Zucchini Brownies (gluten-free, dairy-free options)

The gooiest zucchini brownies ever! You’d never guess these are made a little healthier and made with whole grains (but can also be made with all-purpose or gluten-free flour) or that zucchini and that applesauce takes the place of oil! With gluten-free and dairy-free options.

I don’t like zucchini at all. I’m also not a fan of “hiding” veggies in my dessert recipes, because I can always tell that they’re in there. That’s not the case with these brownies!

The gooiest zucchini brownies ever! You'd never guess these are made a little healthier and made with whole grains (but can also be made with all-purpose or gluten-free flour) or that zucchini and that applesauce takes the place of oil!

These healthy zucchini brownies still have sugar in them, but they’re not quite as bad as your usual brownie recipe. If you want something especially naughty, try these gluten-free brownies, which are really the best brownies ever – gluten-free or not! They can also be made with whole wheat flour.

These chocolate zucchini brownies have no added fat* (except what’s in the chocolate chips) and are full of zucchini and whole grains (but really do not taste like it!) so you can feel good about giving these to your children.

Chocolate Zucchini Brownies - 100% whole grain (can also be made with all-purpose flour), dairy-free, and have no added fat other than what is in the chocolate chips! So gooey and chocolatey, nobody will have a clue that these are made healthier

* I love healthy fats and usually load up my recipes with them. But in this one, it’s just not needed!

Really, unless your kids watch you make these, or you grate the zucchini coarsely, there’s no way that they’ll be able to tell that these brownies have zucchini in them. Or that they’re whole wheat or whole spelt. The gluten-free version also doesn’t taste gluten-free!

Want some more kid-friendly recipes? Try my no-bake oatmeal cookies. They’re whole grain and naturally gluten-free + vegan. And perfect for the lunch box!

This whole wheat banana bread is also a favorite and you can always toss in some walnuts or chocolate chips for something different.

And if you have portion control issues, these brownies halve beautifully! Use a 9″ x 5″ loaf pan and bake for only 14 minutes.

I highly recommend not decreasing the amount of chocolate chips in the batter. You can definitely skip the ones on top but these zucchini brownies rely on the sweetness and flavor from the chocolate chips!

100% Whole Grain (can also be made with all-purpose flour) + Dairy-free Chocolate Zucchini Brownies - nobody will have a clue that these are made healthier

I’m pretty sure you’d be disappointed if you didn’t use the chocolate in the batter. And I definitely don’t want that!

Be sure to use Dutch-process cocoa powder in these zucchini brownies. If you use the regular natural kind (like Hershey’s) these zucchini brownies will likely come out cakey instead of nice and fudgy like you see!

Besides, once you have some Dutch-process cocoa powder, you’ll be able to make these whole wheat chocolate cupcakes! They’re seriously just as delicious as traditional cupcakes made with all-purpose flour.

If you don’t mind the brownies being cakey and want to use regular cocoa powder, then go for it! Some commenters have mentioned making them with regular cocoa powder and loving them.

Have more zucchini to use? This chocolate zucchini bread also looks great! As do these zucchini muffins.

Enjoy!

Zucchini Chocolate Brownies (100% whole grain, gluten-free, dairy-free options)

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Rated 4.9 by 74 readers
Zucchini Brownies (gluten-free, dairy-free options)
  • Prep Time:
  • Cook Time:
  • Ready in:
  • Yield: 16 brownies

Ingredients

  • 2 large eggs (50 grams each, out of shell)
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 3/4 cup coconut sugar or unrefined sugar or granulated sugar
  • 1/4 cup (60 ml) unsweetened applesauce
  • 1 cup (125 grams) whole wheat flour or whole spelt flour or all-purpose flour or Bob's Red Mill Gluten-Free 1-to-1 Baking Flour for the gluten-free version
  • 1/2 cup (45 grams) Dutch-process cocoa powder (using regular cocoa powder may result in cakey brownies)
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 2 cups (about 300 – 320 grams) peeled and grated zucchini
  • 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips + 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips to sprinkle on top (for dairy-free, use Enjoy Life Chocolate Chips)

