A delicious treat with a bit of healthy tucked inside, these double Chocolate Zucchini Muffins with dried cherries have a hint of spice and are richly satisfying.
We are not just a skin-encapsulated ego, a soul encased in flesh. We are each other and we are the world.~
Chocolate Zucchini Muffins are just the thing to use up the extra zucchini abundance. I have been craving chocolatey richness and thought I’d tuck some zucchini inside so I could feel justified eating them. The neutral-flavored zucchini keeps the muffin moist while adding a few healthy nutrients ;). Enhanced with cinnamon and smoky chipotle, imparting flavors reminiscent of Mexican hot chocolate. The dried cherries add the perfect tart balance. Bittersweet chocolate chips just take it to the serious side of chocolate bliss.
Ingredients in Chocolate Zucchini Muffins
- all-purpose white wheat flour
- cocoa powder
- baking soda, baking powder and sea salt
- cinnamon and chipotle powder
- avocado oil or other neutral-flavored oil
- brown sugar
- eggs
- vanilla
- zucchini!
- dried cherries
- bittersweet chocolate chips (the darker the better)
Chipotle powder gives a nice smoky bite. Or try cayenne, Aleppo, or ancho powder. Adjust the amount to taste!
How to make Chocolate Zucchini Muffins:
Step One:
Preheat the oven, gather ingredients and grate zucchini.
tip: grating zucchini on the smaller holed grater will be less chunky in the muffin.
Step Two:
Whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and chipotle powder.
Step Three:
In a separate bowl whisk together avocado oil, brown sugar, eggs and vanilla until thoroughly mixed.
Step Four:
Fold grated zucchini in.
Step Five:
Add dry ingredients, including the dried cherries and chocolate chips, to the wet mixture. Gently folding in, trying not to over mix.
Step Six:
Scoop into muffin tins filling to the top.
Bake 20-22 minutes.
Let cool and dive in!
These are best enjoyed the same day. Though cut in half and toasted is quite doable a day or two later!
More recipes you may enjoy!
- Zucchini Bread
- Cranberry Orange Muffins with Rosemary
- Banana Bread (Vegan and Sourdough!)
- Rhubarb Muffins
- Our 20 Best Zucchini Recipes
- Double Spice Pumpkin Bread
Hope you enjoy!
Print
Chocolate Zucchini Muffins
- Prep Time: 25
- Cook Time: 20
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 12 Muffins 1x
- Category: Muffins, baked goods, desserts
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
A delicious treat with a bit of healthy tucked inside, these Double Chocolate Zucchini Muffins with Dried Cherries have a hint of spice and are richly satisfying.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups all purpose white wheat flour (202 grams)
- 1/2 cup raw cocoa powder (38 grams)
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon chipotle powder, optional (see notes)
- 1/2 cup avocado oil or other neutral flavored oil
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 2 cups zucchini, grated
- 1/2 cup dried cherries coarsely chopped
- 3/4 cup bittersweet chocolate chips (the darker the better)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare muffin tins with a light coating of oil or oil the papers if using.
- Whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and chipotle powder.
- In a separate bowl whisk together avocado oil, brown sugar, eggs and vanilla until thoroughly mixed. Then fold grated zucchini in.
- Add dry ingredients to the wet, including dried cherries and 1/2 cup of the chocolate chips. Gently folding in, trying not to over mix.
- Scoop into muffin tins filling to a 1/2″ of the top. Sprinkle with remaining chocolate chips.
- Bake 20-22 minutes.
Notes
Chipotle powder gives a nice smoky bite. Or try cayenne, Aleppo, or ancho powder. Adjust amount to taste.
These are best when fresh. Day old, try cutting in half and toasting!
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 muffin
- Calories: 316
- Sugar: 25.1 g
- Sodium: 170.7 mg
- Fat: 14.6 g
- Saturated Fat: 4.1 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 3.3 g
- Protein: 5.1 g
- Cholesterol: 31 mg
Love these. I used cranberries because that is what I had. They didn’t quite cook through at 21 minutes so I added 5 minutes – a bit dry but still great. Thank you!
