Zucchini Brownies are perfect for this time of year! Easy to make and delicious!
“Healthier” Zucchini Brownies
These brownies, you guys, just ridiculous. And you can bet your bottom dollar your kiddos will love them just as much as you do (they do not need to know they are made with whole wheat flour and 2 cups of zucchini… shhhhhh).
Hitting some of the highlights – there is whole wheat flour, ground flax, coconut sugar, coconut oil and very little butter. I actually did one version without butter, substituting it with applesauce. It worked really well, it just resulted in the brownies being a little bit more cake-like and less dense. But still really good!
And yes, yes yes…. the kiddos gobbled these up like no other. They did not suspect that there were vegetables inside, just like when they inhaled my Healthy Chocolate Chip Cookies! Yessssss. Mission accomplished.
Don’t worry though guys, they are still brownies at their core. There is enough cocoa powder and chocolate chip cookies in there that you will not be left wanting more. Promise.
Why You Will Love this Recipe
- Zucchini Season: these are perfect for when your garden is over-flowing with zucchinis!
- Healthy Swaps: love the healthy swaps we made here – they are still dessert and still delicious!
- Grain-Free Friendly: we tested these again this year to create a version that is grain-free!
Gluten-Free + Grain-Free Version
In order to make this delicious recipe gluten-free and grain-free you can swap out the whole wheat flour for 1 cup fine almond flour and 1/2 cup cassava flour + an extra 1/4 teaspoon baking powder.
How to Make Zucchini Brownies
Combine your dry ingredient into a bowl (except the coconut sugar) and mix well. Set aside.
Shred your zucchini.
Squeeze out as much moisture from the zucchini as possible.
Whip your eggs using a stand mixer and then add in your coconut sugar and other wet ingredients.
Combine all the ingredients in the mixing bowl.
Pour out batter into prepared baking pan.
Feel free to add extra zucchini or chocolate chips on top.
Bake and then let cool before cutting.
Made this recipe and loved it?! We would love it if you would take a minute and leave a star rating and review – it is also helpful if you made any substitutions or changes to the recipe to share that as well. THANK YOU!
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Other Recipes You Might Like
Fried Zucchini
Healthy Zucchini Boats
How to Grill Zucchini
Healthy Zucchini Muffins
Video
Ingredients
- 1½ – 2 cups grated zucchini, squeeze out excess water
- ¾ cup whole wheat flour, see notes for grain-free swap
- ½ cup cocoa powder
- 2 tablespoons ground flaxseed
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground coffee
- 2 eggs
- ¼ cup butter
- ¼ cup coconut oil
- 1 cup coconut sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips, more or less if desired
Optional Garnish Options:
- extra chocolate chips
- shredded zucchini
- sea salt
Instructions
- Prep: Preheat oven to 350℉. Make sure the excess moisture is squeezed out of the grated zucchini and set aside.
- Dry Ingredients: In medium mixing bowl, combine ¾ cup whole wheat flour, ½ cup cocoa powder, 2 tablespoons ground flaxseed, ¼ teaspoon baking soda, ¼ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon ground coffee. Mix thoroughly.
- Wet Ingredients: In a stand mixer, beat 2 eggs for about 30 seconds. Melt ¼ cup butter and ¼ cup coconut oil. Add to eggs along with 1 cup coconut sugar and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract. Beat until thoroughly mixed.
- Combine: Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients on the stand mixer on low until fully combined. Stop the stand mixer and gently fold in zucchini and 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips.
- Bake: Spray a 9×9 pan with nonstick cooking spray and pour in the brownie batter. Add extra chocolate chips or shredded zucchini on top, if you want. Bake for 35-40 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool 10-15 minutes or so.
- Serve: Sprinkle with a little sea salt before cutting to serve.
Notes
- Gooey: If you want them a bit more gooey then I would bake them for 30-35 minutes and make sure you add in the chocolate chips!
- Dairy-Free: you can use plant-butter and dairy-free chocolate chips to easily make these dairy-free.
- Grain-Free: to make these grain-free/gf simply swap out the whole wheat flour for 1 cup almond flour and 1/2 cup cassava flour and then add an extra 1/4 teaspoon baking soda.
- Storage: store in an airtight container on the counter for about a day or so and then store them in the refrigerator.
- Nutrition: estimated nutrition provided is for if pan is cut into 12 brownie bites.
Nutrition
Originally published February 23, 2017.
Fairlee says
I used black cocoa powder and dark chocolate cream cheese frosting ……. Just wow!!!!!!
Karen says
Your recipe doesn’t say how to prepare the pan; can I spread coconut oil on the bottom of the plan for instance?
Erin says
Coconut oil would work great!
Susan says
These brownies are fabulous! I used the gf recipe and added dark chocolate chips! They came out perfectly!! Another wonderful recipe from Erin! Never disappointed.
Erin says
So happy to hear that, Susan! Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a review – I so appreciate it!
Meagan says
Made these tonight! I’m swimming in zucchini and was looking for a new recipe to use some of it up. These are perfect! Easy to whip up and they are delicious. Definitely making them again!
Erin says
So glad you enjoyed them, Meagan! Thanks for taking the time to leave review 🙂
Amy Nelson says
Erin’s recipes never disappoint! Perfect brownies and her sub for grain free worked perfectly. Will be my go to brownie recipe from now on- never would know zucchini is in it! Yum! Q
Erin says
Thank you so much, Amy!!! So glad you enjoyed them! And thanks for taking the time to come back and leave a review – I really appreciate it 🙂
Jen says
Can I use almond or coconut flour in place of whole wheat?
Virginia Willis says
Thanks for the recipe. I recently tried Persian carrots with almonds. You can look them up on line. Mayan or sweet onion was included. Virginia
Erin says
Awesome! Glad you liked it! Love that you put your own spin on it!
Jenna says
Any suggestions for gluten free on these brownies? Just use gluten free flour?
Andy says
These were awesome – definitely gonna be made quite regularly!
Erin says
That is so great to hear, Andy!! I am so glad you like them ?