Directions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (176 degrees C) and line an 8"x8" pan with parchment paper or spray with baking spray.
  2. In a large bowl, mix together the eggs, vanilla, coconut sugar, and apple sauce and let this sit for 5 minutes to let the coconut sugar dissolve.
  3. In a separate medium bowl, mix together the flour, cocoa powder (sifted if lumpy!), baking soda and salt. Make sure there are no clumps before going on to the next step.
  4. Add the dry mix to the wet, gently stir until combined. Be sure not to over mix!
  5. Then fold in the zucchini and 1 cup chocolate chips.
  6. Pour the batter into the pan and even the surface with a spatula.
  7. Sprinkle 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips on top.
  8. Bake for 30 - 35 minutes (14 minutes for the half batch) or until a toothpick inserted in the middle doesn't come out gooey. It might still be sticky - just not have raw batter on it.
  9. Store in an airtight container for up to 2 days at room temperature or up to one week in the refrigerator. I recommend storing them in the refrigerator right from the beginning due to their high moisture content.

Recipe by  | www.texanerin.com

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516 comments on “Zucchini Brownies (gluten-free, dairy-free options)” — Add one!

11 comments are awaiting moderation!

  • Karin says
    June 17, 2017 @ 3:28 pm

    Hi Erin! I plan on making these for our Father’s day dessert. We’ve been trying to make some healthy changes to our diets by eating more whole, unprocessed foods. I was super excited to find your recipe. I love to cook, but I am NOT a baker, so I plan to collow your recipe to a T. With that said – as far as sugar is concerned is cane sugar a good option to put in this recipe? Thanks in advance!

    Reply
    • Erin replies to Karin
      June 18, 2017 @ 10:28 am

      Hi Karin! Sorry I just now saw your comment. Cane sugar should be fine as long as it’s not SUPER coarse. Just make sure to let the mixture sit for a bit to let is dissolve like I mention in Step 2. I hope everyone will enjoy the brownies and sorry again for the slow reply!

      Reply
      • Karin replies to Erin
        June 19, 2017 @ 3:12 am

        Thanks for the reply. I made these today for Father’s Day. I wasn’t planning on telling anyone they are healthy, but my husband let the cat out of the bag. My dad was bummed to hear they were healthy, but after trying them he couldn’t believe it and had at least 3. They were amazing! I followed the recipe exactly and they came our fudgey just as you described – not cakey at all. Thanks so much for the recipe! I enjoyed them even more without the guilt! :)

        Reply
        • Erin replies to Karin
          June 21, 2017 @ 9:12 pm

          Aww, yay! So happy that your dad didn’t end up disappointed after all. And tsk tsk to your husband… sharing the secret. ;) Thanks for your comment!

  • Anastasia
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    June 17, 2017 @ 6:55 am

    It is the best Chocolate Brownie I have ever tasted))))
    Thank you so much for this yummy present)

    Reply
    • Erin replies to Anastasia
      June 18, 2017 @ 10:15 am

      Woohoo! So happy to hear that. :) Thanks a bunch for your comment!

      Reply
  • Brittney says
    May 23, 2017 @ 8:15 pm

    Hi! I’ve been looking for the perfect zucchini brownie recipe and these look great! I’ve tried one before and it was good but the zucchini was not grated enough for my liking. My kids loved them but I was wondering if taking the required amount of zucchini and putting it in the food processor would make too much of a mushy difference for these?

    Reply
    • Erin replies to Brittney
      May 24, 2017 @ 7:40 pm

      Hello! I think making a puree out of it would definitely make it too mushy. I used this grater and you couldn’t detect the zucchini at all. :)

      Reply
  • Nancy says
    April 20, 2017 @ 1:31 am

    does the zucchini need to be peeled first? can the appplesauce be substituted with nut butter? what are the nutritional facts for this recipe?

