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

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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 320 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

Print

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!

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

FAQs

What does too much flour do to brownies? ›

Brownies need flour, of course—without it, they'd be eggy chocolate soup—but too much flour makes them parched, stiff, and literally hard to swallow. There are at least two ways to circumvent flour's dehydrating properties. The first is to substitute ground nuts for some of the flour.

What are flourless brownies made of? ›

For the Brownies
  • 8 ounces bittersweet chocolate (minimum 70% cocoa solids)
  • 2 sticks butter.
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract.
  • 1 cup superfine sugar.
  • 3 large eggs (beaten)
  • 1½ cups almond meal.
  • 1 cup chopped walnuts.

Why is my brownie not crusty? ›

The paper-thin crinkly crust can only form if the sugar in the brownies has fully dissolved and broken down. The best way to achieve this is by making sure you thoroughly beat the sugar and the eggs.

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 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 does too much egg do to brownies? ›

They give brownies a lighter, drier, and more cake-like texture. If you prefer this over the chewy variety, then go ahead and crack in that additional egg. On the other hand, too many eggs will yield brownies that are hard, heavy, and tough.

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.

What are Mexican brownies made of? ›

Ingredients
  1. 1 ½ cups unsalted butter.
  2. 3 cups white sugar.
  3. 6 eggs.
  4. 1 tablespoon vanilla extract.
  5. 1 ¼ cups unsweetened cocoa powder.
  6. 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour.
  7. 1 ¾ teaspoons ground Mexican cinnamon (canela)
  8. ½ teaspoon ground pequin chile pepper.
Jan 5, 2017

Why do people eat flourless cake? ›

The dessert contains no gluten which makes it acceptable for those with celiac disease, gluten-free diets, and during religious holidays in which gluten and grains are not permitted.

How to bake brownies so the edges don't get hard? ›

Be sure to select a light-colored, shiny pan, which will conduct heat evenly. Glass or dark-colored pans can cause the edges to overbake or even burn. Always grease the pan thoroughly with shortening, softened butter, or cooking spray. (Do this even if the recipe doesn't specify.)

Should brownies still be wet in the middle? ›

If the brownies still look wet or aren't pulling away, they aren't done. Even fudgy brownies will pull from the edges once they've finished baking. You'll see that the edges look dry while the middle still looks soft or slightly wet. Chewy and cakey brownies will have dry edges with firmer-looking centers.

What oil is best for brownies? ›

Traditionally, brownies are made with sugar, flour, eggs, cocoa powder, chocolate chips, and vegetable oil. However, most recipes call for butter or a neutral product like canola oil.

Is it better to use butter or oil for brownies? ›

In brownies, both butter and oil will offer a moist, tender texture, but only butter will give the dish the aeration needed for rising brownies well. If you use a cake brownie, butter is a better option because it helps rise the batter. For denser, fudge type brownies, oil is permissable.

Is water or milk better for brownies? ›

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!

What is the function of flour in brownies? ›

Flour provides the structure in baked goods. Wheat flour contains proteins that interact with each other when mixed with water, forming gluten. It is this elastic gluten framework which stretches to contain the expanding leavening gases during rising.

What causes cakey brownies? ›

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.

References

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