This Chocolate Chunk Zucchini Bread is soft and moist with a tender crumb, and it’s not too sweet. This quick bread is Paleo friendly, gluten-free, grain-free, and refined sugar-free.
**2017 Update** As summer continues and my crisper drawer is filled with zucchini, I had a hankering for zucchini bread – this Paleo Chocolate Chunk Zucchini Bread came to mind, and its original photos from August 2014 weren’t doing the recipe justice.
I reshot the recipe with some nice new photos, and have been devouring this bread slice by slice. Sometimes straight from the fridge, more often after 20 seconds in the microwave to melt those chocolate chips. It’s also scrumptious slathered with nut butter. This one is a must try – read the original post below for recipe details and enjoy!
Sooo this was the first time I’ve ever had zucchini bread, but now I totally get what all the fuss is about. This stuff is delicious!
Now I wish I was one of those people who had the problem of way too many zucchinis in the summer, because in addition to my spiralized zucchini dinners that I’ve been obsessed with this summer, I now want to make this zucchini bread all. the. time.
For my first time making zucchini bread, I decided to go the “healthy” route, because I figured what the heck is the point of putting a vegetable in your baked goods if you just go and overload with a whole bunch of sugar, oil, and flour? The best part about this healthy route though, is that not one of the people who tried it (which was a lot) noted that it was healthy. I take that as a major win, because isn’t that the whole point of making healthy desserts?
I read a lot about making zucchini breads before I dove into do it myself, and I noticed a lot of complaints about sogginess and too much moisture. I really wanted to avoid that, so I took two precautions: 1) squeeze the heeeeck out of that zucchini! I squeezed the grated zucchini over the sink to get as much water out as I could, and then I laid it out on a paper towel and squeezed it in that too. My zucchini was pretty dry by that point, and I recommend you follow the same steps so you don’t end up with a soggy loaf!
The second precaution is the use of coconut flour. Please don’t be tempted to switch it for something else – coconut flour is magical at soaking up that little extra bit of moisture in a recipe, because it acts like a sponge. You only need a little bit, but it makes all the difference in this recipe! (It’s also pretty easy to get now – they even have it at Trader Joe’s for a really good price!)
I’m in the camp that believes chocolate makes absolutely everything better, so of course I threw in some chopped chocolate chunks. The bread isn’t too sweet on it’s own, since it only uses 3 tablespoons of maple syrup, so the chocolate adds a nice bit of extra sweetness to the bread.
I didn’t use too many – just enough for a bit of the decadence chopped chocolate brings. In loaves like this, I prefer chopped chocolate over chocolate chips, because the waxes in chocolate chips prevent them from melting to that super ooey gooey melty texture that absolutely makes a bread like this that much better. Try it – you’ll see what I mean. If you want to make sure this bread stays Paleo/refined sugar free, try making your own paleo-friendly chocolate chunks!
The texture of this bread is amazing – it’s soft and tender and definitely not dry, but also not overly soggy or wet. I also love the green streaks running through it from the zucchini, though you may want to peel the zucchini if you’re trying to hide the veggies from your kiddos. Kids will absolutely love this as well. Though there isn’t a lot of added sweetener, the banana also helps sweeten the bread up so you definitely don’t miss the extra sugar so many quick breads call for.
I could ramble on more and more about how awesome this bread is, but I literally just got up from writing this post to go take another bite of the (very small) piece that’s left, and I don’t even know what else to say but…go try it. As far as quick breads go, this is up there as one of my favorites with my almond banana bread and chocolate chunk banana bread.
And I need to finish this post so I can go get another piece. Enjoy!
Want more quick breads?! Then you’ve got to try these delicious favorites…
- Paleo Chocolate Chunk Banana Bread
- Paleo Carrot Bread
- Paleo Double Chocolate Banana Bread
- Paleo Apple Cinnamon Bread
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Remember to #bakerita if you try the recipe!
