I am anxiously awaiting the squash growing in my garden. It’s growing, I see it. But you see… it’s small.
Lately I feel like I’m seeing bountiful zucchini gardens and I’m sitting here next to my puny little zucchini nugget waiting for it to grow so I can make more chocolate zucchini muffins.
I due time.. in due time.
If you love zucchini baked goods, check out all my gluten free muffin recipes! You love these almond flour chocolate chip zucchini muffins, chocolate chip zucchini bars, and gluten free chocolate chip zucchini bread!
If you love using almond flour in your recipes check out my Ultimate List of Almond Flour Recipes and my tutorial for How to Make Almond Flour!
Other zucchini recipes you’ll love:
- lemon zucchini burrata pasta
- almond flour chocolate chip zucchini muffins
- vegan zucchini chickpea burgers
- chocolate chip zucchini cookies
- zucchini bread
Ingredients for these yummy muffins:
- zucchini: Make sure to grate it, squeeze all the liquid out, then measure it.
- almond butter: feel free to sub in your favorite nut or seed butter! Peanut butter, sunflower seed butter, or even tahini would work!
- agave nectar: honey, coconut nectar or maple syrup works! Just go for a sticky sweetener. I haven’t tested this recipe with a granular sweetener, so not sure how something like coconut sugar would turn out.
- eggs: also flax eggs may be a good option!
- butter: ghee or refined coconut oil can also be subbed in
- cocoa powder
- blanched almond flour
- baking powder
- salt
- dark chocolate chips
How to Grate Zucchini for Muffins:
Grate the zucchini directly into a clean, thin dish towel. You could also use a paper towel or cheesecloth. I just always have extra dishtowels around so find it to be the quickest, easiest option.
If you like seeing the zucchini in the muffins go for the larger hole grater. If you’re making these for kids or want to hide the zucchini a bit, using the smaller hole grater is a great option!
How to make chocolate zucchini muffins:
After you grate the zucchini, keep it in the towel and place it in a strainer in the sink. This allows any excess moisture to seep out of the zucchini before you squeeze it.
In a large bowl, whisk together the almond butter, agave nectar, eggs, and butter. Then add the cocoa, almond flour, baking powder, and sea salt and whisk to combine.
Squeeze any excess liquid from the zucchini and place the shredded zucchini into the bowl. Also add the chocolate chips and fold everything together.
Line the muffin tins with papers and generously fill each muffin tin.
Bake for 25 – 30 minutes until the tops puff up and are set.
Remove from the oven and let stand in the pan for about 5 – 10 minutes before transferring them to a cooling rack.
Tips for these zucchini muffins:
- Squeeze squeeze squeeze!! You want to get as much moisture out of those little zucchini shreds to ensure you don’t have soggy muffins.
- Smaller shreds are better for small kids! Listen, if my kids see a fleck of green it’s a no go. I go for the smaller shredder hole and they can’t even detect the zucchini in these!
- Muffin liners! I love some good parchment paper muffin liners to easily remove the muffins from the tins!
Can you freeze zucchini muffins?
Absolutely! The zucchini helps keep the muffins moist when you reheat which is great. Sometimes baked goods can get dried out in the freezer but zucchini muffins freeze and reheat beautifully!
Moist Double Chocolate Zucchini Muffins (Gluten Free)
These 30-minute double chocolate zucchini muffins are made with almond flour, grated zucchini, almond butter, and unsweetened cocoa powder. Simply mix the ingredients together in one bowl and pop them into the oven. Gluten-free and refined sugar-free.
Ingredients
- 1 large zucchini, grated (about 1 cup after out squeeze the liquid out)
- 1/3 cup natural almond butter (How to Make Super Creamy Almond Butter)
- 1/3 cup agave nectar
- 2 eggs
- 1/4 cup salted grass-fed butter (How to Soften Butter in 10 Minutes)
- 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder (Cacao v. Cocoa Powder: What’s the Difference?)
- 1/2 cup blanched almond flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- two pinches sea salt
- 1/2 cup 60% cacao dark chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350F.
- Grate the zucchini into a clean, thin dish towel.
- Keep it in the towel and place it in a strainer in the sink.
- In your bowl, whisk together the almond butter, agave nectar, eggs, and butter.
- Add the cocoa, almond flour, baking powder, and sea salt.
- Whisk to combine.
- Add in the chocolate chips.
- Squeeze any excess liquid from the zucchini and place the shredded zucchini into the bowl. Fold everything together.
- Line the muffin tins with papers and fill each tin almost all the way.
- Bake for 30 minutes and remove from the oven.
- Let stand in the tins for about 5 minutes before transferring them to a cooling rack.
Nutrition Info:
- Serving Size: 1 muffin
- Calories: 185
- Sugar: 10g
- Sodium: 42mg
- Fat: 13.7g
- Saturated Fat: 3.7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 14.6g
- Fiber: 3.3g
- Protein: 4.6g
- Cholesterol: 42mg
Enjoy!! xo
Jeanne Sahawneh says
Lindsay, thanks for the approximately 1 c. of squeezed grated zucdhini you estimated. That worked great. My husband and I are both diabetic, so I had to substitute for the Agave nectar. I used 2 Tablespoons Truvia (stevia & erythritol), and 1/3 c. unsweetened applesauce (to replace the liquid part of the nectar. I know the applesauce has fructose from the apples, but a lot less than Agave nectar!). I also added 1/2 teaspoon vanilla, simply because I always put vanilla in with cocoa.
This is the most successful low carb, “sugar-free” recipe I’ve tried yet. My husband, who hardly ate cake and cookies before he became diabetic, LOVES these. Thanks so much for this recipe!
Lindsay Grimes Freedman says
Wonderful!! I’m so happy you guys found this recipe and love it!! Sending you lots of love! xo
Jill says
Just made these today with some leftover zucchini and they were delicious! Wishing I doubled the recipe so we had even more, but I will just have to make them again soon. Great consistency and texture, can’t wait to make them again!
Lindsay Grimes Freedman says
haha I always wish I had made more baked goods 🙂 I’m so happy you enjoyed! xo
Liana says
My husband hates when I use healthier options for baked goods, but he loved them! Also approved by my picky 2 & 4 year olds! 👍👍
Lindsay Grimes Freedman says
Yay!! Love when they’re family approved!! xo
Ashley says
Absolutely divine!! I’ve made them twice now with liquid coconut oil instead of butter and maple syrup instead of agave and they’re still delightful! Super moist and toddler approved too!
Lindsay Grimes Freedman says
Yay! I’m so happy you love them!! xo
Jil says
Delicious and so easy! These were a big hit with the whole family. Thank you for the great recipe!
Lindsay Grimes Freedman says
Yay!! I’m so happy you enjoyed them! xo