Super moist and packed with zucchini, these Chocolate Chip Zucchini Muffins are great for breakfast or snack. We love them when we have too much zucchini on hand—or when we just need a dose of chocolaty goodness.
Whenever our garden explodes with zucchini, I see some at the grocery store or farmers market, or we’re just in the mood, we make these Chocolate Chip Zucchini Muffins. This is such a perfect recipe to add a veggie to a toddler breakfast or kids snack and is one of our very favorite zucchini recipes.
These muffins for kids are super moist, super fluffy, and a great mix of nutrients and flavors. They have a full cup of zucchini, plus whole grains, proteins, and healthy fats.
They’re great on their own or topped with cream cheese, peanut butter, or almond butter. You can make them with chocolate chips or blueberries too. My kids love them as much as I do!
(You may also like Spinach Muffins, Healthy Zucchini Muffins, Banana Zucchini Muffins, and Chocolate Muffins.)
Table of Contents
Ingredients You Need
To make this chocolate chip zucchini muffin recipe, you’ll need to have the following ingredients on hand and ready to go.
- Whole wheat flour: This flour absorbs moisture well and has fiber and nutrients, so it’s a great option here.
- Cocoa powder: I usually use Hershey’s Special Dark for flavor that’s not bitter.
- Baking powder and baking soda: These help the muffins rise nicely.
- Zucchini: Any variety of green zucchini works here.
- Sugar: A modest amount of sugar adds sweetness. You can sub maple syrup or honey if you prefer.
- Milk: Dairy or nondairy milk works in this recipe.
- Eggs
- Melted butter: I use unsalted butter in my baking so I can control the salt. If you only have salted butter, just skip adding the salt in the recipe.
- Vanilla extract
- Chocolate chips or blueberries: You can choose to add one or the other, or add some of each.
TIP: I coat my muffin pan with nonstick classic Pam spray. There is not enough fat for these to come out cleanly from paper cupcake liners, so spray them lightly with nonstick spray if you want to use them.
Step by Step Instructions
Here’s a look at the simple process involved in making this chocolate chip zucchini muffin recipe so you know what to expect. Scroll down to the end of the post for the full information, including the amounts and the timing.
Step 1. Grate the zucchini. Squeeze it very, very dry with your hands. Measure it out.
Step 2. Whisk together the wet ingredients.
Step 3. Stir together the dry ingredients. Stir the dry ingredients into the wet.
Step 4. Add batter to a muffin pan and bake.
TIP: You can make these Chocolate Chip Zucchini Muffins ahead of time and then store them in the fridge or freezer and serve them on busy mornings.
Frequently Asked Questions
To make this easy muffin recipe, stir together the wet ingredients, add them to the dry, then mix your uniform batter. Bake the batter portioned into a muffin pan.
If you freeze shredded zucchini, thaw and make sure it’s totally squeezed dry, then add it to the recipe the same as fresh.
Yes, just use a mini muffin tray and bake for 10-12 minutes.
How to Store
Store fully cooled Chocolate Chip Zucchini Muffins in an airtight container at room temperature for 3 days or in the fridge for up to 5. Freeze cooled muffins in a zip top freezer bag with as much air removed as possible for up to 3 months.
Best Tips for Success
- Serve Chocolate Chip Zucchini Muffins at room temperature, warmed slightly, or chilled. (They may firm up a bit if chilled.)
- If using blueberries, expect the muffins to be super moist.
- Mini Muffins: Cook for 12-14 minutes in a 24-cup mini muffin pan.
- Dairy-free: Use melted coconut oil in place of the butter and plain nondairy milk.
- Gluten-free: Use cup-for-cup style gluten-free flour in place of the whole wheat.
- Egg-free: Use a store bought egg subsitute or omit the eggs, increase the milk to 1 ½ cups, and increase the baking soda to 1 teaspoon. Bake for 18-22 minutes and check for doneness with a cake tester. (I tested them and it worked well, though they are moister than the regular recipe so they take a little longer to bake.) Let cool fully before eating for the best texture.
- If you have more zucchini, try Zucchini Fries, Zucchini Tots, and Baked Zucchini Fritters.
Related Recipes
Desserts
Easy Zucchini Cookies
Breakfast
Fluffy Zucchini Pancakes
Breakfast
Healthy Chocolate Chip Muffins
Breakfast
Banana Baked Oatmeal with Zucchini
I’d love to hear your feedback on this recipe if you make it for your family, so please comment below to share!