Chocolate Chunk Zucchini Bread
This Chocolate Chunk Zucchini Bread is soft and moist with a tender crumb, and it's not too sweet. This quick bread is Paleo friendly, gluten-free, grain-free, and refined sugar-free.
Ingredients
- 1½ cups (6 oz.) almond flour
- 3 tablespoons (0.75 oz.) coconut flour
- 1½ teaspoons baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 cup grated zucchini water squeezed out after measuring
- 3 eggs room temperature
- 3 tablespoons maple syrup
- 1 medium banana mashed
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil melted
- ½ cup (3 oz.) dark chocolate chunks
Instructions
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Grease one 9"x5" loaf pan (or 8"x8" square pan) and preheat the oven to 350ºF.
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In a large bowl or mixer, combine the eggs, maple syrup, mashed banana, and coconut oil. Mix for medium for about 2 minutes. Add zucchini and stir to combine.
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Add the almond flour, coconut flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. Stir until combined. Fold in the chocolate chunks.
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Pour the batter into the prepared pan and spread it evenly.
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Bake in the preheated oven for about 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
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Remove from oven and allow to cool on a wire rack for about 1/2 hour. Flip out onto a cooling rack to finish cooling.
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Store in an airtight container for 2 days at room temperature, or up to 5 days in the refrigerator. Can also be stored tightly wrapped in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Recipe Notes
To keep this bread fully Paleo-friendly and refined sugar free, try making your own Paleo-friendly chocolate chunks.
Consuelo - Honey & Figs says
Mmmm did you say chocolate zucchini bread which is also super super healthy?? SIGN ME UP FOR THIS! It looks absolutely amazeballs Rachel!
Nicole ~ Cooking for Keeps says
Gosh, it looks SO moist! I can’t believe this is healthy!!! Must try immediately…
Matt Robinson says
This looks so incredibly delicious! Love the flavoring, looks so moist too. So great!
Lisa | Mummy Made.It says
I agree; chocolate makes everything great!!
This bread will be a nice change to my daily zucchini uses of spiralizes noodles, quiches and more noodles!!
Taylor @ Food Faith Fitness says
YES! I lurve that you made this healthy. That was always been my tiff with zucchini bread. I feel like I’m being all healthy, except I ain’t. Until now. Pinned!
Rachel Conners says
Thanks Taylor! And yesss, now you can eat the whole thing, zero guilt :) my kinda zucchini bread!
Sarah@WholeandHeavenlyOven says
Awesome that you discovered the amazing-ness of zucchini bread! Don’t you just want to eat it every day?! I totally could. ;) This is SUCH a gorgeous loaf and I love all the gooey chocolate you packed inside. I could totally go for a slice or 10 of this right about now. :D
Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice says
Wow this bread looks amazing! I’m in awe of how chocolatey and delicious it looks. This definitely looks like the perfect zucchini bread to me!
marcie says
I agree — chocolate makes everything better! Especially when we’re talking zucchini bread! I love those big chocolate chunks, and I’d love to try this bread with the almond and coconut flours. Sounds delicious!
Stephanie @ Girl Versus Dough says
Zucchini bread is the BEST. I can’t believe I haven’t made any yet this season, but when I do I’m going straight for this recipe. Because chocolate. :)
Annie @Maebells says
Look at those chocolate chunks! Delish! I love how much good stuff you crammed in here! Just perfect!
ATasteOfMadness says
I was literally JUST thinking about making zucchini bread for my first time. Now I have a recipe! This looks amazing!
Olivia - Primavera Kitchen says
I can’t believe this is healthy!!! Looks so good and moist!! Another awesome and incredible recipe, Rachel ;-)
Beth @ bethcakes says
Omg, I completely agree with you on the healthy zuchhini bread thing! I have never understand why people make such a big deal about zucchini bread being healthy when it has exactly the same amount of sugar and butter as other quick breads. It just also has zuchhini in it. So I really love the changes you made to this recipe and that you actually made it healthier! :)
katie says
I’m loving this zucchini bread, I’m so glad that you added the chocolate chunks, that makes it even better! Great tips on getting the moisture out of the zucchini. Pinning to my beautiful breads board!