    Reply
    • Erin replies to Nancy
      April 20, 2017 @ 8:33 pm

      Yes, the recipe calls for peeled zucchini. :) I’ve never subbed applesauce with nut butter so I can’t recommend it. I don’t have that info but you can copy and paste the recipe here for the nutritional profile, if you’d like.

      Reply
  • Marlene says
    April 20, 2017 @ 12:28 am

    Hi,

    I’m looking foward to trying your recipe. But have a few questions:

    1) I can’t find Dutch-processed cocoa powder. What adjustments do I need to make if using Hershey Cocoa Powder?

    2) I only have Mini chocolate chips…How much should I add to sub the 1cup reg morsels?

    Thanks!

    Reply
    • Erin replies to Marlene
      April 20, 2017 @ 8:28 pm

      Hello! Unfortunately I don’t know what adjustments you’d need to make. It’d require a bit of testing and I haven’t done that. Other people have enjoyed them with Hershey’s cocoa powder, but a few have said they come out cakey. I would use 1 cup mini chocolate chips in place of the regular-sized ones. Hope you’ll like them!

      Reply
  • Sarah
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    April 10, 2017 @ 10:56 pm

    I’ve made these a bunch of times and they are delicious. Do you think this recipe would work as cupcakes?

    Reply
    • Erin replies to Sarah
      April 11, 2017 @ 8:31 am

      I’m happy you enjoy them! You could make individual-sized brownies using a muffin pan (maybe filling them 1/4 or 1/5 full) but filling the batter almost to the top and having them come out in cupcake shape… I’m not so hopeful that that’d work well.

      Reply
  • Stephanie says
    April 2, 2017 @ 1:21 am

    Do you squeeze out the excess water from the grated zuchinni or do you add it as is?

    Reply
    • Erin replies to Stephanie
      April 2, 2017 @ 6:26 pm

      I added it as is. But if yours is dripping wet, you might want to get rid of some of the excess water.

      Reply
  • Joshua Goetz says
    February 20, 2017 @ 12:27 am

    Great recipe! Got a batch in the oven right now. Only difference I used is honey as my sweetner! and peanut flour instead of the whole wheat!

    Reply
    • Erin replies to Joshua Goetz
      February 20, 2017 @ 10:33 pm

      Oh, wow! The peanut flour’s an interesting sub. How much honey did you use? Thanks for your comment!

      Reply
  • Ariba says
    January 30, 2017 @ 4:01 pm

    Sounds good! I am allergic to apple sauce, could you recommend a substitute

    Reply
    • Erin replies to Ariba
      January 30, 2017 @ 9:17 pm

      Thanks! I’m not sure what would work well here but there are several suggestions found on this page. My vote would be for banana puree, but you’ll likely be able to taste it.

      Reply
    • Jackie replies to Ariba
      February 25, 2017 @ 7:01 pm

      You could try puréed pear or pear baby food if you want to be lazy!

      Reply
      • Erin replies to Jackie
        February 26, 2017 @ 9:00 pm

        Thanks for the tip! :)

        Reply
  • Erin
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    December 18, 2016 @ 8:56 pm

    These are soooo good! I made these a few months ago and had to try it again! I have a batch in the oven right now… I’m so excited! :D Thank you for the wonderful recipe that I can feel good about.

    Reply
    • Erin replies to Erin
      December 18, 2016 @ 10:36 pm

      Aww, yay! I’m happy that you’re making them again and that you like them so much. :) I hope this batch comes out just as well. Thanks a bunch for your comment!

      Reply
    • Ashley replies to Erin
      January 8, 2017 @ 9:17 am

      How do I cook with the zucchini? Do I peel the skin off and put it in a blender or just shred it with a cheese grater? I’ve never made brownies with zucchini before.

      Reply
      • Erin replies to Ashley
        January 8, 2017 @ 12:43 pm

        Hi there! Peel the zucchini (I used a potato peeler) and then use a cheese grater or whatever grated you’d like to grate it. Enjoy! :)

        Reply
  • Lindsey S says
    December 11, 2016 @ 1:12 am

    What’s the nutritional info for these, please?

