It’s here! The chocolaty, rich, naturally sweet, tender zucchini bread of my dreams. Have I convinced you of how delicious this is yet? Let me show you how!
This recipe is incredibly easy to make, requiring just 1 bowl and simple, wholesome ingredients.
The base is a blend of flax eggs, coconut oil, zucchini, and applesauce, while maple syrup and coconut sugar add the perfect amount of natural sweetness. Then comes plenty of cocoa powder for that rich chocolate flavor.
For gluten-free flours, I tested many combinations, but a mixture of oat flour, gluten-free flour, and almond flour worked best! It created a fluffy, tender zucchini bread that was moist but not at all gummy in the center.
Once your bread has baked, it’s important to let it cool all the way. I know! It’s tough. But the longer this bread cools, the fluffier and more tender it becomes.
I hope you all LOVE this zucchini bread! It’s:
Wholesome
Naturally sweetened
Chocolaty
Fluffy
Tender
& Totally drool-worthy
This would make the perfect indulgent breakfast (pair it with coconut butter or coconut yogurt!), snack, or healthier dessert. I even enjoyed mine with a bit of creamy peanut butter for a bit more protein. Serious yum.
For more delicious baked goods, check out our 1-Bowl Chocolate Chocolate Chip Muffins, Peanut Butter & Jelly Muffins, 1-Bowl Gluten-Free Banana Bread, Almond Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies, and 5-Ingredient Vegan Gluten-Free Cookies!
If you try this recipe, be sure to let us know! Leave a comment, rate it, and don’t forget to tag a picture @minimalistbaker on Instagram so we can see! Cheers, friends!
1-Bowl Chocolate Zucchini Bread
Ingredients
- 2 Tbsp flaxseed meal (to make flax eggs)
- 5 Tbsp water (to make flax eggs)
- 1/4 cup applesauce
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 1/3 cup coconut sugar
- 1 ½ tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp sea salt
- 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/4 cup melted coconut oil (or sub another neutral oil)
- 1/4 cup unsweetened almond milk
- 1 cup grated zucchini (squeezed dry and lightly packed in measuring cup)
- 3/4 cup gluten-free flour blend
- 1/3 cup gluten-free oat flour (finely ground rolled oats)
- 1/3 cup almond flour (or almond meal, though I haven’t tested it this way)
- 1/3 cup dairy-free semisweet chocolate chips (plus more for topping // I like Enjoy Life brand)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 C) and line a standard 9×5-inch loaf pan with parchment paper.
- In a large mixing bowl, prepare flax eggs by mixing flaxseed meal and water and let rest for 5 minutes. Then add applesauce, maple syrup, coconut sugar, baking soda, baking powder, sea salt, and cocoa powder, and whisk again.
- Next add the melted coconut oil and almond milk and whisk to combine. Add grated zucchini (that’s been squeezed of excess moisture) and stir to combine.
- Add gluten-free flour, oat flour, and almond flour and whisk until just combined. If the batter appears too thick, add a touch more almond milk. But it should be thick and scoopable.
- Lastly, stir in chocolate chips. Then transfer batter to the loaf pan and top with a few more chocolate chips (optional).
- Bake 45 minutes – 1 hour or until a toothpick comes out clean and the edges feel semi-firm to the touch.
- Let cool for 5 minutes in the pan. Then carefully lift onto a cooling rack using the parchment paper. Texture is best when cooled completely. Will keep covered at room temperature for 3-4 days or in the freezer up to 1 month.
Video
Notes
*Recipe adapted from my Chocolate Chocolate Chip Muffins.
Vicky Peralta says
Hi! Do you think this would work well on a cupcake format? My son’s birthday is coming up and he like this bread so I thought making cupcakes out of it, good idea? What would be the cooking time if so and how many would I get out of 1 batch?
Thank you!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hey Vicky! Other readers have had success making these into cupcakes/muffins. They’ve reported it makes 9 and they suggest baking for 25 minutes! Let us know how it goes!
Elli says
I have made muffins out of this recipe several times now and they’re gone almost faster than I can make them. The only change I have made is reducing the cocoa powder to 1/3 cup since we eat them often in the evening. They are very delicious. Thank you.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Amazing! Thanks so much for sharing, Elli! xo
Darlene says
This loaf is really good! I cut the oil in half and it was very delicious. Will definitely make this recipe again.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad you enjoyed it, Darlene. Thank you for sharing! xo
diane cobley says
I’m allergic to oats as well as gluten, what is the best thing to substitute in your recipes
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Diane, sorghum flour typically works well for replacing oat flour. Or you can try more GF blend + almond flour. Hope that helps!
Janet says
I can’t use oil, should I just add aquafaba or more applesauce or what?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Janet, We haven’t tried this recipe without oil, but adding more applesauce might work. We think it might be a little more dense, but let us know if you do some experimenting!