Ashley says
Yup, chocolate does make pretty much everything better!! This looks amazing! I really need to bake more with zucchini!
Joyti says
Oh, wow, this looks incredible! The chocolate bits in the zucchini bread look so luscious and all-melty and perfect – wow. Seriously delicious :)
Denise | Sweet Peas & Saffron says
I wish I were drowning in zucchinis, too! I even planted 8 zucchini plants this summer, but for whatever reason they’re not giving me any zucchinis :( This zucchini bread looks absolutely heavenly! Love the detailed instructions you give to avoid soggy bread. I could really go for a big old piece of this bread right now!
Abbie @ Needs Salt says
Isn’t zucchini bread delightful? And coconut flour – that is also amazing. I just recently tried using it and I find that it’s quite the miracle when you need a little liquid reduced. This zucchini bread looks incredible, I’m loving all the chocolate chunks going on. Swoon.
Pinning!
Rachel Conners says
Thanks Abbie! And I absolutely love coconut flour – serves that purpose perfectly.
Julie @ Julie's Eats & Treats says
Ohhh I love zucchini bread and this looks fabulous. Awesome tip on the coconut flour!
Amy | Club Narwhal says
Rachel, I’m SO glad you have joined Team Zucchini Bread! It is probably my favorite quick bread. And I adore that you put chocolate in yours. Brilliant!
Kelly - Life Made Sweeter says
Yay for healthy zucchini bread, it looks absolutely amazing! I love that you added chocolate and the coconut flour is such a great tip! Can’t wait to try this – pinning:)
Rachel Conners says
Thanks for the pin, Kelly! :)
Medha @ Whisk & Shout says
I want this nowwww! Just bought some coconut flour :)
Jaclyn says
Yum!! Gimme gimme!
Katrina @ Warm Vanilla Sugar says
This bread looks so perfectly moist! Yum!
Kare @ Kitchen Treaty says
I’ve been getting one big zucchini per day (at least) out of my garden and at first, I was loving it. But now I’m all “UNCLE!” I would be happy to give you some of mine! But first, I must make this bread, because it looks in-freaking-credible.
Rachel Conners says
Oh, I wish I could have some of your zucchini!! Definitely try this bread before giving any away though :) I think you’ll love it!
Kate @ ¡Hola! Jalapeño says
If this is healthy than sign me up! This looks so moist and delicious I could probably eat the whole thing myself—would that still be healthy?
Nefeli says
I’m so excited to try this recipe but unfortunately I don’t have neither a 9×5 nor an 8×8 pan. Is there any other alternative? Or if not will I have to change the baking time if I use a different sized pan?
Rachel says
Hi Nefeli. Another similarly sized pan would work, like a 9×9, but I wouldn’t go too much smaller – you don’t want it to overflow! If you use a larger pan, the baking time will be decreased because the bread will be thinner – it’s ready when a toothpick comes out clean. Hope this helps!
Michele says
I can’t have bananas. Is there a sub for that?
Rachel says
You could use applesauce instead!
alison3wasson@gmail.com says
Looking forward to making this yummy treat! Appreciate your creativity and sharing! What could I substitute for the banana? I know it’s the perfect ingredient, but is there any other option for this one item?
Rachel says
Hi Alison, you could probably sub about 1/3 cup applesauce for the banana.
alison3wasson@gmail.com says
Oops! Just saw your suggestion of applesauce. Have you ever created zucchini bread without a banana ingredient? I love bananas but have currently eliminated them from my diet. I may add them back at some point. Just hoping you can point me to a similar, delicious one in the future if your creativity leads you there. But the applesauce just might do the trick too!
Jane says
I wish people would write how it tastes …I can SEE how it looks!
Tired of just comments when no one has tried it.
Rachel says
Hi Jane, most comments from people who’ve tried it come to me via Instagram – a number of people have made this and really enjoyed it. Trust me, I wish people would remember to leave comments here too! I hope you’ll give it a go :)