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

This post may contain affiliate links. See my disclosure policy.

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

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.”

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.

Why is my brownie crispy? ›

Looks to be either over mixed (too much gluten makes it doughy) or over baked (dries out the texture and makes it crispy on top). Try mixing as little as possible and reducing the oven temp a bit, take the brownies out when there's a slight wobble in the centre and they will finish baking through in the pan.

What will happen if I use self raising flour instead of plain flour in brownies? ›

The self-rising flour will give your brownies a cake like quality; usually you want brownies to be dense, rich. The cake flour will be light, delicate; again, maybe not the quality you want for brownies.

What does adding an extra egg to brownie mix do? ›

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.

Is it better to make brownies with butter or oil? ›

Oil Brownies: These were chewier with crunchier edges and a crunchier topping. They were more matte on top with a far less crinkly shiny brownie 'skin. ' They tasted more like box mix brownies. Butter Brownies: These were much fudgier, softer, and had a melt-in-your-mouth texture.

What does adding milk to brownies do? ›

Milk is richer than water, so the brownies will be richer, and they'll be denser, like fudge. For the fudgiest brownie possible, swap all of the recommended water for milk — the extra fat will thicken the batter.

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.

Why don t my brownies have a crackly top? ›

Add semisweet chocolate chips

That's when I realized that the extra step of adding chocolate chips to the brownie batter helps the brownies get a crackly top.

What happens if you put too much butter in brownies? ›

Whether you use butter, margarine, or vegetable oil, putting too much in your brownie batter causes it to be greasy. Don't worry, you're not alone. Many people fall into this trap when trying to substitute butter with oil.

What happens if you forget to put flour in brownies? ›

If you don't use enough flour, they won't harden up at all. They'll flatten down to the bottom of the pan, and you'll end up with a sort of “brownie brittle”. The amount of flour you use is going to determine how firm your brownies are.

What is the importance of flour in baking? ›

Flour lends structure to baked goods, like cakes, biscuits, pastry and bread, with a range in protein content to suit the purpose and desired outcome. Higher-protein flours provide a greater proportion of gluten and a stronger dough for products like bread and the reverse is true for use in cakes and biscuits.

What happens if you use less flour in brownies? ›

Flour increases cakeyness

One of those is flour. You can make brownies without flour (or other starch), but they'll be on the gooey side of the spectrum. Flour helps to create that cakey texture. Wheat flour is made up of mostly starch.

Why is flour an important ingredient? ›

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. The protein content of a flour affects the strength of a dough.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Greg O'Connell

Last Updated:

Views: 6518

Rating: 4.1 / 5 (62 voted)

Reviews: 93% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Greg O'Connell

Birthday: 1992-01-10

Address: Suite 517 2436 Jefferey Pass, Shanitaside, UT 27519

Phone: +2614651609714

Job: Education Developer

Hobby: Cooking, Gambling, Pottery, Shooting, Baseball, Singing, Snowboarding

Introduction: My name is Greg O'Connell, I am a delightful, colorful, talented, kind, lively, modern, tender person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.