Lindsey says
This is a delicious cake/bread! I made the recipe exactly as written and love it. I only have 2 slices left in the kitchen and they are the main thing i’ve been thinking about today. Next round, I think i’ll sub coffee for the water in the flax eggs or maybe just add some espresso powder? This recipe is a total win!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad you enjoy the recipe, Lindsey. Espresso powder would be amazing in this! Thank you for sharing! xo
Jennifer says
Delicious! I used a store-bought GF flour mix (Bob’s Red Mill) rather than the GF mix from the link in the recipe. I also used oat milk rather than almond milk. Other than that followed the recipe to a t. So good, especially after cooling down in the fridge overnight. Next time I’ll add the optional extra chocolate chips on top because they are so tasty. Thanks for another great vegan recipe.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad you enjoyed it, Jennifer! Thank so much for sharing. xo
Laura says
We can eat gluten but are allergic to almond. Ok to use more flour in place of almond flour? Open to other ideas. Allergies are dairy, egg, almond, sesame. Thank you!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Laura! That might work, but you would need significantly less AP flour than almond flour because it is so much more absorbent! Let us know if you do some experimenting!
Lorrie Gloede says
Could I substitute more applesauce for the oil? I follow a Nutritarian diet (whole food, plant-based, SOS free) for health reasons so cannot have the oil. It looks delicious, though!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Lorrie! We haven’t tried this recipe without oil, but it might work. We think it might be a little more dense, but let us know if you do some experimenting!
Deedee says
The 1 bowl chocolate Zucchini bread looks very yummy. Could I use just oat flour and almond flour, omitting the gluten-free flour in this recipe. Also. would it work with only oat flour omitting the other two? Just curious. Also could I use oat milk in place of almond milk. Is the cocoa powder you use dutch processed? I look forward to making it. The illistrations shown are great!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Deedee, oat flour + almond flour without the GF blend would create a more dense and less fluffy loaf. You may also need to adjust the amounts of the flours because they vary in absorbency with almond flour being the least absorbent and GF blend + oat flour being similar. Oat milk would be fine! Natural and dutch processed cocoa powder both work well. Enjoy! xo
Vicky says
If I use real eggs, how many do you think?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Vicky! We would suggest 2 real eggs for this recipe! Hope you enjoy. xo
Nino says
Hi Vicky,
I wonder if you ended up using real eggs and if so how did you use them, folded in or beat it first? And how did it turn out ?
Thank you 🙏😊
Rumy says
Easy to make and full of flavor! I found that coconut oil works better than olive oil, and that adding a teaspoon of vanilla helps improve the taste even more.
Thank you, Dana!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Amazing! Thanks so much for sharing, Rumy! xo
Laurie Hoffman says
I made this and it was sooooo decadent, rich and chocolatey. You won’t believe it but, I substituted raw, grated beets for the zucchini! Beets seemed more of a nod to Valentines Day. Unbelievably Yum. Drop the mic.🤤
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
YUM! We totally believe it! Thank you for the lovely review and for sharing your modification! xo
Payal Doshi says
Can I use all purpose flour instead of four blend?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Payal, you can replace the gluten-free flour blend with a slightly lesser amount of all purpose flour (because all purpose is more absorbent) and/or bake for less time. Hope that helps!
Chris Lacey says
Wow! I rate this 10 out of 5!
Moist and decadent. I made 9 muffins out of this recipe. I used AP flour instead of the gluten free, no other changes. This is at the top of my muffin list .
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Whoop! We’re so glad you enjoyed it so much, Chris. Thank you for sharing! xo
Janet says
Delicious yummy, so much chocolate. Like cake and not
Too sweet.
Great way to put zucchini to a great use.
Thanks again..😋
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Aw, thanks Janet! We’re so glad you enjoy it! xoxo
Sharon says
OMG. This tastes like chocolate cake. It’s the closest thing I’ve had to it since going vegan a year ago. I didn’t have zucchini so I subbed bananas and it worked perfectly. This site is quickly becoming my “go to” for great recipes. I’ve made three recipes this week and they were all great.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Aw, yay! We’re so glad you’re enjoying our recipes, Sharon. Thank you for the lovely review! xo
Shona Dudley says
I made this for a friend who is sensitive to gluten and eggs, using a zucchini from her garden. She was thrilled — and my very skeptical housemates were shocked at how good it was. Beautiful texture, not overly sweet (as so many vegan/GF baked goods can be). Thank you!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad everyone enjoyed it! Thank you for the lovely review, Shona! xo
Corelia says
Wasn’t a huge fan of this originally – it was pretty rich, not the sweetest, a little too dense for me – but then I put it in the fridge overnight (SMART move!) Now, it literally tastes like chocolate heaven!! So moist and fluffy. I would STRONGLY recommend leaving this cake in the fridge for at least 12 hours.
