Gooey Chocolate Zucchini Brownies Recipe

You must try this chocolate zucchini brownies recipe I found.

It is the best chocolate zucchini brownies recipe out there, my friend. Tried and true. While trying to downsize my ever-growing pile of fresh zucchini from the garden, I’ve tried about four recipes trying to find a good recipe for brownies.

This one was the winner. According to who? Well, my family, farmer’s market customers and well…me! My children were asking for it for breakfast.

You know you have a good recipe when your kids beg for something with a vegetable in it for breakfast! So, I can’t wait to share this gooey brownie recipe with you all. You might never go back to any other brownie recipe.

In this post, I’ll give you:

The gooiest chocolate zucchini brownies recipe on the face of the earth (that I’ve found).
How to make zucchini brownies with applesauce instead of egg.
Nutrition facts of this healthy chocolate zucchini brownies recipe. Yes…they are healthy.

Is your mouth watering yet? Let’s dig down deep into this delectable chocolate zucchini brownies recipe so you can start making it for yourself.

What You Need

For BROWNIES

1/3 cup Canola oil
1/2 cup semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1 cup granulated sugar
1/4 Cup Applesauce
1 teaspoon vanilla
One cup grated zucchini, excess moisture squeezed out
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt

FROSTING
3 tablespoons butter
1 1/2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
3 tablespoons semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 1/2 tablespoons milk
1/4 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup powdered sugar

How to Make the Brownies

First of all, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and prepare the pan. You can use a square baking pan for a single batch or a 9X13 pan for a double batch.

To prepare the pan of your choice, cover the pan with tin foil and lightly spray the foil with a nonstick cooking spray. I use and recommend Pam cooking spray.

Next, prepare the brownies. In a medium saucepan, combine oil, chocolate chips, and cocoa. Cook over medium heat and stir occasionally until the chips are completely melted. Mixture should be smooth.

After the chocolate is completely mixed, remove from the heat and whisk in the sugar. Stir in the applesauce and vanilla. Fold in the zucchini, flour, baking soda and salt.

Then, spread prepared batter into the baking pan and stick it into the oven. Bake square pans for 20-25 minutes and 9X13 pans for 35-40 minutes. Test with a toothpick into the center. It should come out clean.

Prepare the Frosting.

While you’re waiting for the fudgy zucchini brownies to finish up, you can start on the frosting. You don’t want to skip this step. Not at all.

So, in a saucepan, melt butter, cocoa, chocolate chips and milk over medium low heat. When the mixure is smooth, remove from heat.

Next, whisk in the vanilla and powdered sugar, until smooth. And that’s it! Frosting completed and ready to pour onto the brownies as soon as they come out of the oven.

Finally, a little word of caution. These easy zucchini brownies will be really really gooey. You’ll need to let them cool and set up completely. This waiting around could last a while. Let them cool for at least 10 minutes and then test to try to cut and see if they are to your liking.

Why I Used Applesauce Instead of Egg

The original recipe called for eggs. Click here for this original chocolate zucchini brownies recipe and give kudos to Melanie!

But I did not use my farm fresh eggs in this recipe. Why?

Because my chickens didn’t want me to. My free-range hens stopped laying their eggs in their boxes about the time I found this recipe. And I couldn’t find the time to go egg hunting to my chickens’ amusement.

Therefore, I traveled down to the basement to pick up a jar of my home canned applesauce. Here’s the recipe again if you missed it above.

This is an easy replacement for egg. One egg is equal to 1/4 cup of applesauce. It acts as a sticking agent for the brownies. Works great and adds a little fruit into the brownies, making it even more nutritious.

Oh…I did end up finding all the missing eggs. They were in a nest deep within the blackberry bramble bushes. Safe and sound in the shade. Smart chickens. Too smart for their own good.

Here’s 70+ Ways to Use Up Extra Eggs

Ok, let’s talk about about how these brownies are healthy chocolate zucchini brownies.

Nutrition Facts of these Healthy Chocolate Zucchini Brownies

I plugged the recipe into MyFitnessPal and tweaked out the egg to add applesauce.

So, how healthy is this brownie?

Well, you need to watch a few things. One serving of this brownie contains 200 calories, 21 grams of sugars and 9 grams of fat. Also, 30 grams of carbohydrates. Just some caution if you’re watching any of these stats for your own health.

However, there are some really good things about this brownie that make it healthy. The zucchini and applesauce puts some great vitamins and minerals into the brownie. Also, there’s 4 grams of healthy fats (poly and monounsaturated fats) in the brownie as well.

So…bottom line. Enjoy these brownies but know your limits.

Enjoy Chocolate Zucchini Brownies with Applesauce

This recipe is a great way for chocolate lovers to use up extra zucchini.

Read here for other great ways to use up summer squash.

It is truly the best recipe out there for simple zucchini brownies. Everyone I have shared it with has agreed with me. So, now you have the recipe and can try it for yourself.

Good luck and happy baking!