Italian word… and they do use zucchini on top of their savory breads… so maybe that’s where it originated from.
I don’t even know where it originated from, I just know it’s amazing! N xx
YES! I’ve done muffins, someone also said brownies! N xx
Hi Nagi – I’ve made choc/zucchini brownies and they were delicious. I LOVE all your recipes that I’ve made so far and definitely looking forward to making your choc/zucchini bread – PS – Dozer is very handsome 💓
Ooh! I can’t believe I’ve never tried zucchini brownies before, THANK YOU for the idea! N xx
I love chocolate zucchini bread N! I’ll be baking yours soon!
Dozer is such a character! At least he doesn’t bark at everyone that walks by, like mine and scares the crap out of them! 😂
Have a great weekend!
Dozer scares the crap out of EVERY delivery person that comes to the house, he sounds so authoritative when he barks but really, he’s just a big sook! 😂
The photo of the cut chocolate zucchini bread looks like it isn’t baked enough.
Hi Lori! Promise it is, you can see the crumb. It is just VERY fudgy! Also the molten chocolate smeared when I cut it 🙂 N xx
I’m in love with Dozer. He’s so sweet. How old is he? We have a handicapped senior citizen Old English Sheepdog named Wizard. He wears a body brace that has 2 handles on it so we can help him get up off the floor. He’s still heavy to manage but we love and spoil him anyway. The vet is amazed at what good condition he is in for his age. We’re lucky to have him for this long. Enjoy every minute you have with Dozer. And it looks like you do. Best wishes, Linda and Wizard
Wizard sounds like the luckiest dog in the world that you care for him so well and spoil him rotten! Please give him a huge hug from me 🙂 Dozer is 7! He is starting to grey – but he’s still as playful as he was when he was 2! N xx
Chocolate zucchini bread is natures perfect food. You never taste zucchini in any dish. It adds texture.
YES! Thank you! N xx
I have been making pineapple zucchini bread for years, but not chocolate. I bet it’s amazing!
Woah! Pineapple zucchini bread?? I have to look it up immediately 🙂 N x
Looks so good. I’ve made chocolate zucchini bread before but this looks better than mine! This is the reason to grow zucchini… Thank you for the recipes and cute pics of Dozer.
OK that is the BEST zucchini quote ever! 😂 N xx
loved it!!! SO GOOD
Woah! Tried it already??? N xx
I’m all in!!!! It looks and sounds AMAZING! I love your recipes Nagi!
Love the enthusiasm Rose! N xx
Hi Nagi
I’m on holidays at the moment so can’t try this but just want to say, you’re dead right, chocolate zucchini cake is certainly a thing as I’ve been making it, for at least 30 years!! So yum. Recently though I met a zucchini cake in the UK which was to die for and it wasn’t chocolate. It had layers of something running through it (could have been butter cream although I’m not usually a fan) and the cake part was white with flecks of zucchini. If you ever post a recipe for something like that, I’ll be jumping for joy!! I actually have a list of things I am hoping you’ll post recipes for one day as I 💚 your recipes.
Wow! Was it sweet? Spiced?? any hints on flavour! N xx
Hi Nagi,
Your recipes are amazing to say the least. I live by your great dishes now My life has been simplifed. I just can’t wait to see your emails, love having my morning coffee and searching what I’m making for dinner.
😀
p.s. I see Dozer is a great inspiration! All the best to you all!
Bonnie
What a lovely message to receive, thank you Bonnie! N xx
Is the 4.5 teaspoons of baking powder as a substitute for 1.5 teaspoons of bicarb soda correct? I just wanted to make sure I read it correctly before I try the recipe.
PS Dozer is so beautiful!
Hi Andrea! Yep that’s right 🙂 N xx
Mmmmmm… looking forward to making this when I’m fit & able (laid up in plaster at the mo with STRICT instructions to rest & keep leg elevated…) Something to look forward to!
Oh noooo! What happened? Dramatic story?? N xx
No, sorry to disappoint… no drama… pre-planned op on my ankle. Frustrating as I love cooking your recipes & testing them on my OH. I will just have a nice new collection to try when I’m up & about again! xx
Hi Nagi,
Could this be made more as a cake, and if so, what size pan would you suggest?
Also, would the baking time need to be adjusted if baking as a cake?
Love the picture of Dozer being naughty & “laughing it up,” reminds me of our Labrador!
Spot on yummy! Been make versions of this for years. Hugs to the pup!
Yay! Love hearing from a fellow Choc zucchini lover! N xx
Hi Renee! I am 99% confident it will work as a cake. It will probably make a tallish 22cm/9″ cake! N xx