Subs: 2 eggs (rather than flax ones), did less coconut sugar, coconut milk (instead of almond), homemade gf blend = 1/4 c potato starch & 1/2 c oat flour. I also added some walnuts that I roasted for ~10 min in the oven beforehand. Pretty happy with this!! :)
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Corelia, we’d recommend using the full amount of coconut sugar and the specific flours in the DIY blend for best texture/sweetness!
Josie says
I made these as muffins (bake for 25 min) and thought they were quite good. I also used banana instead of applesauce and spelt instead of gluten free flour and topped with cacoa nibs!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Lovely! Thank you for sharing, Josie! xo
Ka11iope says
Hi,
How do I substitute regular all-purpose flour for gluten-free flour in a recipe? I found a bread recipe I really want to make but it calls for GF flour. I’m not sensitive to gluten and I don’t have celiac disease. Do I just use the same amount of regular flour?
Thanks
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi, you can replace the gluten-free flour blend with a slightly lesser amount of all purpose flour (because all purpose is more absorbent) and/or bake for less time. Hope that helps!
Camille Demarais says
Thank you!
Lau says
Just made this into cupcakes. Were declared “best chocolate muffins ever” by my 7 year old. Thanks!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Yay! We’re so glad you both enjoyed them. Thanks so much for the lovely review! xo
Darlene Salvador says
Made this yesterday. It came out tasting soo good and very moist! I shared it with my friends and it was a hit with everyone. Definitely recommend!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Yay! Thanks so much for the great review, Darlene. We’re so glad you all enjoyed!
Erin Jernigan says
I made this recipe with half the sugar and it was amazing! (2 tablespoons of maple syrup and 3 tablespoons of coconut sugar) very moist! It was a hit with my family and need to make an extra loaf just for myself!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Amazing! Thanks so much for the lovely review and for sharing your modifications, Erin!
Olivia says
I stumbled across this blog thanks to a friend on Discord, and when I was scrolling though looking for recipes to make I realized I recognized this one.
Turns out that my grandmother, who passed away last month, was a fan of your blog. Which makes sense — she was always looking for new recipes, especially those she could share with her daughter-in-law and grandkids, all of whom have food allergies or sensitivities. One of the last things she made before the car accident that would eventually put her in the ICU was this very chocolate zucchini bread. She said it was delicious and that she would be sure to share it with us the next time we saw her.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so sorry for your loss, Olivia! She sounds like a wonderful person! xoxo
Carol Pease says
Is the zucchini bread moist .
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Carol, in our opinion this bread is perfectly moist. Let us know what you think if you make it!
Neha says
Hi! Is there a substitute to the GF flour blend? Can I use same quantity mix of Oat flour and Almond flour for it? And maybe add in a starch like tapioca or cornflour? You think it’ll work?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Neha, a blend is important for best texture. It’s possible other combinations would work, but we can’t guarantee the result without testing it. If you want to try it, we’d suggest using ~75% whole grain flours (oat, brown rice, etc.) and ~25% starches (potato starch is best). Also check the comment section to see what others have tried!
Neha says
This is great help! Thank you soo much… will surely let you know once I’ve given it a try.
Dm says
This is great! Approved by a picky eater in the family. Subs: two eggs, banana for applesauce, and Bob’s 1/1 gluten free flour for gluten free blend and the oat flour. I used 1/4 cup brown sugar as I don’t like super sweet bread. Excellent texture and I’ll make it again.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Yay! So glad you all enjoyed. Thanks for the great review and for sharing your modifications!
Kajsa says
Unfortunatelly, this won’t be one of my favorite treats to make (unlike the Orange Cardamom Balls or Brownie Bliss Balls- YUM!!). Despite all the maple syrup and the coconut sugar this didn’t satisfy my sweet tooth as I had hoped, but what was most bothering was the texture. My cake got no structural integrity at all and became more like a chocolate-zucchini crumble (maybe because of a lack of Xantan gum in my GF flour mix?). However, it got moist and satisfyingly chocolatey, so I’ll definitelly still finish it!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Kajsa! Thanks for sharing your honest review, did you happen to make any other modifications to the recipe? We haven’t experience crumbling with this recipe, and while the xanthan gum is important the other ingredients should also help with structure. Glad you still enjoyed it!
Kajsa says
Thanks for replying to my comment! I did use agave syrup instead of maple syrup (because I’m a college student and buying maple syrup at the prices we have in Europe is just incompatible with my budget!), which may have caused the fact that it didn’t become very sweet or maybe as moist as if I had used maple syrup. However, I’m glad to report that my cake texture actually got better when I let it sit over night! Even if it was still crumbly, it was fully possible to cut it into slices and still enjoy it.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Happy to hear it! Thanks for sharing your substitutions, Kajsa!