Thanks Kathleen for the feedback! May have to revisit these.
This muffin is a real delight! Flavour after flavour, you’re in for a treat! I would recommend to use the chipotle, it give this extra punch to this delicious treat!
So happy you are enjoying these Michele!
I make mini muffins & bake for 12 minutes. I also add 1/4 c chopped walnuts. This is my 3rd time making these & was short by 1/3 c of zucchini so I added grated carrots & they came out great. My favourite morning coffee muffins. Thank you !!
Great to hear Sharon! Carrots sound yummy.
Would it work to substitute coconut sugar for the brown sugar. I know it will reduce the sweetness but didn’t know if it would affect texture as well.
I think coconut sugar should be fine!
I always make them with half brown sugar and half swerve brown sugar to keep the sugar content low. Always turn out just delicious
Perfect Julia! Good to know.
I’ve made these at least ten times, an absolute favorite with everyone. Light and moist with a hint of heat, just perfect. I did make them once with flax eggs and was disappointed, they lacked the lightness, oh course we ate them and still delicious
Thanks Julia, so glad you are enjoying these! Good to know about the flax egg.😊
This recipe totally satisfies my chocolate cravings. So good!! Was a big hit 🙂
Nice to hear! Thanks Angeli.
Delicious! Our house is sensitive to sugar amounts and sweetness so I made with 1/2 cup brown sugar and it turned out great. Decadent, rich, with a nice sweet tang from the cherries to balance it all out. Thank you for another great recipe!
Great to hear Kerry!
Oh! I can’t wait to make these!! What size muffin liners did you use? S/M/L?
regular sized muffin liners? I used a standard muffin pan.
can you use 100% whole wheat flour in This recipe? If so, any other adjustments to the other ingredients?
I like using whole wheat pastry flour, it is a little lighter than bread flour. I recommend weighing the flour for best results, wheat flour is generally heavier. It should work just fine!
These were wonderful!
We made them for a dinner party with gluten free flour. We added craisins and some chocolate chips and WOW!!!! Everyone just adored them! Thanks for a wonderful recipe! Again!
Yay! I am so happy to hear this Heidi!
Planning to make this recipe, but weights would be appreciated! 1.5 cups of zucchini can be very different depending on the size of the grate and how densely packed it is. Similarly, weights for the cocoa powder and cherries would be appreciated. In general, please consider routinely using weights for your baking recipes since I’m guessing that many of us who love your site also prefer to rely on weights for baking.
That is a good idea! Thanks for the suggestion Mary.
Hi Tonia: we’ve made them! The dough was very sticky and thick, and the muffins came out a little dry. We may have left the grated zucchini sit too long on the board and lose its juice? Or does it need some extra water? Thanks
oh dear! I did include the zucchini in it’s juices. But I did tweak the recipe and they are much more moist and delicious! I appreciate the feed back!
I did use the zucchini in its juices, but would still prefer a little more moist. Just curious what you meant by you “tweaked” the recipe? Thank you, yummy muffin!
Hi Tracy, We lowered the amount of flour.
Hi, these look delicious and I just happen to have some dried cherries on hand ☺️
Do you think these would work without eggs as I don’t eat eggs?
Could you suggest a substitute if you’ve tried it.
Thanx and I can’t wait to make them
Louie
You could give it a try with flax eggs?
This looks delicious! Think I could freeze them for future breakfasts?
I don’t see why not!
Hi, I’m wondering if you think this would work with a gluten free all purpose flour? It looks delicious but would need to be GF for me. Thanks for the inspiring recipes!!
It should work just fine!
These look wonderful! Since there are only two of us, I am guessing I could tuck half in the freezer or would you recommend just gifting what we will not eat in a day or so to a lucky neighbor?
Freezer should work great! Also love the idea of gifting them!!
The recipe doesn’t mention went to add the cherries or the chocolate chips.
opps! thanks. fixed now!