Chocolate Chip Zucchini Muffins
Ingredients
- 1¼ cups whole wheat flour
- ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- ¼ cup sugar (or maple syrup; up the sugar to ½ cup for a more conventionally sweet muffin)
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon (optional)
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup grated zucchini, squeezed very dry and packed tightly (measure after grating and squeezing)
- 1 cup milk
- 2 eggs (lightly beaten)
- ¼ cup unsalted butter (melted, or use canola or avocado oil)
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ½ cup chocolate chips (or 1 cup blueberries; you can also use up to 1 cup of chocolate chips if you prefer)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Coat a standard size muffin pan with nonstick spray.
- In a medium bowl, stir together the flour, cocoa powder, sugar, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
- Grate the zucchini with a box grater and squeeze as much liquid out as you can with your hands. (I usually place it onto a clean kitchen towel and roll up to remove excess moisture, too.) Measure out 1 cup after this process.
- To a medium bowl, add the squeezed zucchini, milk, eggs, butter, and vanilla. Whisk to combine.
- Gently stir in the flour mixture. Gently stir in the chocolate chips (or blueberries).
- Divide batter among the prepared muffin pan, using a heaping ¼ cup in each. Bake for 16-18 minutes, or until a cake tester inserted into the center of each muffin comes out clean.
- Let cool for a minute or so in the pan, then transfer to a wire rack to cool to room temperature.
- Serve muffins slightly warmed or at room temperature.
Notes
- Store in an airtight container at room temperature for 3 days or in the fridge for up to 5. Freeze cooled muffins in a zip top freezer bag with as much air removed as possible for up to 3 months.
- Serve at room temperature, warmed slightly, or chilled. (They may firm up a bit if chilled.)
- If using blueberries, expect the muffins to be super moist.
- Use ½ cup sugar if you prefer your muffins to be sweeter. These are very lightly sweetened as written.
- Mini Muffins: Cook for 12-14 minutes in a 24-cup mini muffin pan.
- Dairy-free: Use melted coconut oil in place of the butter and plain nondairy milk.
- Gluten-free: Use cup-for-cup style gluten-free flour in place of the whole wheat.
- Egg-free: Use a store bought egg subsitute or omit the eggs, increase the milk to 1 ½ cups, and increase the baking soda to 1 teaspoon. Bake for 18-22 minutes and check for doneness with a cake tester. (I tested them and it worked well, though they are moister than the regular recipe so they take a little longer to bake.) Let cool fully before eating for the best texture.
- Use the same amount of honey or maple syrup in place of the sugar.
- Use white whole wheat or all-purpose flour if desired.
Nutrition
This recipe was first published July 2021.
These were a hit with my picky toddler!
Hi,
The batter I made came out watery . is that ok? I used 3/4th cup maple syrup instead of sugar
I can’t say for sure since I’m not in the kitchen with you (would be great if I was!) but you could add 2 more tbsp of flour to be sure it will be okay.
Hi! We love your muffin recipes and I want to make these for my son’s bday snack in preschool! We need gluten and egg free- do you think gluten free flour and your increased milk/baking soda trick will be ok together? Or I could try applesauce instead of the egg? Let me know what you think would work best? Thank you in advance!!!
I would use 1.5 cups all purpose gf flour and the egg free option in the Notes. The added flour will help ensure they are not too moist. I hope the kids enjoy!
The easiest way for me to extract liquid from grated zucchini is to put it in a sieve and press a bowl on top to “sandwich”. Voila!
I replaced the eggs with flax eggs. I rebranded these as “chocolate mini cakes” to my 4year old after he said no to chocolate muffins. He really likes these mini cakes!
Delicious and super easy to make! Perfect way to use up my zucchini before a trip.
Really good!
Delicious! I doubled the recipe and used 2 banana instead the butter. And it turned out perfectly soft and very chocolately. You converted my husband to zucchini in muffins. He was very skeptical before he ate one.
So glad to hear that!
Can I use sweetened bananas instead of maple syrup to make it with a bit less sugar?
Also this sounds delicious. I haven’t tried it yet.
I haven’t tried it but I think that will work just fine. Enjoy!
Easy recipe, taste great! Sweet treat that you don’t feel so guilty eating. Toddler approved
Not as chocolaty as in the picture although I put the same amount of cocoa powder. Moist but too much zucchini for me.
The darkness of the color may vary based on the brand and type of cocoa powder you use. Feel free to use less zucchini if you prefer!
Oh yes, these are brilliant – *everyone* loves them, and they are getting requested by my 3-year-old, partner and neighbour alike 😅👌So chocolatey, without needing a lot of product or preparation. Thank you for sharing another great keeper 😊🙏
Can I sub plain yogurt for the oil component?
I haven’t made them that way so I can’t say for sure, but let me know if you try it!
6 month pregnant lady here who can’t get enough of a chocolate fix, and I can honestly say these are better than the best homemade fudge brownie. I substituted apple sauce for butter/oil and they came out absolutely divine. Superb recipe!!