Elaine Cowling says
This cake is absolutely delicious! My husband has asked for me to keep the recipe handy. I Made a couple of minor changes, 2 eggs instead of flax eggs and 1% milk. For the gluten free flour I used a combination of oat, brown rice and tapioca flours with 1 tsp of zantham gum.
Thank you for yet another great recipe!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Yay! We’re so glad you both enjoyed it, Elaine. Thank you for sharing! xo
Dee says
oh my this sounds sooooo good. I can’t wait to try it! I am going to share this with my plant base eating coach!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Nice! Let us know what you think if you give it a try, Dee!
Linda says
Can I sub regular wheat flour for the gluten free? Will the results be basically the same?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Linda, we haven’t tried it that way, but we think a couple other readers have used all purpose and wheat flours with success. Let us know if you try it!
Maaike says
Although I liked the texture (mouthfeel) and flavour it turned out quite crumbly. It was good but not the best ever. After trying one slice I added some roasted pecans and chocolate ganache; combined with some icecream thats a great way to enjoy the rest of the cake.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Ooo this would be delish with some ice cream. Thanks for the review, Maaike!
Annette says
Made these today for the kids. I say “these” because I made them into muffins. The kids didn’t even detect the zucchini(mom win) and I actually didn’t realize that I forgot the almond flour until after they were in the oven. They still came out amazing and reminded us of Hershey cupcakes. Will definitely make again because they were that good. Thanks for another great recipe!!!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Oh wow! That sounds like a win to us. Thanks for the great review, Annette!
Madelon says
This was delicious and easy. I substituted canola oil for the coconut oil because coconut oil is high in saturated fat. I will definitely make this again! Really tasty! Thanks!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
So glad you enjoyed, Madelon. Thanks for the review!
Romeo Romeo says
I made this and it came out great. I ended up using bob’s ap gf flour, the one that uses chickpea flour and no gums (the one in the red bag). I didn’t think it would work, but it did and it was nice and fluffy and not at all obviously gf. I did cut some of the oil though (I used avocado oil). Again I was sure it would mess things up, but it didn’t! This was a rather forgiving recipe, especially it being gf. I did end up adding an extra tbs of almond milk since I was cutting some of the oil. I will keep this recipe to make again.
Me says
Oh and to be clear I did use oat flour and almond flour of course, but since I didn’t have the ingredients to make the gf flour, I used bob’s red mill ap gf flour.
Best
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Yay! Thanks for the great review and for sharing your modifications!
Liz says
Hello! How much bobs red mill 1-1 baking flour would you suggest to use instead of the home made gf flour? Thanks!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Liz, you should be able to use that flour in the same amount, but we haven’t tried it in this recipe so cannot guarantee results. Let us know how it goes!
Haley says
I made this recipe exactly as written and it turned out so good! It’s the perfect sweetness and is so decadent. I juice a lot so I juiced the zucchini and then used the pulp in this recipe. Such a great way to use up some garden zucchini!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Oooh that’s such a great idea! Thanks for the review, Haley!
June_Aloha says
Hi, looks so delicious and I am tempted to make it, but I don’t have grater…
There’re many sizes, from small to large, any suggestions? Thanks:)
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi June, a large box grater is usually the easiest to use for things like zucchini. Hope this helps!
Sandrine says
I have made this recipe several times and love it! I bake it for only 35/40 minutes in convection though. It turns out so moist, fudgy and flavorful!! It’s a keeper!!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Woohoo! So glad you’ve enjoyed this recipe more than once, Sandrine. Thanks for the review!
Julie Shepherd says
Can I use regular all purpose flour if I don’t need to make it gluten free?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Julie, All purpose should work! We’d suggest using slightly less and/or baking for less time. Let us know how it goes!
Cristina says
So good! I made with banana instead of apple sauce, oat milk instead of almond and all purpose flour instead of gf. All the rest the same and it’s amazing! Thanks for your recipe
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Amazing! We’re so glad it turned out well with those modifications. Thank you for sharing, Cristina! xo
Karen P says
YUM!!! This recipe is AMAZING!! So moist and flavorful!!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad you enjoyed it, Karen! Thank you for the lovely review! xo
Ruj says
What kind of cocoa? Regular or Dutch processed?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Either will work!
Shelley says
Hi! Super excited to make this! Question though… can you substitute banana for applesauce?! Thanks!! LOVE your recipes!!!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Shelley, that should work, yes! Let us know how it goes!
Sam says
So good!! Due to food sensitivities, we swapped: agave for Maple syrup, white sugar for coconut sugar, and ghee for coconut oil. We used Enjoy Life Mega Chunks, about half a bag, for the chocolate chips and I have to say it was incredible! Oh we also added a handful of chopped walnuts as well, but so far I didn’t taste it in the piece I had. Even with the swaps, this worked well and has a nice crumb.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Amazing! Thanks so much for the lovely review and for sharing your modifications, Sam!
