Chocolate Zucchini Bread Recipe | Vegan & Easy

This is the best Vegan Chocolate Zucchini Bread that is moist, rich, fudgy and tastes like actual chocolate cake! The recipe is super easy to make in one bowl and can be made gluten-free too! Serve with homemade caramel sauce, you’ll have the perfect dessert!

Vegan Chocolate Zucchini Bread

If you’re not a fan of zucchini yet, this recipe will change your mind! I mean, look at how chocolatey, moist and rich this loaf looks but it tastes even better than that! I assure you, it is so incredibly delicious, no one will ever notice that it contains shredded zucchini.

Actually, the real secret behind the perfect texture of this super tasty chocolate zucchini bread is the hidden vegetables inside. Seriously veggies and fruits, such as pumpkin purée, mashed banana, apple sauce or zucchini add so much softness and moisture in any vegan bread or cake. If you’ve tried my moist carrot cake or best chocolate banana bread yet, you know what I am talking about.

Anyway, this is not only a really great way to get your greens but also to use up extra zucchini. The only thing you need to know before starting this recipe is if you double the recipe to make more than just one loaf. You should definitely keep in mind that this bread will be gone quicker than you can make the vegan caramel sauce for the topping!

How to make Vegan Chocolate Zucchini Bread

As mentioned before this recipe is very easy to make! And you know, what that means?! The easier and quicker the recipe, the more we love it, right? So let’s start making it!

All you need to make this veggie-loaded chocolate cake loaf are just a few simple basic ingredients, plus chocolate and zucchini, of course! You don’t need a food processor, mixer, blender or any special kitchen utensils, just a box grater. Actually, the batter comes together in less than 5 minutes! Just shred the zucchini, mix the ingredients, bake and enjoy!

Tips for perfect Chocolate Zucchini Bread

Sift the dry ingredients

I highly recommend sifting the dry ingredients because sifting prevents lumps of flour, cocoa powder, and baking powder. Actually, when you have lumps in the batter you’ll need to mix more as needed until the ingredients are combined. So you’ll tend to overmix which makes the cake tough. If you don’t have a sifter, simply place a regular fine sieve over a mixing bowl. Then add the dry ingredients into the sieve and sift the mixture into the bowl. Finally, give it a good whisk making sure that all of the ingredients are well combined.

Melt the chocolate or just add chocolate chips

To make the zucchini bread more fudgy like brownies you can melt the chocolate over a water bath before adding it into the batter. But if you love melty pockets of chocolate in fluffy cake slices, I recommend to just fold in chopped chocolate. That is totally up to you! Anyway, if this triple chocolate thing is too much goodness for you, you can easily omit the chocolate chips on top.

Prepare your baking pan for easy removal!

Please make sure to prepare the baking pan properly to prevent the cake from sticking to the pan. First, lightly grease your loaf pan with vegan butter. Secondly, line it with additional parchment paper, leaving some paper overhanging. The overhanging paper is super helpful when you want to remove the cake after baking. Simply grab it and lift out the entire cake easily!

How to get the ultimate chocolate flavor

For the ultimate double chocolate flavor, I recommend using both natural unsweetened cocoa powder and vegan chocolate inside the batter. Please make sure to use NO dutch cocoa for the best results. And oh, if you want a triple chocolate zucchini cake loaf, do not forget the vegan chocolate chips on top, haha! Also, I recommend adding a bit of instant coffee or espresso powder.

Why coffee in chocolate cake?

Adding a bit of espresso or coffee powder is actually the key to the perfect chocolate cake because it makes the chocolate flavor more intense. However, this addition is just optional but I definitely recommend that since you won’t taste the coffee in the chocolate zucchini cake. Rather, the espresso or coffee powder just brings the chocolate flavor to the next level!

This vegan chocolate zucchini bread is

• Vegan (Egg-free & Dairy-free)
• Soft, Moist
• Loaded with veggies
• Rich in chocolate flavor
• Easy & quick to make
• Requires just a few ingredients
• Tastes like healthier chocolate cake
• So delicious!
• The perfect breakfast, dessert or snack

Want to make a sheet cake, muffins or cupcakes?

Since this chocolate zucchini bread recipe is super versatile you can easily make it into a sheet cake or muffins and cupcakes. The baking time may vary, depending on the baking pan you use but you can find any information in my recipe notes. Anyway, I highly recommend doing a cake test – always! – no matter what cake you bake because all ovens often vary in power and temperature.

How to serve chocolate zucchini bread

I kept my chocolate zucchini cake loaf simple and just topped it with vegan chocolate chips. That way, I find it’s easier to store and take away to work, school, university or to wherever you want to go! Also, I love when I can serve it with different toppings, such as vegan caramel sauce or melted peanut butter and banana or vegan ice cream. Anyway, if you want to make a smooth, and creamy chocolate frosting or just a simple chocolate ganache instead, feel free to do that!