    Reply
    • Erin replies to Lindsey S
      December 11, 2016 @ 9:41 pm

      I don’t have that info but you can copy and paste the recipe here for the nutritional profile, if you’d like. :)

      Reply
  • marlene says
    November 21, 2016 @ 8:43 pm

    Hi there, hope I’m not repeating a question but I am about to make these with my nephews and wanted to substitute the coconut sugar because of an allergy but I also don’t use regular sugar. Do you think I could use a banana or extra applesauce? Thanks!

    Reply
    • Erin replies to marlene
      November 21, 2016 @ 10:22 pm

      Hi there! I haven’t had a good experience when it comes to subbing bananas or applesauce for sugar. If you feel like experimenting, this page may have some helpful tips for you. I’d love to hear how they come out if you try them!

      Reply
      • Marlene
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        replies to Erin
        November 22, 2016 @ 12:11 am

        These brownies were amazingly gooey! I didn’t end up subbing the coconut sugar. Made other cookies for the nephew with coconut allergies. ;) I didn’t have the Dutch cocoa but since many stated it was cake like with regular cocoa, I added more applesauce after mixing everything together because I could see it was a little dry looking. Baked for 30 minutes & it was gooey inside but stiffened up enough after cooling. Can’t wait till my hubby tries these without knowing there’s zucchini in it

        Reply
        • Erin replies to Marlene
          November 22, 2016 @ 9:39 pm

          Aww, yay! I’m so happy that you tried them and enjoyed them. I hope that your husband liked the brownies, too! Thanks for coming back to let me know how it went. :)

  • Melissa Rodriguez
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    November 12, 2016 @ 3:26 pm

    These were honestly super good!! I made them with egg whites instead. I included 3 egg whites and put 1/2 cup of whole wheat flour and 1/4 cup of coconut flour and they turned out wonderful!

    Reply
    • Melissa Rodriguez replies to Melissa Rodriguez
      November 12, 2016 @ 3:29 pm

      ALSO, I forgot to mention that I baked them as cookies so when the outside looked dried out, I removed them and as they cool, they get moisture and softer.

      Reply
      • Erin replies to Melissa Rodriguez
        November 12, 2016 @ 11:53 pm

        Another interesting change. :D What kind of texture did they have? Were they like cookies or brownies but in cookie shape? Sounds like something I need to try!

        Reply
    • Erin replies to Melissa Rodriguez
      November 12, 2016 @ 11:52 pm

      Coconut flour?! That’s an interesting sub. I’m shocked (but happy!) that that worked. :) Thanks so much for your comment!

      Reply
  • Bonnie
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    October 11, 2016 @ 10:39 pm

    Made these this afternoon with coconut oil, since I didn’t have applesauce on hand. Thank you for this delicious recipe! Melty, chocolatey, & satisfying. I will be making these again.

    Reply
    • Erin replies to Bonnie
      October 12, 2016 @ 9:22 pm

      Did you use the same amount? Interesting! Thanks for the tip and your feedback. :)

      Reply
  • Sarah says
    September 22, 2016 @ 6:22 pm

    Could I double this and bake it in a 9×13 pan instead?

    Thanks!

    Reply
    • Erin replies to Sarah
      September 22, 2016 @ 8:27 pm

      I haven’t tried it but I’m assuming that’d work! The difficulty would be the baking time. I’d keep a close eye on them and start checking them every 3-5 minutes after the recommended baking time for an 8×8.

      Reply
  • Krista Toussant
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    September 18, 2016 @ 11:58 pm

    BEST BROWNIES EVER! That is all :) Seriously, a must bake.

    Reply
    • Erin replies to Krista Toussant
      September 19, 2016 @ 10:30 pm

      Haha. I’m thrilled you liked them so much! :D Thanks for your comment!

