Healthy Chocolate Zucchini Bread [Oil Free]

A chocolate lovers dream that’s rich, fudgy, gooey and soo delicious! This vegan chocolate zucchini bread tastes more like a cake, but without all the sugar! Dates sweeten this delicious treat while hiding any trace of veggies!

This recipe was originally published in March 2019. It has been updated for content and photos.

Reader Feedback:

“Delicious! We loved everything about it, from the gooey vegan chips to the inside moistness. Thank you!” – Sheryl

This decadent dessert is secretly healthy and you’d never guess it’s naturally sweetened and actually wholesome!

If you’re not a double chocolate fan, try these vegan zucchini muffins or chocolate chip banana bread instead!

But if you’re craving a chocolatey, rich and indulgent dessert and want to keep it on the healthier side of things, this is absolutely what you need in your life.

What makes it healthy?

• For starters, it’s loaded with zucchini! Hence the name, healthy chocolate zucchini bread.
• Naturally sweetened using dates, and no processed sugar, unless adding the optional chocolate chips.
• No refined flour, just wholesome oat flour, making this suitable for breakfast. 😉
• It’s low fat, due to no oil or butter, making it perfect for a WFPB (whole food plant based) diet.

How to make it

(This is a summary with step by step photos, full recipe measurements and instructions are in the recipe card below.)

Gather your ingredients and shred your zucchini, squeezing any excess moisture over your kitchen sink.

Combine all the dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl and whisk together. Then set aside. (photos 1-2)

Now, add the dates and water to your food processor and pulse until a paste consistency is reached. Stop to scrape down the sides as needed until all the dates are processed. (photos 3-4)

Transfer the date paste to the bowl of dry ingredients, along with all remaining ingredients, including the chocolate chips, if using. (photo 5)

Use a silicone spatula to mix until no floury bits remain. (photo 6)

Pour the cake batter into your prepared loaf pan and evenly spread with a silicone spatula. Then sprinkle more chocolate chips on top, if desired. (photos 7-8)

Bake until a toothpick inserted in the middle (but avoid a chocolate chip) comes out mostly clean, approx. 50-55 minutes. (photo 9)

Now the hard part! 😉 Let your vegan chocolate zucchini bread rest for at least 10 minutes before removing it from the loaf pan.

Then transfer to a cooling rack to continue cooling to room temperature, before slicing.

It will be very tempting to dig right in, but make sure to wait until your loaf is cooled before slicing. This cool down time will help it completely set, and making slicing a lot easier.

Common Questions

What else can I add?

Spice it up, if you’d like with some cinnamon, ginger and/or nutmeg.

Or add some crunch with pumpkin seeds, walnuts, or pecans.

Can I make this into muffins?

Yes, absolutely.

They’ll cook a lot faster as muffins, so start checking on them at the 22-25 minute mark.

They’re cooked when a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out mostly clean, and the top of the muffin bounces back a little when lightly touched.

Storage

Once cooled, keep your zucchini bread in a sealed container or wrapped in plastic wrap at room temperature for 2-3 days. If it’s a hot or humid time of year, keep only 1-2 days at room temperature.

Store in the refrigerator to keep for 4-5 days. Or freeze air tight in a freezer safe container for up to 3 months.

You may freeze sliced for quick and easy breakfasts or snacks, or freeze the loaf whole.

Expert Tips

• Measure and prep your ingredients before you begin. This will ensure you don’t miss anything, and don’t feel rushed in prepping ingredients in between steps.
• If possible, weigh the oat flour for the most accurate results. If you do not have a kitchen scale you may measure, instead.
• Make sure to squeeze the shredded zucchini of its excess moisture, over your kitchen sink, before mixing into the cake batter.
• Use parchment paper to help lift the loaf out of your pan and transfer to a cooling rack. The parchment will make it a lot easier to transfer without breaking or poking.
• Completely cool your chocolate zucchini bread to room temperature before slicing. The cool down time will allow the cake to completely set.
• Wet your knife in between cuts when slicing. This will help with smooth, clean cuts.

More delicious healthier desserts

If you tried this recipe, please let me know about it in the comments below. I always love hearing from you! Don’t forget to Subscribe to This Healthy Kitchen to be among the first to get my new recipes! You can also FOLLOW ME on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and Twitter to see more delicious food and get all the latest updates.

Buon appetito

Rosa

Vegan Chocolate Zucchini Bread [No Oil or Sugar]

This vegan chocolate zucchini bread tastes more like a cake, but without all the sugar! Dates sweeten this delicious treat while hiding any trace of veggies!

4.98 from 38 votes

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Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 50 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American, Canadian

Servings: 12 Slices (1 – 5″x9″ Loaf Pan)

Calories: 116kcal

Equipment

5"x9" Loaf Pan

Food Processor

Ingredients

Dry Ingredients

• ▢ 190 grams oat flour, approx. 2 cups gluten free if preferred
• ▢ ⅓ cup raw unsweetened cocoa powder
• ▢ 2.5 teaspoons baking powder
• ▢ ¼ teaspoon sea salt

Wet Ingredients

• ▢ 1 cup pitted dates packed
• ▢ ¼ cup water
• ▢ 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• ▢ 2 cups shredded zucchini, gently packed approx. 1 medium zucchini (squeeze excess moisture over your kitchen sink)
• ▢ 1 ¼ cup unsweetened cashew milk or plant milk of choice

Optional

• ▢ ⅓ cup dark chocolate chips plus more for sprinkling on top if desired

US Customary – Metric

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Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F, and line a 9″x5″ loaf pan with parchment paper.
• Whisk all the dry ingredients in a large bowl and set aside.
• Then add the dates and water to a food processor and pulse until a paste is formed, scraping down the sides as needed. Transfer the date paste to the bowl of dry ingredients, along with all remaining ingredients plus the chocolate chips if using. Mix well, until no floury bits remain.
• Pour the batter into your prepared loaf pan. Sprinkle with additional chocolate chips if using, and gently press them down.
• Bake for 50-55 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 cooling rack to completely cool before slicing. Enjoy!

Notes

Measure and prep your ingredients before you begin. This will ensure you don’t miss anything, and don’t feel rushed in prepping ingredients in between steps.

If possible, weigh the oat flour for the most accurate results. If you do not have a kitchen scale you may measure, instead.

Make sure to squeeze the shredded zucchini of its excess moisture, over your kitchen sink, before mixing into the cake batter.

Use parchment paper to help lift the loaf out of your pan and transfer to a cooling rack. The parchment will make it a lot easier to transfer without breaking or poking.

Completely cool your chocolate zucchini bread to room temperature before slicing. The cool down time will allow the cake to completely set.

Wet your knife in between cuts when slicing. This will help with smooth, clean cuts.

Leftovers keep covered in plastic wrap, or in a sealed container at room temperature for 2-3 days. Refrigerate for 4-5 days, or freeze air tight in a freezer safe container for up to 3 months. You may freeze sliced for quick and easy breakfasts or snacks, or freeze whole.

Nutrition

Serving: 1Slice | Calories: 116kcal | Carbohydrates: 23g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 2g | Sodium: 161mg | Potassium: 280mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 80IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 72mg | Iron: 1mg

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*Nutritional information is an estimate, calculated using online tools and does not include optional ingredients unless otherwise indicated.