Today’s treat is a moist, delicious brownie with the added nutrition of zucchini. Besides it’s fabulous flavor, chocolate is a source of antioxidants. Chocolate has been found to help lower blood pressure and even increase “good” cholesterol. Darker chocolate is also known to have anti-inflammatory qualities as long as you’re enjoying it in moderation. That’s the difficult part, enjoying it in moderation. WebMD has an informative article on the health benefits of chocolate. One fact is clear for chocolate: the purer and darker the chocolate, the greater your health benefits. Raw chocolate or minimally processed dark chocolate high in cocoa solids is healthier than milk chocolate and white chocolate. Check the amount of chocolate in your chips as some are as low as 29%. Look for chips with a high amount of chocolate like Enjoy Life semisweet dark chocolate chips which are close to 70% cacao. Then you add zucchini to the mix. The addition of the vegetable adds to the nutritional content without changing the flavor of chocolate, and it also makes it so moist and chewy. Nothing like making something taste better with a little added benefit. For the gardeners out there, this is another recipe to help you use your abundant bounty of zucchini this summer.
Shred a medium zucchini on the large holes of a box grater. The important thing to remember about adding zucchini to baked goods is you need to press the shredded zucchini to remove the excess water. First toss shredded zucchini with half teaspoon coarse salt in a colander set over a bowl. Let stand 10 minutes. Squeeze out excess moisture with a gentle squeeze from your hands. It should still be moist. Then measure the pressed zucchini and add to the mix. The result is an amazingly rich brownie which you can glaze or decorate with sugar, nuts or fresh strawberries.
Chocolate Zucchini Brownies
Use organic when available
Chocolate Zucchini Brownies
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil or coconut oil
- 1/2 cup chocolate chips
- 2 tbsp cocoa powder
- 1/2 cup maple syrup or honey
- 1 egg plus 1 yolk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup shredded zucchini with liquid pressed out
- 1 cup whole wheat flour
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/3 cup nuts to batter (optional)
- Nuts, strawberries, or sugar to decorate (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 F or 176 C
- In pan, melt coconut oil and chocolate chips
- Remove from heat
- Add in sweetener, vanilla, cocoa powder, and egg
- Stir well
- Add baking powder to flour and stir well
- Add flour to batter
- Add zucchini and stir
- Pour into greased 9 x 9" baking pan
- Bake 15 to 20 minutes until toothpick in center comes out with few crumbs
- Let cool in the pan for at least 30 minutes
- Decorate as desired with icing, nuts, or fruit
- Cut into squares
Yum!
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What a great way to get your veggies!
These look so yummy! I have made a chocolate cake with zucchini once and loved that my boys gobbled it up without even noticing. Pinned.
Oh how yummy!!! And zucchini as well.
These look great. I love brownies and these look so moist. It’s great that you can also get some added nutrition from the zucchini. Will definitely try.
Thanks – let me know how you like them!
Looks SO yummy! I just saw a brownie recipe that used black beans. This one looks good, too. I love these creative brownie recipes, as brownies are one of my favorite foods!
thanks Sharon!
Oh my, these look and sound so yummy! Pinning!
Oh you had me at chocolate! These look really tasty Carol. I love eating brownies with a warm chocolate sauce and ice-cream, yum!
Thanks for sharing with #MMBC. 🙂
thanks for visiting Jayne!
These look so good and I love the added zucchini for some extra veggies! I can’t wait to try these. You will be the featured post on this weeks Friday at the Fire Station link up!
Thank you so much for the feature! You’ve made Friday a special day.
I’m always looking for another good way to use up some of that delicious zucchini, and this looks like a good one. Congratulations on the feature on Friday Feature.
Thank you for coming by and visiting.
Your brownies look so good, thank you for sharing last week on #omhgff….This week they are being featured!!!
Have a great weekend!
thank you so much for the feature – hope your weekend is wonderful!
Those brownies look scrumptious!! I have zucchini in my fridge right now that I have to use up too. Delish!
Let me know what you think – You’re such a great cook.
This is a great way for me to use up zucchini and have the kids eat veggies too. Thanks for sharing on MM. PInned and will be featuring this.
Thanks for the feature Erlene – have a great week!