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Chocolate Zucchini Muffins

There’s something satisfying about sneaking vegetables into baked goods like these chocolate zucchini muffins and having no one notice. These healthy chocolate zucchini muffins strike the perfect balance between indulgent and nourishing. Whether you’re baking for picky eaters, prepping for the week, or just craving something chocolatey and comforting, these muffins deliver on flavor and convenience.

Chocolate zucchini muffins with one unwrapped muffin in front and fresh zucchini on a wooden board.

The shredded zucchini keeps them incredibly moist, while cocoa powder and cinnamon provide warm, cozy flavor. Made with pantry staples and no fancy tools required, these muffins come together quickly and easily. You’ll have a batch ready from start to finish in half an hour. No fuss. Just delicious, fluffy muffins packed with goodness.

Why You’ll Love These Chocolate Zucchini Muffins

  • Super moist: Shredded zucchini bakes right into the crumb and keeps every muffin soft.
  • Ready in 30 minutes: From mixing bowl to muffin tin to cooling rack in about half an hour.
  • Pantry staples: No special equipment or hard-to-find ingredients.
  • Sneaky veggies: Picky eaters taste chocolate, not zucchini.
  • Freezer friendly: Bake a batch and freeze extras for up to three months.

Ingredients Needed to Make Chocolate Zucchini Muffins

Ingredients for chocolate zucchini muffins: flour, cocoa powder, sugar, zucchini, eggs, oil, vanilla, cinnamon, and baking soda.

Here’s a quick look at the ingredients you’ll need. You can find the full amounts and instructions in the recipe card below.

  • All-purpose flour: The base of the muffins.
  • Cocoa powder: Gives these zucchini chocolate muffins their rich chocolate flavor.
  • Baking soda: Helps the muffins rise.
  • Salt: Balances the sweetness and deepens the chocolate.
  • Cinnamon: Adds warm, cozy flavor.
  • Eggs: Use room temperature eggs so they mix in smoothly.
  • Melted butter: For richness.
  • Avocado oil: Keeps the muffins tender and moist.
  • Sugar in the raw: Sweetens the batter with a hint of caramel flavor.
  • Vanilla extract: Rounds out the chocolate.
  • Shredded zucchini: Finely shredded and lightly packed for moisture.

Before You Get Started

Check that your eggs are at room temperature and your zucchini is finely shredded and lightly packed. If your zucchini is extra watery, you can gently pat it dry, but no need to squeeze all the moisture out. Line a muffin tin with paper or silicone liners for easy cleanup.

How to Make Healthy Chocolate Zucchini Muffins

Step 1: Preheat the Oven

Preheat your oven to 350°F. Line a muffin tin with paper or silicone liners.

Step 2: Whisk the Dry Ingredients

In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.

Flour, cocoa powder, sugar, and baking soda in a mixing bowl.
Dry ingredients for chocolate zucchini muffins whisked together.

Step 3: Mix the Wet Ingredients

In a large bowl, combine the eggs, melted butter, avocado oil, sugar, and vanilla. Stir until smooth, then fold in the zucchini.

Eggs, sugar, oil, and shredded zucchini in a white mixing bowl.

Step 4: Combine the Batter

Add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture and stir until just combined. Avoid overmixing.

Chocolate zucchini muffin batter stirred together in a bowl.

Step 5: Fill the Muffin Cups

Divide the batter among the muffin cups, filling each about three-quarters full.

Chocolate zucchini muffin batter in paper liners in a muffin tin.

Step 6: Bake

Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Baked chocolate zucchini muffins in a muffin tin.

Step 7: Cool

Let the muffins cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

What to Serve With Chocolate Zucchini Muffins

These muffins are perfect on their own, but they also round out a breakfast or snack spread nicely:

What People Ask About Chocolate Zucchini Muffins

Can you taste the zucchini in chocolate zucchini muffins?

Not really. Finely shredded zucchini melts into the batter and adds moisture, while the cocoa and cinnamon take center stage.

Can I use whole wheat flour instead of all-purpose?

Yes, but expect a slightly denser texture. A mix of both flours works well too.

Do I need to peel the zucchini?

Nope. The skin is soft and blends right into the batter without any weird texture.

Can I freeze these muffins?

Definitely. Cool them completely, then store in a freezer-safe container for up to three months.

What can I use instead of avocado oil?

Any neutral oil works, such as canola, vegetable, or melted coconut oil.

A stack of chocolate muffins in white paper liners sits on a wooden surface beside a fresh zucchini, hinting at these irresistible 30-minute Zucchini Muffins, all set against a light pinkish background.

30-minute Zucchini Muffins

5 from 1 vote
These chocolate zucchini muffins are made with cocoa, cinnamon, and fresh shredded zucchini for a moist, family-friendly treat. With simple pantry staples and no special equipment, this healthy chocolate zucchini muffins recipe is ready in about 30 minutes.
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes

Ingredients
  

Let’s gather the ingredients!
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • ¼ cup cocoa powder
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ½ tsp cinnamon
  • 2 large eggs room temperature
  • ¼ cup butter melted
  • ¼ cup avocado oil
  • ¾ cup sugar in the raw
  • 1 tbsp vanilla extract
  • 1½ cup shredded zucchini packed

Instructions
 

Let’s Begin!
  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F.
  2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and sea salt. Set aside.
  3. In a large bowl whisk eggs, melted butter, shredded zucchini, avocado oil, vanilla extract, and raw sugar.
  4. Stir the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients.
  5. Pour batter into cupcake liners and bake for 25-30 mins.

Nutrition

Calories: 558kcalCarbohydrates: 70gProtein: 9gFat: 30gSaturated Fat: 11gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 14gTrans Fat: 0.5gCholesterol: 124mgSodium: 698mgPotassium: 363mgFiber: 5gSugar: 39gVitamin A: 583IUVitamin C: 8mgCalcium: 47mgIron: 4mg

Notes

  • If your zucchini is very watery, pat it dry gently, but there’s no need to squeeze out all the moisture.
  • Stir the dry ingredients into the wet just until combined; overmixing leads to denser, tougher muffins.
  • Whole wheat flour can be swapped in for a denser texture, or use a mix of whole wheat and all-purpose.
  • Any neutral oil (canola, vegetable, or melted coconut oil) works in place of avocado oil.
  • Let muffins cool in the pan for 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack.
  • Freeze cooled muffins in an airtight, freezer-safe container for up to 3 months.

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2 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    My new fave chocolate zucchini muffins recipe! This one is so moist and chocolatey! It practically tastes like I’m eating chocolate cake! Will be making these often.

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