Best Zucchini Brownies Recipe (Flourless!)- TBMW (2024)

This zucchini brownie recipe is a sneaky way to hide some vegetables in your chocolate desserts! Rich, fudgy, and naturally flourless, no one will know there is zucchini in it!

Best Zucchini Brownies Recipe (Flourless!)- TBMW (1)

I’m no stranger to adding zucchini to desserts. I’ve used to it make a chocolate zucchini bread, classic zucchini bread, and even a chocolate cake. Oh, and let’s not forget the muffins, too.

However, the most delicious dessert to add it to is brownies.

Table of Contents
  1. Why you’ll love these zucchini brownies
  2. Ingredients needed
  3. How to make zucchini brownies
  4. Tips to make the best recipe
  5. Dietary swaps and variations
  6. Storage instructions
  7. Recommended tools to make this recipe
  8. More brownie recipe to try
  9. Frequently Asked Questions
  10. Zucchini Brownies (Recipe Card)

Why you’ll love these zucchini brownies

  • They are healthier. These brownies don’t use any flour or refined sugar, so even without the zucchini, they are already a healthier dessert (similar to our healthy brownies!).
  • Quick and easy to make. From prep the plate, this entire dessert bakes up in just 25 minutes.
  • You can make it diet-friendly. Not only are these brownies naturally gluten free, but you can adapt them to other diets out there with just a few tweaks.
  • Fudgy and rich. Most importantly, zucchini brownies tick all the right boxes when it comes to it’s taste and texture!

Ingredients needed

  • Almond butter– I like to make my own, but any no-stir almond butter works well.
  • Maple syrup–Agave or honey work, too.
  • Brown sugar OR coconut sugar– Either of these sugars works. Go for coconut sugar if you want these brownies to be healthier.
  • Eggs– room temperature.
  • Vanilla extract– A must for any good chocolate dessert.
  • Unsweetened cocoa powder– 100% Dutch processed and sifted.
  • Salt. A pinch of salt will transform the flavor and texture.
  • Baking powder– Leavening agent to give the brownies some rise and stability.
  • Zucchini– Finely shredded zucchini with the moisture removed. See my tips below on how to shred zucchini perfectly for desserts.
  • Chocolate chips– Optional, but who doesn’t love brownies with pools of chocolate throughout?

How to make zucchini brownies

Step 1- make the batter

Mix the almond butter, maple syrup, brown sugar, eggs, and vanilla extract in a large bowl. Mix through the cocoa and baking powder, then stir through the zucchini and chocolate chips.

Step 2- bake the brownies

Transferthe mixture into a lined square pan and reserve some chocolate chips to place on top.Bakethe brownies for 22-25 minutes or until a skewer comes out mostly clean.

Best Zucchini Brownies Recipe (Flourless!)- TBMW (2)

Tips to make the best recipe

  • Do not over-bake the brownies; they will continue to cook as they cool down.
  • Always reserve a handful of chocolate chips for topping the brownies with, as that guarantees tons of chocolate in every bite!
  • Use unsweetened cocoa powder to give your brownies a rich, chocolatey flavor without adding extra sugar. Make sure to use good quality cocoa powder for the best results.
  • Don’t overmix the batter; it can make your brownies tough and dry. Mix the wet and dry ingredients until combined, then gently fold the shredded zucchini and chocolate.

Dietary swaps and variations

These brownies are super forgiving, so you can easily adapt them to other diets or change up their texture by adding nuts, frosting, and more:

  • Skip the eggs. Make them eggless by replacing the eggs with one of these egg substitutes.
  • Cut the carbs. For low carb zucchini brownies, swap the maple syrup for keto maple syrup and use a brown sugar substitute.
  • Change up the flavor. Add mix-ins like walnuts, coconut flakes, or even white chocolate chips.
  • Replace the nut butter. Substitute the almond butter for peanut butter, cashew butter, or a nut free alternative like tahini.
  • Frost it! Add some frosting, like a chocolate frosting or a healthy frosting.

Storage instructions

To store: Leftover brownies can be stored in the refrigerator, covered, for up to two weeks.

