Double Chocolate Zucchini Bread

This double chocolate zucchini bread is the best of both worlds: healthy thanks to zucchini and a true chocolate craving cure with a double dose of cocoa and chocolate chips.

Ah September, the most bountiful month of the year, you are my favorite one of all.

I literally can’t even think of going into my neighborhood grocery or taking a stroll though the local farmers market without being stopped in my tracks by the fruits of summer’s labor. And I mean literally stopped because there’s no way I’m going to pass up samples of fresh local peaches and perfectly ripe, juicy watermelon. It makes enduring August’s inevitable round of late summer heat waves totally bearable.

Of course you know fruit isn’t the only seasonal bounty out there come harvest time. How dare we even think of leaving out the veggies in our seasonal haul. And if you’re a home gardener, you’re very likely up to your earlobes in everyone’s favorite grow at home varietal: the mighty zucchini.

One of the most obvious recipes that puts zucchini to work is everyone’s favorite: zucchini bread. And as will happen with classics like this, everyone has their favorite. I did too. Until I tried this one, and now I am not ashamed to say, I’ve totally jumped ship. Sorry mom, your recipe is no longer the favorite child. (Even though I know I still am.)

I can’t take credit for this double chocolate zucchini bread recipe because a far more talented baker created it well before blogs were even a twinkle in the world wide web’s eye. Before blogging (thank you www.com) Letty of Letty’s Kitchen was the Executive Pastry Chef at Deer Valley Resort for more than 30 years.

If you’ve yet to visit Deer Valley, you are missing out on some of the most amazing desserts you’ll ever taste. And most of those are desserts Letty created or had a hand in (and a spoon, and a whisk and probably a whole lot of finger that she licked) and were published in the cookbook The Chocolate Snowball: and Other Fabulous Pastries from Deer Valley Bakery featuring some of Letty’s and Deer Valley’s signature sweet eats.

I’ve been a huge fan of Letty’s skills for years and so of course I had to buy her cookbook, and I haven’t stopped baking from it since the day Amazon dropped it on my doorstep. Because these recipes were created for a ski resort, each one has high altitude adaptations for home cooks like me.

What’s in Chocolate Zucchini Bread?

This version tastes like a bakery version of zucchini bread, because, well, it’s the recipe of a well trained baker. What I love about this easy zucchini bread recipe, besides the double dose of chocolate, is the texture of its crumb.

Zucchini bread recipes can too often call for too much oil, only to create a slithery, oily mess of a slice of quick bread. In this recipe, less oil is used and cream cheese is added in, to give the bread it’s rich flavor and tender crumb.

To make this double chocolate chip zucchini bread recipe, you’ll need:

• Cream cheese
• Sugar
• Eggs
• Canola oil
• All-purpose flour
• Cocoa powder
• Baking soda and baking powder
• Vanilla
• Salt
• Zucchini
• Pecans
• Chocolate chips

How to Make Chocolate Zucchini Bread

To make this double chocolate zucchini bread recipe, you’ll first need to whip together the cream cheese and sugar. Add in the rest of the wet ingredients and continue mixing until combined. Add the dry ingredients to a separate bowl, then mix into the wet ingredients. Carefully fold in the grated zucchini, chocolate chips, and pecans and pour into a greased loaf pan.

Bake the double chocolate chip zucchini bread until the edges start to pull away from the pan. You’ll need to let your loaf cool for a good 30 minutes before slicing and serving.

Can I Make This Recipe as Zucchini Muffins?

I’m not sure if you can bake this exact chocolate zucchini bread recipe as muffins. However, Letty has a chocolate zucchini muffins recipe on her blog that I recommend making if you’d rather go that route.

Can I Freeze Chocolate Zucchini Bread?

Yes, quick breads freeze incredibly well. To freeze this double chocolate zucchini bread, first let it cool to room temperature before sealing inside a freezer bag or wrapping it in a few layers of plastic wrap and freezing. When you’re ready to enjoy the frozen loaf, set it on the counter to thaw.

You can also slice and freeze this zucchini bread. Just note that pre-sliced bread is more likely to dry out in the freezer, so you’ll need to eat it quicker.

Tips for Making Chocolate Zucchini Bread

Don’t be tempted to use milk chocolate chips over semi-sweet chocolate chips in this recipe or you’ll miss out on the more pronounced chocolate flavor. I used chocolate chunks in my version for an even bolder chocolate power bite.

Feel free to use another type of nut in this recipe if you don’t have pecans on hand. Letty suggests using almonds in her version of this recipe, but you could use walnuts, macadamia nuts, or even pistachios, too.

I also upped the amount of zucchini for more seasonal squash flavor. It’s not gonna be fresh from the garden for long, so I’m doubling down on my seasonal bets now for a recipe that is totally #winning.

More Quick Bread Recipes You’ll Love

• Blueberry Oatmeal Bread
• Chocolate Chip Banana Bread
• Cherry Almond Bread
• Lemon Poppyseed Bread with Cranberries
• Cranberry Nut Bread

If you make this recipe, please let me know! Leave a comment below or take a photo and tag me on Instagram or Twitter with #foodiecrusheats. 

#EatSeasonal September

As we have for the past few seasons, Becky of The Vintage Mixer has posted her list of what’s in season to eat now and from that list, has amassed a group of us who are posting #eatseasonal recipes today. Some are some are sweet, some are savory and they’re all in season now. They’re all good and they’re all seasonal and are listed below.

Please hop over to their sites, say hi and enjoy their seasonal inspiration.

Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps with Carrots and Radishes from The Vintage Mixer

Pear and Blackberry Almond Cake from Floating Kitchen

Coconut Curry Cauliflower Rice Bowls from Kitchen Confidante

Harvest Tortilla Soup from Simple Bites

Ratatouille Lasagna from Flavor the Moments

Melon and Raspberry Soda Float from Letty’s Kitchen

Homemade Pumpkin Pasta from Bless This Mess

Thanks everyone for checking out this month’s seasonal eats. I hope they inspire you to get into the kitchen and make something good.

Craving more life balance, less stress, and better health? Check out my Nourished Planner, the daily planner to help create simplicity and under-schedule your life.

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