Attention chocolate lovers!! This one’s for you. This delicious, chocolate zucchini bread is decadent and scrumptious, all while being completely WFPB (whole food plant based), without any oil!
This tasty dessert is even healthy enough for a wholesome breakfast. It’s loaded with zucchini and naturally sweetened using dates! It’s chocolatey flavour comes from ‘good for you’ dark chocolate and raw cocoa powder.
Not only is this bread…er cake…refined sugar free, but it’s dairy free, egg free, oil free, and gluten free! Need it nut free? Sub the almond milk for soy or coconut milk. It’s seriously the perfect dessert option for ALL eating preferences and intolerances. Are you drooling yet?
How do you make delicious, decadent, HEALTHY chocolate zucchini bread?
First, combine all your dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl and whisk together. Then set aside while you prepare your date paste.
Add the dates and water to your food processor and pulse until a paste forms as shown below. Stop to scrape down the sides as needed until all the dates are processed. Then transfer this mixture into a medium mixing bowl.
To this same bowl, add all remaining wet ingredients and mix well. Then pour your wet mixture into the dry ingredients. Mix until combined without over mixing.
Finally, pour your batter into your prepared loaf pan. At this point, you may add even more chocolate chips on top, if desired. Both with or without taste fantastic. But…a little extra chocolatey goodness is just what the doctor ordered. 🙂 Then bake!
Once baked, removed the loaf from the oven and let cool for at least 10 minutes before removing it from the pan. Use the parchment paper to help get the loaf out and transfer it to a cooling rack to cool completely.
This will be the hardest part! Do not slice this deliciousness until cooled, or it won’t hold up as well. I know it will be tempting! Like really, really tempting! But waiting until it cools will allow it to set and make slicing a whole lot easier.
When the waiting game is finally over, slice this bad boy into ten slices and enjoy! Serve with fresh fruit for dessert, or enjoy with your morning coffee for a delicious, healthy breakfast.
How long does chocolate zucchini bread keep?
This bread tastes best within 1-2 days of being made, however, you may keep it refrigerated in a container or wrapped up for up to 4 days.
Can any substitutions be made?
Yes! Firstly, if avoiding nuts, sub the nut milk for soy milk or coconut milk.
If you’re avoiding chocolate chips, (but not nuts), you may sub for pecans or walnuts. I’ve also had a reader report that she subbed the chocolate chips for pomegranate chunks. I haven’t personally tried it this way, but I’m told it’s delicious!
More favourite healthy-ish desserts
- Healthy Carrot Cake Muffins [V+GF+Oil Free]
- Allergen Friendly Sweet Potato Cookies [V+GF & Nut Free!]
- Easy Coconut Peach Popsicles
- Sweet Hummus Fruit Dip [V+GF]
- Healthy Hot Chocolate [V+GF]
- Quinoa Mini Muffins with Sweet Potato
- Oatmeal Zucchini Cookies [V+GF]
- Very Berry Sugar Free Energy Bites
- Easy Healthy Chickpea Cookies
- Banana Spinach Muffin Bites [V+GF+Oil Free]
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients
- 2 cups oat flour, gluten free if preferred
- 1/3 cup raw cocoa powder
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp sea salt
Wet Ingredients
- 1 cup pitted dates
- 1/4 cup water
- 1 tbsp pure vanilla extract
- 2 cups shredded zucchini approx 1 large or 2 small zucchini
- 1 1/4 cup unsweetened cashew milk or almond milk or soy milk if avoiding nuts
- 1/3 cup dark chocolate chips plus more for sprinkling on top if desired
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F, and line a 9"x5" loaf pan with parchment paper.
- Whisk all the dry ingredients into a large bowl and set aside.
- Add the dates and water to a food processor and pulse until a paste is formed, scraping down the sides as needed. Transfer this mixture to a medium bowl. Then add all remaining wet ingredients to the same bowl and mix to combine.
- Pour the wet mixture into the dry ingredients and mix until combined. Then pour the batter into your prepared loaf pan. Sprinkle with additional chocolate chips if desired and gently press them down.
- Bake for 50-60 minutes, until a toothpick comes out mostly clean. Then remove from the oven and let cool for at least 10 minutes before carefully transferring to a wire rack to let cool completely before slicing. Enjoy!
Hi… this looks Devine! I want to make it tomorrow but I’ve used all my zucchini, do you think I could substitute bananas?
Hi Caroline! Thanks so much for the lovely compliment. 🙂 I haven’t tried this exact recipe with banana but I do think it would be a great substitute!! If you try it that way, please let me know how you like it.
Hi Rosa, thank you for this lovely recipe. Do you think I can use date syrup instead of making the paste myself?
Thanks!
Hi Nia! Thanks so much for stopping by. Yes you may use date syrup if you already have that on hand. I’ve had a reader report that it worked perfectly. Enjoy!! 🙂
Can I substitute any other flour for the oat flour?
Hi Rita, I haven’t tried with other flours, but if you’re not avoiding gluten, I suspect that all purpose flour would also work well. Are you looking for a gluten free option?
Gluten is not an issue here. The recipe seemed good, and it looks delicious!
Thank you very much! I’d love to hear your feedback if you give it a go with the all purpose flour. 🙂
Hello Rosa, just a question about your chocolate zucchini bread before I make it: should I squeeze any water out of the grated zucchini? Thank you 🙂
Hi Joanne, great question! I actually did not squeeze them for this recipe. Hope you enjoy!! 🙂
Will do!!!!
What a perfectly moist and decadent treat! I am fortunate to have all these ingredients! I will have to make this this afternoon!
Yes! Love it when I have all the ingredients on hand. Enjoy!
Zucchini bread is my favorite! I’ve never tried making it with dates!
I highly recommend it.
Okay, I NEED to try this recipe. Can’t say I’ve ever tried chocolate and zucchini together but I’m so excited to try 🙂
It’s a wonderful combo! Hope you enjoy.
My kids absolutely LOVE your zucchini muffins — so much that my son has asked for it for his birthday dessert!! 🙌🏼 So we’ll have to make this recipe too.
That’s great to hear Sandi! Hope you all enjoy this one too!
What a great way to sneak in some extra nutrition!
Absolutely!
I love the idea of using dates in this recipe. And the chocolate….yum!!!
Thanks Deanne!