To freeze: Place the cooled baked brownies in an airtight container and store them in the freezer for up to six months.

  • Box grater. To shred the zucchini (or anything, really!) perfectly.
  • Square pan. My go-to pans when baking brownies, bars, or blondies.
  • Spatula. A good quality rubber spatula folds in everything seamlessly.
Best Zucchini Brownies Recipe (Flourless!)- TBMW (3)

More brownie recipe to try

  • Keto brownies
  • Healthy brownies
  • Vegan brownies
  • Almond flour brownies
  • Coconut flour brownies
  • Nutella brownies

Frequently Asked Questions

What does zucchini replace in baking?

Zucchini doesn’t technically replace anything but can enhance baked goods by adding moisture and nutrition. For brownies and cakes, it makes them super moist.

Can you taste the zucchini in zucchini brownies?

No, the zucchini in brownies has a very mild flavor and blends in well with the other ingredients. You won’t be able to taste them at all.

Can you use frozen zucchini?

Yes, you can use frozen zucchini for this recipe. Thaw the zucchini completely and squeeze out any excess moisture before using them.

What can you serve with zucchini brownies?

While delicious on their own, you can add some whipped cream, ice cream, or even fresh berries.

Best Zucchini Brownies Recipe (Flourless!)- TBMW (4)

Zucchini Brownies

5 from 319 votes

This zucchini brownie recipe is a sneaky way to hide some vegetables in your chocolate desserts! Rich, fudgy, and naturally flourless, no one will know there is zucchini in it!

Servings: 12 Brownies

Prep: 1 minute min

Cook: 25 minutes mins

Total: 26 minutes mins

Rate This Recipe

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Ingredients

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 180C/350F. Line an 8 x 8-inch pan with parchment paper and set aside.

  • In a mixing bowl, whisk together the almond butter, maple syrup, brown sugar, eggs, and vanilla extract. Add in the cocoa powder and baking powder. Fold through the zucchini and chocolate chips.

  • Transfer your brownie batter to the lined pan and bake for 25-27 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out just clean from the center.

  • Allow brownies to cool in the pan completely before slicing and serving.

Notes

TO STORE: Leftover brownies can be stored in the refrigerator, covered, for up to two weeks.

TO FREEZE: Place the cooled baked brownies in an airtight container and store them in the freezer for up to six months.

Nutrition

Serving: 1brownieCalories: 148kcalCarbohydrates: 7gProtein: 6gFat: 13gSodium: 44mgPotassium: 194mgFiber: 5gVitamin A: 5IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 94mgIron: 2mgNET CARBS: 2g

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Author: Arman Liew

Tried this recipe?Give us a shout at @thebigmansworld or tag #thebigmansworld!

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. I may earn a small commission for my endorsem*nt, recommendation, testimonial, and/or link to any products or services from this website.

Best Zucchini Brownies Recipe (Flourless!)- TBMW (2024)

FAQs

What happens if you add too much flour to brownies? ›

Too much flour? Go back to your edges - if they're not burnt, look a good colour (similar to the centre) but the brownie is too cakey and dry throughout, the recipe probably included too much flour.

Why is flour important in brownies? ›

Flour's primary role in brownies is to bind and set the matrix of ingredients. “Sugar sweetens; chocolate, vanilla and salt boost flavor; eggs contribute structure and mouthfeel; and flour provides the backbone,” Phillip says. “The beauty of this is that brownies can be made very well with gluten-free flours.”

Why do my brownies not have a crust on top? ›

Either you're melting chocolate into your batter and/or adding chocolate chips. One thought is that the melted chocolate contains more fat and less moisture than butter. So if a large portion of the fat in the recipe comes from chocolate, there will be less water to prevent that crust from forming.

What can you use instead of water in brownie mix? ›

One change is to use milk or heavy cream instead of water. This change will make brownies more moist and gooey since milk is more fatty and flavorful than water. A second change is to use butter instead of oil. For similar reasons to using milk, butter adds a rich and more decadent quality to the batter.

