Chocolate Zucchini Muffins are a sweet and delectable treat that you will be craving for every dessert! These moist and rich muffins will satisfy every chocolate lover’s taste buds! For more chocolate treats, try my Chocolate Zucchini Cake or Double Chocolate Zucchini Cupcakes!
Chocolate Zucchini Muffins
When I make or eat muffins, the talking muffin joke always comes to mind. I still don’t really get it, but it’s a classic at this point. Two muffins were sitting in an oven. One turned to the other and said: “Hey, it’s pretty hot in here, isn’t it?” The other turned and shouted, “Oh my gosh a talking muffin!” Anyway, these Chocolate Zucchini Muffins are no joke. No one will believe that they are made with zucchini, but that is actually the secret to the moistness! For those doubters who could never fathom putting zucchini in a dessert, this will change their minds!
Chocolate Zucchini Muffins Recipe
This Chocolate Zucchini Muffins Recipe is taken from my Zucchini Brownies recipe but in a muffin form. Since muffins are more accepted as a breakfast food than brownies, it would be completely justified to have one of these muffins for breakfast! They are simple to make, and again, the zucchini does most of the work here!
You will notice that there are no eggs or butter added to this recipe. They are absolutely not needed! These Chocolate Zucchini Muffins bake up beautifully and do not need the added air and flavor that eggs usually add. This is a great recipe for vegan friends!
The Secret to Baking with Zucchini
Size matters. A large zucchini will be drier. A small zucchini with have more moisture. Certain recipes work best with different sizes. For instance, I tend to use a medium to small with this recipe because I want the moisture the zucchini brings, but I use a large zucchini for my Double Chocolate Zucchini Cupcakes.
Use the fine side of your grater. Coarser pieces will have a slightly more noticeable flavor and texture in a finished cake or bread recipe. (Farm kids tend to want that!)
Some recipes ask that the zucchini is pressed well with a clean towel to soak up excess moisture or to prevent whatever your baking from getting too soggy. Pay close attention to the recipe that you are making with zucchini as the level of moisture they provide is important. For instance, in this Chocolate Zucchini Muffins recipe, the zucchini is the main source of moisture and should NOT be drained!
Can I Use Frozen Zucchini?
Yes, you can! First, bring the frozen zucchini to room temperature. Since frozen zucchini collects extra moisture, you WILL have to drain it before adding it to the recipe. If your batter looks too thick, you may need to add a little extra oil in the mix, starting with a teaspoon at a time.
How to Store Muffins
There are a few ways to properly store muffins.
- Room Temperature: Because they are best enjoyed at room temperature, this is usually the recommended way to storing. I use a larger sealable plastic bag or an airtight container to store the muffins in a single layer. Some folks recommend adding a piece of paper towel to the bottom so that it will soak up any condensation. If your muffins are properly cooled before storing, this may not be necessary. However, if I am using an airtight container, I will often add a piece of bread to the container, torn in half, and fit in between the muffins. The bread will soak up moisture as well. Best enjoyed within 2-3 days.
- Refrigerator: (Refrigeration, in general, dries out baked goods faster so a typical muffin recipe shouldn’t be refrigerated.) Place in a sealable plastic bag or airtight container and then place into the refrigerator. They should keep for up to 5 days. To reheat, remove from refrigerator pop into the microwave for 10 seconds or just allow muffin to come to room temperature naturally, about 15 minutes.
- Freezer: Place cooled muffins into a freezer-safe sealable plastic bag or a freezer-safe airtight container and pack as closely as possible without crushing. Remove as much air as possible. Label with date and recipe name.
How to Reheat Frozen Muffins
Remove muffin from the freezer and allow to come to room temperature overnight in the refrigerator or on the counter for a couple of hours.
More Zucchini Desserts
Chocolate Zucchini Muffins
Ingredients
- ½ cup (112 g) vegetable oil
- 1 ½ cups (300 g) granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups (256 g) all-purpose flour
- ½ cup (64 g) unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 3 cups finely shredded zucchini, do not drain
- 1 ¼ cups (210g) semi-sweet chocolate chunks
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F and prepare two muffin pan with 18 cupcake liners. (You will have anywhere from 14-22 muffins depending on how full you fill them.)
- In a large bowl or in the bowl of a stand mixer, combine oil, sugar, and vanilla until fully incorporated.
- Add in the flour, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Slowly stir the dry ingredients into the sugar mixture and mix until just combined.
- Fold in zucchini and the chocolate chunks by hand.
- Scoop 3 tablespoons of muffin batter into each cupcake liner. Bake for 25-30 minutes.
Did you make this recipe?
Thank you for making my recipe! You took pictures, right? Well go ahead and post them on Instagram! Be sure to mention me @iambaker and use the hashtag #YouAreBaker.
The directions do not say anything about the chocolate chunks?
I work with iambaker and am happy to help out with questions!
Hi, Ton. Good catch! I added them to the recipe instructions. Thank you!
I want to make these but all I have is frozen zucchini. Will this work?
I would love to sign up for your newsletter
Thank you. Fabulous recipes
I work with iambaker and am happy to help out with questions!
Hi, Ann! There is a place to subscribe about halfway down the homepage of iambaker.net Thanks, and have a great day!
Could you sub applesauce for the oil in this recipe?
I work with iambaker and am happy to help out with questions!
Hi, Hillary! You can substitute apple sauce for oil, but I would not use more than 1/4 cup applesauce. So, in this recipe, you would still have to use some oil, but half the amount. I hope this helps! Have a great day!
My final product is the consistency of biscuits. Not runny like a muffin. Idk what to do.
I work with iambaker and am happy to help out with questions!
It’s hard to know for sure what happened, but the one thing that is important in this recipe is to not drain the zucchini. This should add more moisture to the batter. I hope this helps!
Didn’t work for me 🙁 2 cups of zucchini seemed to make the batter wet already but put another 1/2 cup in. Tested after 25 mile s and 30 mins and 35 mins but still seemed wet inside. So left for another 5 mins and then took them out. All sank in to the middles 🙁 edges crunchy insides goo.
Hi, Sue! I work with iambaker and am happy to help with questions. I am so sorry the recipe did not turn out for you. We have not replicated that issue in the many times we have made the muffins, and many readers have been successful in baking the muffins. Ovens are all different and there may be hot spots that affect baking. Double-check the ingredients and I hope the muffins turn out next time! Have a great day!
These are simply the BEST muffins I have ever made….and I love baking. Moist, tender just the right sweet. Just make them for heaven’s sake!
These muffins are fantastic! I increased the recipe by 1.5 so I could use a large zucchini.
They are not overly sweet and the texture and crumb are perfect.
I used large muffin cups-1 cup for each muffin.
Before adding the zucchini, the mixture is crumbly-it looks like it will be too dry,but the addition of the zucchini gave the batter the right consistency.
I can see a lot of options for adding various ingredients to this recipe,but as nuts, almond flavor or lemon zest.
I will make this again!
The batter was too thick, and then I realized there were no eggs listed in the recipe. I added 2 eggs and then it was perfect. Muffins need eggs for proper texture.
If. you would let the batter sit for about 5 minutes you’ll see that it loosens on its own, no need to add eggs. 🙂
Coconut oil works. I wouldn’t use olive oil. Someone else said they used applesauce in place of veg. oil.