Get ready for a delicious surprise! These Healthy Zucchini Brownies are truly something special. They’re incredibly fudgy, intensely chocolatey, and delightfully moist. You won’t even guess there’s a vegetable hiding inside!
I often whip up a batch of these for a simple weeknight dessert. My family devours them every time, and they store beautifully. These brownies are a true winner in my kitchen!
Why I Love This Recipe
There are so many reasons I adore these Healthy Zucchini Brownies. They are:
- Super quick to make: Perfect for busy evenings!
- Secretly healthy: Sneak in those veggies without anyone knowing.
- Absolutely delicious: A rich, chocolatey fix every time.
- Versatile: Great for dessert, snacks, or even a healthier breakfast treat.
- A crowd-pleaser: Everyone loves them, especially picky eaters!
Healthy Zucchini Brownies Ingredients
Crafting these Healthy Zucchini Brownies feels like a bit of kitchen magic. Each ingredient plays a vital role, working together for that perfect fudgy texture and rich chocolate flavor. We are making something truly wonderful!
- Rolled oats: These become our amazing oat flour, making the brownies gluten-friendly and adding a wholesome, hearty base.
- Granulated sweetener: It brings the perfect sweetness without being overpowering. Think of it as our flavor enhancer!
- Dairy-free chocolate chips: These are the chocolatey stars, melting into gooey pockets of bliss.
- Unsweetened cocoa powder: This gives us that deep, rich chocolate taste we crave in a brownie.
- Baking powder & baking soda: Our trusty leavening agents, making sure these brownies rise just right.
- Salt: A pinch of salt really makes all the chocolate flavors pop! It balances everything out.
- Shredded zucchini: Our secret ingredient! It adds amazing moisture and tenderness. You won’t taste it, I promise!
- Nut butter of choice: This acts as our healthy fat, providing richness and binding everything together beautifully.
- Plant-based milk: It helps bring the batter to the perfect consistency.
- Vanilla extract: A splash of vanilla really enhances all those sweet and chocolatey notes.
- Instant coffee powder (optional): A little secret weapon! It deepens the chocolate flavor without making the brownies taste like coffee.
Substitutions and Tips
Don’t have everything on hand? No worries, I have some ideas!
- Sweetener: Coconut sugar, erythritol, or even regular sugar work great.
- Oat flour: You can easily make your own from rolled oats in a blender.
- Nut butter: Almond, cashew, or even sunflower seed butter for a nut-free option are perfect.
- For an extra chocolate boost: Stir in a handful of extra chocolate chips at the end.
- Storage: These Healthy Zucchini Brownies get even better the next day!
You’ll find all the exact quantities listed in the printable recipe card below. Happy baking!
How to Make Healthy Zucchini Brownies

Making these Healthy Zucchini Brownies is a breeze. I promise it’s an enjoyable process!
Just follow these simple steps, and you’ll have warm, delicious brownies ready in no time. Precision helps, so I always grab my kitchen scale. If you’re a visual learner, there’s even a video to guide you!
Prepare Your Pan and Oven
First things first, preheat your oven. Set it to 360°F (182°C). Next, grab a 6×9 inch pan. Line it with parchment paper for easy removal. You can also just grease it well with some vegan butter or oil.
Combine Dry Ingredients
Now, let’s get our dry ingredients ready. Toss the oat flour, sweetener, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt into your food processor. If you’re using it, add the instant coffee powder here too. Pulse until everything is nicely combined. It should look like a fine, uniform powder.
Blend Wet Ingredients
It’s time for the wet ingredients! Add the shredded zucchini, nut butter, plant-based milk, and vanilla extract to the food processor. Blend until the batter becomes smooth and lovely. Scrape down the sides if needed.
Fold in Chocolate Chips
Remove the blade from your food processor. Now, gently stir in half a cup of dairy-free chocolate chips. A spoon works perfectly for this step. We want those chocolatey pockets throughout!
Bake to Perfection
Pour the brownie batter evenly into your prepared pan. Sprinkle a few more chocolate chips on top. Pop the pan into your preheated oven. Bake for about 35 to 40 minutes.
For fudgier Healthy Zucchini Brownies, I suggest baking closer to 35 minutes. If you prefer them a bit more cakey, go for 40 minutes. Remember, baking times can vary slightly. A toothpick inserted after 30 minutes should come out clean or with moist crumbs. If it’s still very wet, give them a few more minutes.
Cool and Enjoy
This is the hardest part for me – waiting! Let your incredible chocolate zucchini brownies cool completely. They firm up beautifully as they cool. Honestly, they taste even better the next day! Slice them up and enjoy these delightful oat flour brownies.
How to Store Healthy Zucchini Brownies
Once your healthy zucchini brownies have cooled, pop them into an airtight container. They’ll stay fresh in the fridge for up to a week. For longer enjoyment, these brownies freeze beautifully! Simply wrap individual servings in plastic wrap, then store them in a freezer-safe bag for up to two months. It’s perfect for busy moms and professionals who love to meal-prep. Just grab one and thaw!
Tips for Success
- Don’t overmix the batter; it can make brownies tough.
- Measure your zucchini after shredding and squeezing out extra water.