What does too much egg do to brownies? ›

If you opt to add more eggs, say double the amount, something interesting happens. Even though you are adding more moisture, the air bubbles that you catch in the extra eggs add volume, which decreases the density of your final product. This makes your brownies rise and gives them a much more cake-like texture.

What makes brownies fudgy vs cakey? ›

Fudgy brownies have a higher fat-to-flour ratio than cakey ones. So add more fat—in this case, butter and chocolate. A cakey batch has more flour and relies on baking powder for leavening. The amount of sugar and eggs does not change whether you're going fudgy or cakey.

What's the best flour to use for brownies? ›

What flour is best for brownies? Plain flour, also known as all purpose flour, is best for brownies. You can use self raising flour, but you will end up with cakey brownies that are much less fudgey.

Are brownies better with butter or oil? ›

the butter brownies actually had a fudgier texture. they were softer, and they really just melted in your mouth. they also had that shiny crust and just better flavor, whereas the oil brownies were actually chewier. they were crunchier at the top and at the edges.

What is a good substitute for flour in brownies? ›

Almond flour is an excellent alternative to have in your kitchen cupboard. It's easy to find in shops and commonly used in plenty of sweet and savoury dishes, including brownies, pancakes, puddings, cakes, falafel and more. Made from ground blanched almonds, it's high in protein, rich in fibre and gluten-free.

Should you beat eggs before adding to brownie mix? ›

Cookbook author and food stylist Jerrelle Guy might have given away the secret: In an article for The Kitchn, Guy suggests the secret to a "glossy" and lifted brownie — like the ones you see in bakeries and restaurants — is to beat the eggs and the sugar together for 10 minutes before adding additional ingredients.

What does Brown Sugar do in brownies? ›

Getting the perfect crust for you means choosing a recipe with just the right proportions of granulated and brown sugars. More brown sugar leads to dense brownies with incredible depth of flavor, but the additional moisture can cause their upper crust to be more solid than delicate as a result.

Why do my brownies taste like cake? ›

Achieving a fudgy brownie is all to do with the ratio of fat to flour. A fudgy brownie recipe will use more fat than flour. Generally this is achieved by adding more butter or real chocolate to your brownie recipe. A cakey brownie recipe on the other hand will call for more flour in the ratio of fat to flour.

How to doctor up brownie mix? ›

Vanilla extract – Pure vanilla extract adds rich flavor to brownies. Eggs – Most brownie mixes call for one whole egg. Adding one large egg plus an extra egg yolk gives brownies an ultra fudgy texture. Chocolate Chips – Even if your brownie mix contains chocolate, plan to add chocolate chips.

What oil is best for brownies? ›

Most brownie recipes call for some kind of oil — usually vegetable oil or canola oil. This oil acts as the primary fat in brownie batter, giving it that delicious, fudgy texture we all know and love.

Do brownies taste better if you use milk instead of water? ›

Milk. Most brownie mixes call for water. While water does the job, you can add some extra flavor and moisture by mixing some of that water with something richer, like milk. If you want to swap it out completely, be prepared for a more chewy and fudge-like brownie from the extra fat.

What happens if you bake with too much flour? ›

recipes to be dry or dense! Here's the proper way to. measure flour for your recipes!

How to fix messed up brownies? ›

Brownies also sink in the middle because they weren't baked for long enough. Even when your toothpick comes out almost clean but you start noticing a dent in your brownies, bake them for 4-5 more minutes. These last few minutes do their magic.

What do you do if your brownie mix is too thick? ›

What should I do if my brownie mix is too thick? If your brownie mix is too thick, you can add a small amount of liquid such as water, milk, or oil to thin it out to the desired consistency. Add the liquid gradually and mix well until you achieve the right texture.

What can too much flour cause a cookie to be? ›

If your cookies come out looking more like biscuits, you've likely added too much flour. Our cookies didn't expand much from the rolled-up balls we put on the baking sheet. They also didn't brown as well as the other cookies. It doesn't take much—in this case, my mom and I added just 3/4 cup extra flour to the dough.

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