Chocolate Zucchini Bread Recipe

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5 from 5 votes
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This Double Chocolate Zucchini Bread recipe is delicious, moist, and comes together quickly and easily in a mixing bowl with a whisk.

This Chocolate Zucchini Bread recipe makes such a decadent yet simple bread! Perfect for serving for breakfast, brunch, or dessert, and is one of my favorite zucchini recipes!

Photo of chocolate zucchini bread on a white platter.

One of my favorite ways to incorporate a little green into our baked goods is with zucchini. I remember growing up, Mama would make her zucchini bread throughout the summer. I always thought it was absolutely delicious. When I had my own kitchen and made my own, I loved creating this recipe for Chocolate Zucchini Bread! It’s so decadent, simple to make, and can be served anytime!

Chocolate Zucchini Bread Recipe

This recipe makes an ultra-moist bread recipe that can easily pass for cake. And it’s a great way to get more vegetables into my family while using that most prolific zucchini from the garden.

My chocolate zucchini bread also uses melted coconut oil which does leave a slight coconut scent and flavor to the bread. You can substitute softened butter and cream it with the sugar if you prefer or you could even use a lighter flavor oil such as grape seed instead.

How to Make Chocolate Zucchini Bread

Ingredients used to make chocolate zucchini bread.

Ingredients

Be sure to see the recipe card below for the full listing of ingredients, instructions, notes, and estimated nutritional information.

  • Zucchini – you’ll need 1 1/2 cups of grated zucchini (about 2 small zucchini) for this recipe. The zucchini adds moisture while also adding fiber to this quick bread recipe. There is no need to peel the zucchini as it doesn’t add flavor or texture differences to the baked bread.
  • Oil – I love to use oil in my chocolate recipes for baking. It coats the cocoa powder and makes for an incredibly moist and delicious chocolate treat. I use melted coconut oil most often, but another light or neutral-flavored oil will work as well.
  • Sugar – I originally shared this recipe in 2012 and used granulated and brown sugar. Lately, I’ve been using all brown sugar more and more and find that I like the rich molasses-kissed flavor that it gives the recipe.
  • Eggs – I recommend using room-temperature eggs in your baking recipes. They blend more easily into the other ingredients.
  • Flour – I use all-purpose flour for this recipe. I recommend spooning the flour into the measuring cup to make sure your flour is measured correctly.
  • Cocoa powder – I use natural unsweetened cocoa powder in this chocolate zucchini bread recipe. I do not recommend substituting with Dutch process cocoa powder. Again, spoon the cocoa powder into the measuring cup as you do with the flour.
  • Salt – I use kosher salt in this recipe.
  • Baking soda and baking powder – I use baking soda and baking powder in this recipe to achieve the best rise in the zucchini bread.
  • Espresso powder – Like with my Chocolate Cake Recipe, I highly recommend using espresso powder in your chocolate baking recipes. It enhances the chocolate flavor without adding a coffee or espresso flavor to the baked good.
  • Vanilla extract – I love to use my homemade vanilla extract in my baking recipes. It is so simple and easy to make and makes great gifts!
  • Chocolate chips – I highly recommend including them in your chocolate zucchini bread for the double chocolate impact. The morsels melt into the bread as it bakes, leaving little areas of chocolate deliciousness throughout the fudgy zucchini bread. Use your favorite chocolate chips. I prefer to use good-quality dark chocolate chips or semi-sweet chocolate chips. Semi-sweet will give your finished chocolate zucchini bread a sweeter flavor.

Step-by-Step Instructions

  • Preheat and Prep. Preheat your oven to 350º F. Prepare a loaf pan with butter or shortening and lightly flour or line it with parchment paper to make it easy to lift out of the pan for cooling and slicing. Set the pan aside.
  • Combine Ingredients and Mix. Add the coconut oil and sugar to a mixing bowl. Then add the eggs and whisk together until smooth. Add the flour, cocoa powder, salt, baking soda, baking powder, and espresso powder and combine. Stir in the grated zucchini, vanilla extract, and chocolate chips.
  • Bake. Pour the chocolate zucchini bread batter into the prepared loaf pan and place it in the oven. Bake until a toothpick comes out clean when inserted into the center, about 1 hour.
  • Cool and Serve. Allow the bread to cool in the pan for about five minutes. Then remove the bread from the loaf pan. Slice and serve.
Baked chocolate zucchini bread on a white platter with a knife.

