Chocolate zucchini bread is a baked good made with shredded zucchini squash. The vegetable helps to make the bread moist, in addition to adding a health benefit. As the taste and texture of the zucchini go relatively unnoticed once it is baked in the bread, some parents use it as a way to incorporate more vegetables into their child’s diet. It is also a popular choice among individuals who grow zucchini, as the squash tends to produce more than the typical household can consume. The bread is often made with several different kinds of spices, nuts, and other flavorings.
A typical chocolate zucchini bread recipe includes shredded zucchini, cocoa powder, and all-purpose flour. As the recipe tends to be popular among health-conscious individuals, there are many recipes that use a combination of whole wheat and all-purpose flours. Most recipes also use both baking soda and baking powder, in addition to a small amount of salt.
Chocolate zucchini bread is usually sweetened with either brown sugar by itself or in combination with white sugar. Other common flavorings include vanilla, cinnamon, and allspice. More possibilities for flavoring include melted chocolate, instant coffee granules, or chocolate chips. Nuts such as walnuts or pecans may also be added to the batter.
Safflower, canola, or vegetable oil are typically used to moisten the batter. In order to cut down on the fat content, some recipes replace some of the oil with unsweetened applesauce or a fat replacement product. A standard recipe will also have two to three eggs.
To make the bread, the dry ingredients are first whisked together. Then the shredded zucchini can be added to the mix, though some recipes call for it to be folded in once the batter is finished. The wet ingredients are combined next. Then the zucchini and dry goods mixture is slowly added to the wet ingredients until everything is just combined. The ingredients can be mixed by hand or with an electric mixer.
Extras such as nuts and chocolate chips are typically folded into the batter once it has been mixed. Then the batter is usually poured into a bread pan. Some recipes play up the dessert characteristics of the bread by suggesting that the batter be cooked in a pie pan.
Popular variations of chocolate zucchini bread include versions made into muffins, cakes, and cupcakes. There are also several recipes for zucchini bread and muffins without the chocolate. All of these tend to be sweet, rather than savory, goods.