      Reply
  • Diane says
    September 15, 2016 @ 11:30 pm

    Hi everyone- i’m pretty new to substituting vegetables in baking, but I’m excited to try this recipe! Does the zucchini have to be cooked first or does it go in raw?

    Reply
    • Erin replies to Diane
      September 15, 2016 @ 11:31 pm

      Hi there! It goes in raw. :) I hope you’ll enjoy them!

      Reply
  • Mindy
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    September 10, 2016 @ 10:42 pm

    These are super good! I made mine using my blendtech, and then baking. I also added in a few fresh figs

    Reply
    • Erin replies to Mindy
      September 13, 2016 @ 7:43 pm

      With figs?! That sounds like a great addition! Thanks for your comment. :)

      Reply
  • Quinn
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    August 21, 2016 @ 9:02 pm

    Just made these, and wow!!! They’re fantastic! Thank you for such a great recipe!

    Reply
    • Erin replies to Quinn
      August 22, 2016 @ 2:12 pm

      And thank you for your comment! :) I’m happy you enjoyed them.

      Reply
  • Stacie
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    August 16, 2016 @ 7:22 pm

    As I type this my three year old is quietly devouring a brownie. These are very good! I made the mistake of leaving them in too long. As I set the timer for ten more minutes I came back to read comments and saw leaving them in longer can make them more cake like. So next time I will stick to 30 minutes instead of 40! They aren’t TOTALLY cakey though. The center looks more gooey. I will absolutely make these again. I used whole grain flour as well and you absolutely can’t tell. And a side note – I LOVE that your comments are mostly from people who actually made the recipe. That is so helpful when someone is considering trying a recipe. And your feedback to commenters is so helpful and respectful. Thank you so much! I look forward to trying more of your recipes!

    Reply
    • Stacie replies to Stacie
      August 17, 2016 @ 2:51 am

      Actually- while putting away my cocoa I realized it was a blend! Not 100% Dutch process. That in combo with baking too long made them slightly cakey. Still delicious though. Looking forward to trying again with the proper cocoa and cooking time!

      Reply
      • Erin replies to Stacie
        August 18, 2016 @ 8:18 pm

        Aha! Good that you caught that. Hopefully next time they’ll turn out less cakey. :)

        I have to admit that most of my recipes aren’t filled with so many reviews like this. I wish they were! Most people prefer to leave feedback on social media these days and not on the recipe post. I appreciate any feedback I get so I’m not complaining. :) Thanks so much for your review and thoughtful comment! (and sorry for my slow reply! I’m sick and haven’t been at my computer much)

        Reply
  • Holly H
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    August 13, 2016 @ 4:33 am

    I made these tonight and they were soooooo good! It was thick like cake for me, but definitely the consistency of a fudgy brownie. I used white whole wheat flour from Bob’s Red Mill, and turbinado sugar. I baked mine in an 8×8 pyrex baking dish. It took longer than an hour though. I think it took nearly an hour, but I just keep checking every 10 minutes and they came out great. I have tried making other brownie recipes from scratch and they weren’t that great, thank you for making one that’s healthy and delicious! I make lots of my own applesauce every fall and keep extra shredded zucchini in the freezer, so I plan to make a few batches this winter. :)

    Reply
    • Erin replies to Holly H
      August 14, 2016 @ 7:40 pm

      I’m happy to hear that you liked them! It shouldn’t have taken an hour, though. Maybe that’s why they were like thick cake? I made these the other day and when I checked with a toothpick, I couldn’t get it to come out clean. Everywhere I checked, it came out with melted chocolate on it! But not raw batter. It’s tough to tell when these are actually ready! But if you liked them that way, then it’s great. :) Thanks a bunch for your comment!