For more vegan chocolate cake recipes be sure to check out my

• Best Vegan Chocolate Cake
• Best Vegan Chocolate Banana Bread
• Chocolate Peanut Butter Vegan Snickers Cake
• Vegan Chocolate Banana Pancakes
• Chocolate Raspberry Cake
• Vegan Chocolate Banana Pancakes
• Best Vegan Brownies

If you do try this Vegan Chocolate Zucchini Cake Loaf Recipe, please leave me a comment below sharing how it turned out for you! And if you take a picture of your chocolate treat and share it on Instagram, please do not forget to tag me @biancazapatka #biancazapatka because I love seeing your recreations!

Vegan Chocolate Zucchini Bread

This is the best Vegan Chocolate Zucchini Bread that is moist, rich, fudgy and tastes like actual chocolate cake! The recipe is super easy to make in one bowl and can be made gluten-free too! Serve with homemade caramel sauce, you’ll have the perfect dessert!

5 from 12 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Breakfast, Cake, Dessert

Keyword: Chocolate, Chocolate Cake, Chocolate Chip, Chocolate Zucchini Bread, Chocolate Zucchini Cake, Zucchini

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 50 minutes

Servings: 1 loaf

Author: Bianca Zapatka

Ingredients

Chocolate Zucchini Bread

• 1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour 160, or sub gluten-free flour*
• 1 tbsp cornstarch
• 1/2 cup cocoa powder 50g
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 cup non-dairy milk 60ml
• 1/3 cup + 1 tbsp neutral oil 100ml, such as grapeseed or canola, or sub melted coconut oil or vegan butter*
• 3/4 cup organic cane sugar* 150g, or to taste
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tsp apple cider vinegar
• 1/2 tsp instant coffee powder or 1/4 tsp espresso powder*, optional
• 1 ripe mashed banana or sub 1/2 cup apple sauce or 2 flax-eggs *see recipe notes
• 8,8 oz shredded zucchini makes about 1 heaped cup after squeezing
• 1 cup vegan chocolate chips 150g, or chopped chocolate

Topping (optional)

• more vegan chocolate chips

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 350˚F (175˚C). Grease and line a loaf pan with parchment paper so that there is an overhang on both sides (*as shown in the pics above).
• Sift the flour, cornstarch, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt into a mixing bowl and whisk together.
• To a measuring jar add the non-dairy milk, oil, sugar, vanilla extract, apple cider vinegar, coffee powder and mashed banana (or another egg substitute *see recipe notes). Mix to combine.
• Pour this mixture into the flour mixture and stir until just combined. Then fold in shredded zucchini (make sure it is slightly squeezed) and chocolate chips (or chopped chocolate or melted chocolate *see text above). The batter should be thick but still pourable as shown in the step-by-step pics. If it’s too thick add a tiny bit more non-dairy milk.
• Fill the batter into your prepared pan. Optionally, top with more chocolate chips. Bake for about 50-60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out mostly clean with some melted chocolate chips attached.
• Let cool in the pan completely. Then using the parchment paper to lift out the loaf carefully.
• Slice and enjoy with caramel sauce if you like!

Notes

• Instead of banana, you can sub 1/2 cup apple sauce or 2 flax-eggs. To make the flax-eggs, mix 2 tbsp ground flaxseeds + 6 tbsp warm water in a small bowl and set aside for 5 minutes to thicken. (If you’re not vegan, you can sub 2 regular eggs).
• I recommend using all-purpose flour or a blend of whole wheat and all-purpose flour. To make this chocolate zucchini bread gluten-free, use a gluten-free flour blend 1:1. (If using another flour, such as oat flour or whole grain flour, keep in mind that your chocolate zucchini bread won’t get as soft as when using a lighter flour. Also, please make sure to adjust the liquid by adding more non-dairy milk, if needed, because different flours absorb different amounts of liquid).
• You can use any sweeteners you like, such as maple syrup, agave syrup, coconut sugar or other.
• You can’t taste the coffee but it makes the chocolate flavor more intense.
• The bread freezes well for up to 3 months. Just make sure to wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and place in a freezer bag to avoid freezer burn. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and allow to come to room temperature before serving.
• You can turn this recipe into muffins and bake for about 25-30 minutes or cupcakes and bake for about 20 minutes. If you want to make a sheet cake in a brownie pan the baking time will be about 35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out mostly clean with some melted chocolate attached.
• Please make sure to do a cake test since all ovens vary in power and temperature.
• You can find more helpful information about this recipe in my blogpost above.

Did you make this recipe?Mention @biancazapatka or tag #biancazapatka!

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