Recipe Variations

Chocolate Zucchini Muffins

Like my best banana muffins and my banana bread, you can easily turn this incredibly delicious chocolate zucchini bread into a portable, handheld treat with these delicious chocolate zucchini muffins.

  1. Preheat the oven to 425º F. Line a 12-cup muffin pan with muffin liners.
  2. Make the batter as directed in the recipe.
  3. Bake the muffins at 425º F for 5 minutes and then reduce the oven temperature to 350º for 14 – 18 more minutes or until the muffins are golden brown and a skewer inserted in the center comes out with a few crumbs attached but not batter. For mini muffins, bake at 350º F for 12 to 14 minutes.
  4. Remove from the oven and cool in the pan for 5 minutes. Turn out of the muffin pan and cool on a wire rack.
Photo of chocolate zucchini bread slices on a white platter.

Storage Tips

To store. Allow the chocolate zucchini bread to cool. Store under a cake dome at room temperature for up to a week.

To make ahead. Follow the tips to store the bread.

To freeze. Cool the chocolate zucchini bread completely. Wrap well with parchment paper and then with foil or another freezer-safe wrap. Store in the freezer for up to 6 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight and then slice and serve.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you freeze chocolate zucchini bread?

Yes! It is very freezer friendly! I always make several of them when my garden is abundant with zucchini to enjoy throughout the year.

Do you have to peel zucchini to use in zucchini bread?

No. The peelings of the zucchini do not alter the taste or texture of the baked bread. Save time and grate the zucchini with the peelings intact! You’ll see tiny hints of green in the slices of baked bread, which are beautiful.

Can you make chocolate zucchini bread as muffins?

Yes! This recipe is so easy to make into chocolate zucchini bread muffins! See my Recipe Variations above for the step-by-step instructions.

Other Favorite Bread Recipes

Chocolate Banana Bread

The Best Banana Bread

Three Ingredient Buttermilk Biscuits

Blueberry Muffins

Salted Caramel Zucchini Bread

Slices of chocolate zucchini bread on a white plate.

Here’s my chocolate zucchini bread recipe. I think your whole family will go nuts over it!

Chocolate Zucchini Bread Recipe

5 from 5 votes
This Double Chocolate Zucchini Bread recipe is delicious, moist, and comes together quickly and easily in a mixing bowl with a whisk.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings: 12 slices

Ingredients

  • 2 large (100 g) eggs, room temperature
  • 1/2 cup (113 g) coconut oil, melted
  • 1 cup (213 g) brown sugar
  • 1 cup (120 g) all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup (42 g) unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon (1 g) kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon (3 g) baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon (2 g) baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon (1 g) espresso powder
  • 1 1/2 cups (202 g) finely grated, unpeeled zucchini, (about 2 medium zucchini)
  • 1 teaspoon (5 g) vanilla extract
  • ½ cup (85 g) chocolate chips, optional, but recommended

Instructions 

  • Prep. Preheat oven to 350º F. Prepare a loaf pan with butter or shortening and lightly flour or line with parchment paper. Set aside.
  • Mix together the batter. Add the coconut oil and brown sugar to a mixing bowl. Add the eggs and whisk together until smooth. Mix in the flour, cocoa powder, salt, baking soda, baking powder, and espresso powder. Stir in grated zucchini, vanilla extract, and chocolate chips.
  • Bake. Pour batter into prepared loaf pan and bake until a toothpick comes out clean when inserted in the center, about 1 hour. Allow bread to cool in the pan for about five minutes before removing from the loaf pan to cool completely or slice and serve.