Bryn says
Since I can’t make your other zucchini bread recipe (potato allergy), could this be made as a non-chocolate loaf by substituting the cacao for GF flour? If so, do you have any GF flour recommendations?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Bryn, this is tricky! Cocoa powder and other forms of chocolate are unique in baking because they work differently than flours on a chemical level, and they often help to create a light and fluffy texture. We haven’t tried this recipe without cocoa powder, so we cannot guarantee results, but it’s possible that corn, arrowroot, or tapioca starch would work as swaps. No promises! Let us know how it goes!
Bryn says
Thanks so much for the suggestions! I can definitely say there’s an audience for a non-potato starch based zucchini bread if you’re ever so inclined! ;) I have an abundance of them from my garden this year so it’s a zucchini baked goods bonanza.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Love it! We’ll definitely add it to our ideas list :)
Brittany says
I don’t have the ingredients to make the gluten free flour. Can I sub regular all purpose flour? Any changes to the proportions?
I also have a longer than normal loaf pan, so when I’ve made banana bread before, it wasn’t very tall. Do you think I’d run into any issues if I did 1.5 of this recipe?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Brittany, we haven’t tried this with all purpose flour so we cannot guarantee results, but we think it would work! You probably want to start with ~1/2 the total amount of flour since all purpose flour tends to be more absorbent than gluten-free. We also haven’t tried increasing by 1/2, but we think it should work as long as you give it a time in the oven! Let us know how it goes!
Jessica says
I can’t believe how soft and fluffy, and cake-like these were! I say “these” because I made them into muffins, same temp and 20 mins as recommended in the comments. I don’t usually have applesauce on hand, so took 3/4 a frozen banana, microwaved it, then put in the bottom of mixer bowl and mixed it to mush before adding the rest of the ingredients. Also used real eggs and whole milk. These were possibly the best muffins I’ve ever made. Will definitely make again! Thanks for this recipe!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Woohoo! Thanks so much for the great review and for sharing your modifications, Jessica! We’re so glad you enjoyed!
Alli says
How many eggs would you recommend using?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Alli, we’d suggest 2 eggs. Hope that helps!
Steph says
Absolutely delicious recipe, one of the best gluten free things I’ve ever made. The texture is phenomenal – very springy, which is unique for GF. Love how rich and decadent it is without being overpoweringly sweet. My second time baking it is in the oven as we speak!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Whoop! We’re so glad you enjoy the recipe, Steph. Thank you for the lovely review! xo
Guillermo says
I baked this for my daughter’s birthday tomorrow. I love the simplicity, 1-bowl recipes are my absolute favorite. After a truly exhausting week of work, a kitchen that looks like some cataclysm just happened, and starting the preparations only at 10:30pm… Knowing I must get up at 6:30am. Well, I still could make it relatively fast (for me, that´s double the time) and my kitchen looks better than when I started. I feel happy and I wanted to share it! My highest recommendation for this cake.
— Last time it was my wife who baked it and it was delicious, I was following her advice when I chose this.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Aw, what a great dad! We’re so glad you enjoyed the recipe, Guillermo. Thank you for the lovely review!
Sheesha says
Hi there… can you pl recommend a store bought brand for gluten free flour as I don’t have all the ingredients for the diy blend. I’d really love to try this recipe.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Sheesha, Bob’s Red Mill 1-1 Baking Flour would be the next best option. Hope that helps!
Jessica says
Amazing!
I’m typically not good at baking, and it is even harder to pull off gluten free vegan, so I am more than pleasantly surprised that this turned out amazing!! Thanks for all your wonderful recipes 😄
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Aw, yay! We’re so glad to hear it, Jessica! Thank you for your kind words and lovely review! xo
MSlaw says
Made this and loved the deep chocolate flavor and the moist crumb and the extra sweetness of the chips. Followed recipe to the letter and you’d never know it’s V and GF. Thanks for another great recipe!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Whoop! We’re so glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for sharing! xo
Anni says
My zucchini bread baked beautifully and the texture is amazing – doesn’t seem like a gluten-free cake at all!
However, I must’ve made an error in measuring the sweetener as my loaf lacked flavour. So we’re eating it slathered with vegan butter – yummy enough.
I’ll try making it again so I can give you a proper star rating. If anyone has experienced the same and has suggestions, I’d love to hear them.
Love your recipes – thank you for sharing!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Thank you for sharing your experience, Anni! We’re so glad you enjoy our recipes! xo
Frieda F. says
Love love this. So delicious, quick and easy to make.
