This Double Chocolate Zucchini Bread with Chocolate Chips is super moist and so full of chocolate flavor that no one will ever know it’s packed with vegetables. It’s also a fun and delicious way to use up all of the extra zucchini from your garden.
Based on our Homemade Zucchini Bread recipe, we’ve replaced some of the flour with cocoa powder and tossed in plenty of chocolate chips to make a breakfast treat that tastes like absolute heaven with a cup of coffee. For more sweet but healthy zucchini recipes, you can also try these yummy Zucchini Cupcakes.
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Zucchini Bread with Chocolate Chips
Need a kid to eat their veggies? Serve them this chocolate zucchini bread and they will be none the wiser. It is so rich and chocolatey, they’ll think they are eating chocolate cake.
Just like the plain Zucchini Bread, this recipe yields 2 loaves so that you can eat one now and freeze one for later. It also works great as muffins, and is still healthier than a cupcake despite all of the chocolate.
If you're looking for more zucchini recipes, be sure to check out our Zucchini Fries, Zucchini Chips, Zucchini Banana Bread, and also some Parmesan Roasted Zucchini.
Key Ingredients
- Zucchini - you can grate these on a box or cheese grater, making sure to pat or squeeze out any excess liquid before adding them to your batter.
- Eggs - eggs are what really holds the batter together. Any type of large eggs will work great.
- Cocoa Powder - the better the cocoa powder, the better the zucchini bread so we recommend using a higher quality brand if possible.
- Lemon Juice - lemon juice helps to moisten the batter and adds a little flavor. Fresh lemon juice tastes best.
- Flour - we use all-purpose flour for this bread. You could try substituting a small portion with whole wheat flour. Just don't be tempted to use only whole wheat flour as the bread will turn out dry.
- Spices - to flavor the bread we use both ground cinnamon and allspice.
- Baking Powder and Baking Soda - these both help to make the loaves rise and keep them nice and tender.
- Chocolate Chips - you can use either regular or mini semi-sweet chocolate chips, or even a combination of both. We’ve also been known to use dark chocolate chips, milk chocolate chips and even peanut butter chips.
How to Make Chocolate Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread
- Make the batter. In a large mixing bowl, combine the shredded zucchini, sugar, eggs, cocoa, melted butter, and lemon juice and mix well. In a separate mixing bowl, combine the flour, cinnamon, salt, baking powder, baking soda, and allspice and whisk together. Stir the flour mixture with the zucchini mixture until combined, then stir in the chocolate chips.
- Prep the loaf pans. Grease two 8" x 4" pans, or 6 mini loaf pans. Divide the batter evenly between your prepared bread pans, then sprinkle a few extra chocolate chips on top of each loaf (optional).
- Bake. Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 50-60 minutes (mini loaves for 35-40 minutes), or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean and the internal temperature reaches 200 degrees F.
- Cool and serve. Remove from the oven and cool on a wire rack for 20 minutes, then gently run a knife around the edges of the bread and tease the bread out of the pan. Enjoy!
Frequently Asked Questions
I don't peel zucchini before using for muffins or bread. Just give it a quick rinse, cut the ends off and grate away. The peel actually helps the grated zucchini keep a bit of structure while baking, and it looks pretty, too.
To grate the zucchini, I find that using a box grater is the easiest. If you notice a lot of liquid being released from the zucchini, you can gently pat it with a paper towel. Some have more liquid than others, so this may not be necessary.
To make these into muffins instead of loaves, prep your batter as directed and then spray muffin tins with non-stick spray (or cupcake liners). Fill the batter about ⅔ of the way full and bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for about 20-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
You should get between 20-24 muffins that can be eaten, stored or even frozen.
Storing and Freezing Instructions
- Make-Ahead - you can make the batter a day in advance, divide the batter into the pans, and store it in the fridge overnight. When you are ready to bake, remove the pans from the fridge and let sit out at room temperature for at least 30 minutes while you preheat the oven.
- Once Baked - your loaves should be covered and stored either at room temperature for up to 2 days or in the fridge for up to 1 week.
- Freezer - you can also wrap your loaves individually then place them in a freezer bag and store frozen for up to 3 months. To thaw, transfer to the fridge or room temperature overnight.
Chocolate Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 ½ cups Zucchini shredded and squeezed
- 2 cups Sugar
- 3 large Eggs
- ½ cup Cocoa Powder
- 1 cup Butter melted
- 1 tablespoon Lemon Juice
- 3 cups All-Purpose Flour
- 1 teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- ½ teaspoon Baking Powder
- 1 teaspoon Baking Soda
- ½ teaspoon Ground Allspice
- 2 cups Chocolate Chips plus a few extra to sprinkle on top
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Grease two 8" x 4" pans, or 6 mini loaf pans, and set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the shredded zucchini (squeezed of excess moisture), sugar, eggs, cocoa, melted butter, and lemon juice and mix well.
- In a separate mixing bowl, combine the flour, cinnamon, salt, baking powder, baking soda, and allspice and whisk together.
- Combine the flour mixture with the zucchini mixture and stir together with a rubber spatula, mixing just until combined. Add chocolate chips and mix again.
- Divide the batter evenly between your prepared bread pans, then sprinkle a few extra chocolate chips on top of each loaf (optional).
- Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 50-60 minutes (mini loaves for 35-40 minutes), or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean and the internal temperature reaches 200 degrees F.
- Remove from the oven and cool on a wire rack for 20 minutes, then gently run a knife around the edges of the bread and tease the bread out of the pan. Enjoy!
Nutrition
More Delicious Quick Bread Recipes
- Applesauce Muffins
- Lemon Blueberry Bread
- Lemon Blueberry Muffins
- Mini Blueberry Bread
- Healthy Banana Muffins
- Homemade Banana Bread
- Cranberry Muffins
- Berry Coffee Cake
- Double Chocolate Banana Bread
- More Quick Bread Recipes
- More Summertime Recipes
This Double Chocolate Zucchini Bread is so rich and chocolatey, you'll think you are eating chocolate cake. It's a fun and delicious way to use up all of the extra zucchini from your garden, or get kids to eat their vegetables in dessert!
Renee Goerger
This is one of my favorite sweet zucchini bread recipes. I think it has a lot to do with that little bit of lemon juice in the ingredient list that makes all the difference.
Shadi Hasanzadenemati
This was such a hit! Thank you for this awesome recipe