Notes

Storage Tips

To store. Allow the chocolate zucchini bread to cool. Store under a cake dome at room temperature for up to a week.
To make ahead. Follow the tips to store the bread.
To freeze. Cool the chocolate zucchini bread completely. Wrap well with parchment paper and then with foil or another freezer-safe wrap. Store in the freezer for up to 6 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight and then slice and serve.
Recipe Revision (2023)
The original recipe published in 2012. I have updated the recipe to make it even easier, rise a little more, and have a richer flavor. If you’d like to make the original recipe mix together the coconut oil, 1/2 cup granulated sugar, and 1/2 cup brown sugar with a hand mixer. Reduce the baking powder to 1/4 teaspoon. Bake at 325º F. Follow the rest of the recipe as written.

Nutrition

Serving: 1slice | Calories: 245kcal | Carbohydrates: 34g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 0.02g | Cholesterol: 32mg | Sodium: 167mg | Potassium: 161mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 23g | Vitamin A: 93IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 45mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Enjoy!
Robyn xo

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About Robyn

Robyn Stone is a cookbook author, wife, mom, and passionate home cook. Her tested and trusted recipes give readers the confidence to cook recipes the whole family will love. Robyn has been featured on Food Network, People, Southern Living, and more.

5 from 5 votes (1 rating without comment)

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Recipe Review




36 Comments

  1. CHARLOTTE TAMEZ says:

    Can you use butter instead of Coconut oil

    1. Robyn Stone says:

      Charlotte, you can use butter instead of coconut oil to make this bread. I hope you enjoy!

  2. Rach says:

    hi Robyn,

    How would you recommend freezing then defrosting for it to be drizzled with a bit of icing
    Or should I ice before freezing if Iโ€™d like to use in a week

    1. Robyn Stone says:

      Rach, this zucchini bread freezes well. I would freeze before icing, Let the zucchini bread cool completely. Wrap it well in plastic wrap and then foil. Place the bread into a freezer bag and freeze for up to 2 months. To serve, thaw in the refrigerator overnight with wrapping intact. Remove from the refrigerator, allow to come to room temperature, drizzle with icing, and slice and serve.

  3. Rachel says:

    hey! Would you recommend using coconut sugar as an alternative

    1. Robyn Stone says:

      I haven’t used coconut sugar with this recipe, Rachel, but I would think you could.

  4. Ann says:

    Hi, would you recommend using parchment paper or is buttering the pan andsprinkling flour better?
    Also, would I need to increase the time in the oven if I am baking 4 loaves?

    1. Robyn Stone says:

      Ann, you can use parchment or butter and flour the pan, whichever you prefer. I just usually butter and flour my pans. You may need to increase baking time for the 4 loaves but it is based upon placement in your oven and the type of oven you have. Hope you enjoy.

  5. Rach says:

    Hi, can I use olive oil instead of coconut oil?

    1. Robyn Stone says:

      I haven’t made this with olive oil, Rach. IF you do, I recommend using extra virgin olive oil.

  6. Stefannie says:

    5 stars
    Hands down the best I have ever had. Robyn, you are my go-to for all things baked. Thank you for this recipe.

    1. Robyn Stone says:

      Thank you so much, Stefannie. I appreciate that you love my recipes.

  7. Natalie says:

    Hi Robyn,

    Does it matter if the zucchini is yellow or green?

    1. Robyn Stone says:

      Hi Natalie,
      You can use the yellow zucchini in this recipe as well as the green. Hope you enjoy the bread. Thanks

  8. Pip says:

    5 stars
    Just made this and had a slice warm – heaven! It’s so delicious, deeply chocolate-y and soft.ย 
    Will definitely make this again!!

    1. Robyn Stone says:

      Thanks, Pip! So glad you liked it! xo

  9. Claudia Gray says:

    5 stars
    This is an absolutely Outstanding recipe! I am a chocolate lover and this absolutely hits the spot ๐Ÿ™‚

    1. Robyn Stone says:

      So glad you enjoyed it Claudia! xo

  10. Mary C says:

    Robyn, luv all of your recipes. Should I squeeze the moisture out of the zucchini?