I substituted banana for the applesauce and it was fine. Also, baked the “bread” in a 9inch square cake pan (bread pan was occupied by your banana bread) and it came out like a very moist chewy brownie.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Wonderful! We’re so glad you enjoyed it, Frieda! Thank you for sharing! xo
Margo says
This was easy to make and sooo delicious! We are not a gluten-free household so I used one cup of all-purpose flour instead of the GF option and baked it for 50 minutes. Came out perfectly and was a hit!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Yay! We’re so glad to hear it, Margo! Thank you for sharing! xo
Patricia F. Anderson says
I am allergic to zucchini, and am wondering what would be a good option to substitute? Thank you
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Patricia, we think shredded apple could work? Let us know if you try it!
Helen says
I love your recipes. Tomorrow I will try this chocolate bread. Will Coconut fluor instead of almond flour work?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Helen! We wouldn’t suggest swapping coconut flour 1:1 for almond, but you could try using much less, maybe ~1/2 the amount? We haven’t tested it so cannot guarantee results. Let us know how it goes if you try it!
Megan says
Hi! This looks delicious, but I’m not a fan of gluten-free baking. Could I substitute regular flour for this??
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Megan, All purpose should work! We’d suggest using slightly less and/or baking for less time. Let us know how it goes!
Rizalina Penaflor says
Hello, can i just double on the almond flour if i don’t have oat flour? I have rolled oats, do you think i can just put them in a NutriBullet to make it into powder? Thanks!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Rizalina, putting them in the Nutribullet would work well!
Alicia says
Toddler approved! We love your gluten free recipes since toddlers tend to be over-zealous mixers—normal recipes would turn out too tough! We’ve made these several times with various substitutions (regular eggs, milk, buckwheat flour, etc) and they always turn out great! We always cook as mini-muffins. They freeze great too!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Yay! Thanks so much for the wonderful review, Alicia. So glad it’s a recipe everyone can be a part of!
Diana says
I just know this is going to be delicious but I I want to snazz it up a bit for the occasion. How does your Chocolate Ganache Frosting sound?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
That’s sounds DELICIOUS! Hope you love it, Diana! xo
Jess says
Ummmmm yet AGAIN another amazing recipe. So moist and light and fluffy you’d never know it was GF. I baked with better batter GF flour (it’s one of my favorites) and I used avocado oil instead of coconut oil, and 2 medium eggs instead of flax eggs. I also added a splash of vanilla. I love that it’s not too sweet—-however would love tip on how to cut the bitterness of the chocolate a little….I’m wondering if you’ve tried this recipe adding espresso powder to enhance the chocolate? Overall fantastic and I’ll definitely be adding walnuts next time to give it some crunch!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Yay! Thanks so much for the wonderful review, Jess! We love the idea of adding espresso powder, let us know how it goes if you give it a try!
Jill says
I made this exactly as written and it was so delicious!! Surprisingly moist for gluten free and just the right amount of chocolate. I had zucchini left over and mixed up another batch after the first one came out of the oven! I think it will freeze well. As a gluten free vegan I loved the recipe! Thank you.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad you enjoyed it, Jill! Thank you for the lovely review! xo
Pat says
I tried this chocolate zucchini loaf at my daughter’s and made for a family get together. However I forgot the cocoa powder. My daughter says it’s because I just turned 70. 😂 None the less it was still a hit and those who had it wanted the recipe. I referred them to your site. So just a note, it makes a great chocolate chip zucchini loaf as well. Thanks for the delicious recipe either way.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We love a happy accident! So glad you enjoyed the bread, Pat. Thanks so much for the review!
Yazmin says
I made quite a few substitutions for this zucchini bread based on what was in the pantry and somehow it came out perfect??? Amazing. I put greek yogurt in place of applesauce, eggs instead of flax seed eggs, honey instead of maple syrup, and regular dairy milk. It was one of the best zucchini breads I’ve ever made. You’d never guess it was gluten free, and very kid-friendly! It tastes like a delish chocolate cake. Highly recommended!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Amazing! We’re so glad it turned out well! Thank you for sharing, Yazmin! xo
Kathryn Lloyd says
Oh My Goodness!!! This is such a great recipe. Thanks so much. I love it – it’s not overpoweringly sweet, but still lovely and chocolatey. I used cacao instead of cocoa, and substituted almond meal instead of oat flour and it worked fine.
This was the first time I’ve used parchment paper for baking and I really liked being able to lift the loaf righ out of the loaf pan so easily.
Deeeelishus!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Woohoo! Love to hear this. Thanks so much for the lovely review, Kathryn! We are parchment paper lovers, too!
Julie says
Made this last week and everyone loved it’s so making a double batch now! If I want to make muffins instead, what temperature would you recommend baking them at and would you know about how long?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad everyone enjoyed it, Julie! Thank you for sharing! For muffins, we’d suggest baking at the same temperature, but check them with a toothpick around the 25-27 minute mark. Hope that helps!