- Use a kitchen scale for best results, especially with oat flour.
- Let your brownies cool completely for the perfect fudgy texture.
- Baking time varies; keep an eye on them after 30 minutes!
- Add a sprinkle of sea salt on top for flavor pop.
Kitchen Tools You’ll Need
- Food processor: Essential for smooth batter. A high-speed blender can work too.
- 9×6 inch baking pan: Or slightly larger. A 9×9 inch square pan is also fine.
- Parchment paper: For easy removal. Any cooking spray or butter works.
- Mixing spoons: For stirring in chocolate chips.
- Measuring cups and spoons: Of course, for accuracy!
- Kitchen scale (optional): Highly recommended for precise ingredient amounts.
Serving Suggestions
- Serve warm with a scoop of dairy-free vanilla ice cream.
- Dust with a little extra cocoa powder for a lovely finish.
- Enjoy with a glass of cold plant-based milk.
- Garnish with fresh berries for a burst of color.
- Pair with a hot cup of coffee or herbal tea.
- These are perfect on their own as a healthy snack!

Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make these Healthy Zucchini Brownies ahead of time?
Absolutely! These Healthy Zucchini Brownies are fantastic for meal prep. You can bake them a day or two in advance. In fact, they often taste even better the next day as the flavors meld and the texture sets.
What’s the best way to shred zucchini for these brownies?
I find using a box grater on the large holes works perfectly. You can also use a food processor with a shredding attachment. Be sure to gently squeeze out any excess water from the shredded zucchini. This keeps your brownies from becoming too watery!
Can I use regular flour instead of oat flour in these Healthy Zucchini Brownies?
I haven’t personally tested these healthy zucchini brownies with regular flour. The recipe is specifically designed for oat flour, which absorbs liquids differently. Swapping it might change the texture and consistency quite a bit.
How do I know when my Healthy Zucchini Brownies are done baking?
A good test is to insert a toothpick into the center after about 30-35 minutes. If it comes out clean or with just a few moist crumbs, your zucchini brownies are ready! If it’s very wet, give them a few more minutes in the oven.
Conclusion
There you have it! These Healthy Zucchini Brownies truly are a game-changer. They prove that you don’t have to sacrifice flavor for health. Each bite is a little piece of chocolatey heaven, and the best part is knowing it’s packed with goodness. I just adore how easy they are to make, bringing so much joy to my kitchen and a smile to my family’s faces. Whip up a batch soon; I promise you’ll fall in love with these wholesome treats. Happy baking, my friends!
Print
Healthy Zucchini Brownies
- Total Time: 45-50 minutes
- Yield: 8 brownies
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
These Healthy Zucchini Brownies are a delicious and secretly healthy dessert, perfect for satisfying your chocolate cravings while incorporating vegetables. Made with wholesome ingredients like oat flour and shredded zucchini, they offer a fudgy or cakey texture depending on your baking preference.
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups (135 g) rolled oats, ground into flour
- ¾ cup (150 g) granulated sweetener
- ½ cup (90 g) dairy-free chocolate chips + more for the top
- ½ cup + 1 tbsp (50 g) cocoa powder unsweetened
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ¼ tsp baking soda
- ⅓ tsp salt
- 1 tsp instant coffee powder (optional)
- 1 ¼ cups (200 g) shredded zucchini tightly packed
- ½ cup (120 g) nut butter of choice
- ¼ cup (60 ml) plant-based milk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Line a 6×9 (15×23 cm) or a slightly bigger pan with parchment paper or grease it with vegan butter or oil and preheat the oven to 360 °F (182 °C).
- Process all dry ingredients (except the chocolate chips) in a food processor.
- Add all wet ingredients and blend again until the batter is smooth.
- Finally, add the chocolate chips and stir with a spoon.
- Pour the batter into the loaf pan and add more chocolate chips on top.
- Bake in the oven for about 35-40 minutes. For fudgy brownies, I recommend a baking time of 35 minutes or less. And for cakey brownies, I recommend a baking time of 40 minutes or a little more. The baking time also depends on the size of the pan! You can insert a toothpick in the center of a brownie after 30 minutes and if it comes out clean/slightly crumbly the brownies are done. If the toothpick comes out very sticky/wet, then the brownies need more baking time.
- Let the brownies cool completely. They will firm up once they cool and taste even better on day two! Enjoy! Keep leftover zucchini brownies covered in the fridge. You can also freeze them!
Notes
- Granulated sweetener: You can use coconut sugar, Erythritol, Xylitol* or regular sugar. *Desserts with Xylitol should be never given to dogs.
- Oats: I used rolled oats for this recipe which I processed in an electric coffee/spice grinder to make oat flour. You can use regular rolled oats or gluten-free oats and process them in a blender (or grinder). Of course, you can also use 135 grams of store-bought oat flour.
- Nut butter: You can use almond butter, cashew butter, peanut butter or sunflower seed butter for a nut-free version. If you don’t have nut butter, you could possibly use oil instead. Please note that I never made this recipe with oil, however, I would suggest about 1/4 of a cup (please report back if you give it a try).
- Nutrition facts are for one of eight brownies (1/8 of the recipe).
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 35-40 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American