Chocolate Zucchini Bread

This bread tastes like a chocolate cake because it pretty much is a chocolate cake. Regarding chocolate zucchini bread, a lot of food blogs say something along the lines of “you don’t need to feel bad about eating this because it contains a vegetable”. First of all, you don’t need to feel bad about eating anything, ever. Second, the addition of 1 squash does make this a healthy food. Zucchini makes this bread very moist and that’s why it’s in here. Make it and enjoy it because it’s chocolatey and delicious.

Bittersweet Chocolate Zucchini Bread Recipe Success Guide:

Chocolate zucchini bread tastes 2x better the day after it’s made. Let it rest at temperature for 8+ hours for the best flavor.

Every time you cut a slice, microwave it for 10-15 seconds to melt the chocolate chips.

Meal Ideas:

Bread + whipped cream
Bread + cold milk
Bread + ice cream
Bread + raspberry jam
Bread + strawberries
Bread + greek yogurt

Ingredients

Equipment Needed: a large box grater

2 packed cups grated zucchini (280 grams) from 1 large zucchini about 7 inches long*
1.5 (195 g) cups all purpose flour
1/3 cup (28g) unsweetened cocoa powder, sifted or whisked
3/4 tsp table salt or 1.5 tsp kosher salt
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/3 cup (80ml) vegetable oil, coconut oil, or melted butter
3/4 (150g) cup packed brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
2/3 cup (120g) bittersweet chocolate chips, roughly chopped. Or 2/3 cup mini chocolate chips

*If your zucchini is on the smaller side and you get only 1.5 packed cups, you can add 1/4 cup of milk. You really need to pack the zucchini into the cup.

Step-by-step Instructions

Preheat oven to 350F and spray a loaf pan with nonstick spray or line the bottom with parchment paper
Grate zucchini on the large holes of a box grater. This should yield ~2 cups of packed squash
Whisk cocoa powder in a large bowl, breaking apart lumps with your fingers or a spoon
Add flour, salt, baking powder, and baking soda to bowl with cocoa powder and whisk to combine
In a medium bowl, combine grated zucchini, oil, sugar, eggs, and vanilla extract. Stir to combine.
Roughly chop chocolate chips*
Add wet ingredients and chopped chocolate to dry ingredients. Stir together with a fork or fold together with a rubber spatula until dry spots of flour disappear
Scrape batter into prepared loaf pan, and bake for 45-55 minutes- until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Cover the pan with foil, and let it cool completely. It tastes better the day after.

*this step is optional but recommended. Chopping the chocolates creates tiny shards of chocolate shavings. You can also use mini chocolate chips.

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