Rachel smith says
Adding stars to my prior comments.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Thanks so much, Rachel! xo
Mayen says
This looks great! Can I do all gluten free flour instead of also using almond and oat flour (I’m allergic)? If so, what amount of just gluten free flour would I use? Thank you!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Mayen, we think it would be quite dense with just a GF flour blend. If you try it, we’d suggest using less GF blend because it’s more absorbent than almond flour. Hope that helps!
Kei says
Hi, if I wanted to just use all purpose flour for this recipe instead of the combined gluten-free flour blend/gluten-free oat flour/almond flour, what amount of all purpose flour would I need? I just wanted to make it easier on finding the ingredients since I am not trying to be gluten free Thank you.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Kei, All purpose should work! We’d suggest using slightly less and/or baking for less time. Let us know how it goes!
Rachel smith says
I made this and followed some other people’s suggestions in subbing all oat flour instead of using almond flour (due to allergy). We had an abundance of zucchinis this season- so at this point, I’ve made 6 loaves of with plans to make more. It froze really well also. Fabulous recipe!!!
I also made some batches omitting the cocoa/choc chips and adding 1 tsp vanilla and the spices (cinnamon, cloves, allspice, nutmeg) someone else suggested. Loved that as well.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Wonderful! We’re so glad you enjoyed it and love your modifications, Rachel! Thank you for the lovely review! Next time, would you mind leaving a star rating with your review? It’s super helpful for us and other readers. Thanks so much! xo
Carole says
Made this loaf this morning. Very good, followed the recipe, turned out very moist!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Yay! Thanks so much for the lovely review, Carole! So glad you enjoyed!
Pri says
What is the substitute for apple sauce?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Pri, another fruit or veggie puree might work, such as mashed banana or pumpkin. Let us know if you try it!
Devon M says
This loaf is phenomenal! I followed the recipe exactly and it turned out perfect. We ate half the loaf in a night…
I also made another chocolate zucchini recipe the same day, with gluten and dairy, and this one turned out way better. Nice to find a GF/DF recipe that tastes better than one with gluten and dairy!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Woohoo! Love to hear this. Thanks so much for the lovely review, Devon! We are so glad you enjoyed!
Suzy Phillips says
Hi there, just curious what is the red powder in the photos, looks like cayenne or paprika, it was on the chocolate cubes as well, but did not see it in the ingredient list.
I can’t wait to try this!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Suzy, the lighting does make it look a little red, but it’s just cocoa powder! Let us know how you like the bread!
Connie says
I’d love to make this chocolate zucchini bread.Could you suggest a substitute for the GF flour blend. I’m on a strict grain free diet and can’t have rice flour. Any recommendations?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Connie! If you can do almond flour, we’d suggest increasing the almond flour and perhaps adding a starch (if you can tolerate them), such as potato or tapioca starch. Maybe 1/4 cup extra almond and 1/2 cup starch in place of the blend? Let us know how it goes!
Jennifer says
My teenage kids and I love this recipe. I don’t like things too sweet, and this is perfect.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Thanks for the lovely review, Jennifer! We’re glad you all enjoy!
Kadhambari says
This cake turned out very dense, had 0 moisture and was not sweet enough. I followed the recipe, but used Bob Mill’s gluten free flour instead of the homemade blend listed in the ingredients list.
I might try making this again but might try cake flour or AP to lower dense-ness. Additionally will not pat dry the zucchini, and add more maple syrup. Any thoughts on this? Might also try aerating the flours, I did not use a flour sifter but instructions did not recommend that either.
Could you list weights of ingredients in addition to volume measurements? Not only is it more accurate but it also lowers the number of dishes that need to be washed afterwards
Thanks!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Kadhambari, we’re sorry to hear it turned out dense and dry! It definitely sounds like something went wrong as this is a reader favorite. We wonder if maybe you used Bob’s Red Mill All Purpose Gluten-Free Flour instead of the Bob’s 1-1 Baking Flour? That would definitely make it dense. Regular all purpose flour should work well, but we’d suggest starting with less of it as it can be more drying that the GF blend. You can find the weight and volume measurements by clicking “metric” beneath the ingredients header. Hope it goes better next time!
Deb says
I had the same problem – the first time a recipe with MB didn’t work out. :( I like your suggestions – i’ll try again!
Rachael says
This feels a little sacrosanct in asking, but would it work to hold the cocoa powder and chocolate chips but keep everything else the same? I want to make a chocolate and non-chocolate option. So excited to try!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Rachael, we haven’t tried that, but if you give it a try, we’d suggest increasing the flours to compensate for the cocoa powder. Let us know how it goes!
Michelle says
I substituted the flax egg with 2 tbsps of aquafaba and didn’t have any more gluten-free flour blend, so I added 3/4 of oat flour in addition to the 1/3. I thought my substitutions would’ve messed the flavor/texture up, but it still came out delicious. Thank you for this recipe!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Thanks for the lovely review and for sharing your modifications, Michelle! xo
Michelle says
So moist and yummy!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Thanks for the kind review, Michele! We’re so glad you enjoyed. xo
Terra says
So yummy and easy to make. If I wanted to add more zucchini should i decrease another liquid?
Dana @ Minimalist Baker says
Hmm, not sure! It may mess with the chemistry of the other ingredients. But let us know if you try!
Aimee says
Is there any reason why this would be completely raw in the middle, even after being in the oven for 1 hour 20 mins? Can’t figure out if it will ever be cooked!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Sorry to hear that, Aimme! It shouldn’t be. What GF flour blend did you use? Did you make sure to squeeze the liquid out of the zucchini?
Amanda says
Hi Aimee, this is not an answer, but just to commiserate. I have had this happen a few times with quick breads, and I have never figured out why (though I had good luck with this particular recipe). I have read that it can be due to oven temperature, baking pan size, liquid ratios, not enough leavening, and on and on. It is so frustrating!
Magda says
Delicious!! Thanks for the recipe – I didn’t have any fruit puree so I replaced the apple sauce with a little coconut cream and some more courgette.. yum!!!! Loved loved this one like everything you guys do
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Aw, yay! We’re so glad it turned out well. Thanks for your kind words and lovely review, Magda! xo
Naoise says
I baked this 20 minutes before my maths class and it was worth it. The only modifications I did were I sub in yogurt instead of apple sauce, used olive oil instead of coconut oil and halved the maple syrup with honey (since I’m not vegan) . its so good! Almost like a brownie but more wholesome. My sister was confused by the courgette but it quickly won her over. We ate like half already
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Amazing! We’re so glad you both enjoy it =) Thanks for the lovely review, Naoise!
Elena Levy says
insanely delicious, chocolate cake with veggies! made in mini bundt pans and baked for 20 minutes, came out perfect. I also added extra zucchini and it was amazing.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Yay! We’re so glad you enjoyed it, Elena! xo
Amanda says
This is what we are making for Santa this year. I told my kids that everyone leaves cookies for Santa and we can do better. It really doesn’t get much better than this!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Aw, so cute! Thanks for sharing, Amanda! xo
Samantha Hart says
Absolutely yummy! I made this yesterday with almond meal as I didn’t have almond flour and organic wholemeal rye flour. It’s very moreish, you’ve been warned!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad you enjoy it, Samantha! Thanks so much for the lovely review! xo
Amy Bosnoian says
Hello! Instead of using a gluten free flour blend, would it be okay to just use all purpose flour instead?
Thanks!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
That should work! But we’d suggest using slightly less and/or baking for less time. Let us know how it goes!
An says
Hi,
I made this and subbed gluten free flour for AP flour. The cake was amazing and so moist and soft. The only thing was the outer layer was a bit hard and the cake was a bit crumbly. Is there anything I can do? I’d love to make it again because it was the best tasting chocolate cake ever!
Dana @ Minimalist Baker says
Right? Such a good cake! I’m not sure why the outer layer was hard unless it was overbaked? It if was crumbly I’d say it was slightly overbaked.
Cindy Whetstine says
I have a few people in my family with eating issues. They absolutely love this bread. It’s easy for me to make and delicious!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Yay! Thanks for the lovely review, Cindy!
Allegra says
This is one of my go-to bread recipes! I’ve made it at least 5 times. I love how chocolatey and miost it is, and it’s flexible with ingredient substitutions any other additions (like walnuts). On my way to makeit again now. So good!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Whoop! We’re so glad you enjoy it, Allegra! Thanks so much for sharing!
Keli says
It’s in the oven can’t wait to try it
Selina says
I made this recently and it was amazing. My friends were a little bit suspicious because of the zucchini and because they aren´t into healthy/vegan food. But it is so delicious and chocolaty, they ate it all and still talk about it.
Btw I didn´t squeeze the zucchini – because I´m lazy – and it worked as well.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad it turned out well! Thanks so much for the lovely review, Selina! xo
Julie says
Hands down the healthiest chocolatey zucchini bread I’ve made. So moist and delish. Will definitely make this again and again!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Yay! We’re so glad you enjoyed it, Julie! Thanks so much for the lovely review!
Fran says
I made this twice already, my friends could not spot the “secret” ingredient, and its been both times insanely moist and delicious!! I once brought it to a dinner, and a total stranger came up to me as I was leaving and gave me a very nice compliment about the cake. And it is not even exagerately sweet! Definitely a recipe to be made over and over again! thanks MB, again a success!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Yay! We’re so glad everyone enjoyed it! Thanks so much for sharing, Fran!
ST says
Can you use mini loaf pans, if so, would you adjust temp or just baking time? Thank you. I can’t wait to try!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Sure! We haven’t tried it, but maybe reduce cooking time by 5-10 minutes? Let us know how it goes!