      Reply
  • Liz Edwards
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    August 12, 2016 @ 7:20 am

    Erin, I am on a grain-free diet due to intolerances, and so had tried your brownies with tigernut flour just for fun. They are FANTASTIC–agreed to by all my gluten-eating friends and family! The tigernut flour leaves a little bit of cruchiness–kind of like coconut would–but it just adds to the texture. We add pecans to the chips on top as well. The only thing I noted is that the baking time changes to over an hour–use the knife coming out clean as when it’s fully cooked. Thanks for a fantastic recipe! By the way, I had some leftover grated zucchini this time, and added an egg, chopped onion, salt and a few tablespoons of cassava flour and fried some (trial) zucchini pancakes in bacon grease. It will become a routine, as they were delicious

    Reply
    • Erin replies to Liz Edwards
      August 13, 2016 @ 6:57 pm

      That’s great that tigernut flour worked well! That’s one grain-free flour that I’ve never tried. Did you use the same amount? And your zucchini pancakes sound like a wonderful way to use up leftover zucchini. I’ll have to try that! Thanks for your comment. :)

      Reply
  • Kristina says
    August 6, 2016 @ 9:05 pm

    Thank you for sharing this recipe! I’ve tried it and it turned out great.

    Just wondering — can these brownies be put in a freezer?

    Reply
    • Erin replies to Kristina
      August 6, 2016 @ 9:38 pm

      I think they’d freeze well! I’m happy to hear you liked them. Thanks for your feedback! :)

      Reply
      • Liz replies to Erin
        March 29, 2017 @ 1:51 am

        The tigernut ones with pecans freeze beautifully, so I bet the regular ones would as well. Heating them in the microwave, they even retain the wonderful gooey texture–I didn’t expect that! I take them for a snack at work and they hold me 4+ hours until my next meal!

        Reply
        • Erin replies to Liz
          March 30, 2017 @ 8:38 pm

          Thanks for the tip! That’s great to know. I’m happy that they reheat well!

  • Rachel says
    August 6, 2016 @ 7:47 pm

    I made these last night and they are sooo good! I used 1/3 cup stevia instead of coconut sugar and regular cocoa powder and they turned out amazing! Thank you for the recipe, I’ll definitely be making them again👍🏼

    Reply
    • Erin replies to Rachel
      August 6, 2016 @ 9:42 pm

      That’s great to know that it works with stevia! Does it have an aftertaste? Now I can refer to your comment when people ask for a sugar-free version. :) Thanks a bunch for the tip and for your feedback!

      Reply
      • Rachel replies to Erin
        August 7, 2016 @ 5:50 am

        Nope no aftertaste! But I did use baking blend, not sure if that makes a difference. My boyfriend had no idea there was stevia in it :)

        Reply
        • Erin replies to Rachel
          August 7, 2016 @ 2:01 pm

          Oh, neat! Good to know. Everything I’ve tried with stevia has an aftertaste I can’t deal with. Thanks again for the tip! :)

  • Erin
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    August 4, 2016 @ 3:52 pm

    Mine came out extremely dry despite cooking it for 29 minutes with only the middle part moist. Kind of kicking myself for wasting all those ingredients and not taking the brownies out sooner. But I’m sure this receipe is delicious as the small middle area tastes amazing!

    Reply
    • Erin replies to Erin
      August 4, 2016 @ 9:13 pm

      Hi there! If yours came out dry, something must have gone wrong. These should be super moist and gooey! (and none of the other reviewers have mentioned them being dry). Did you make any changes or subs at all to the recipe? If not, then perhaps your oven is running hot? Or did you use a glass or dark baking pan? I’m happy the middle was still good! :)

      Reply
  • Juana says
    August 2, 2016 @ 4:38 pm

    How long would you recommend baking these in a dark 8×8 pan?

    Reply
    • Erin replies to Juana
      August 2, 2016 @ 7:36 pm

      I’m guessing you should bake them at 325 and for the same amount of time. It’s just a guess, though. :)

      Reply
  • Tammy says
    August 1, 2016 @ 10:41 pm

    Should I wring out the zucchini to remove excess moisture?

    Reply
    • Erin replies to Tammy
      August 1, 2016 @ 10:45 pm

      If it’s really juicy, like if you after grate it and it’s sitting in liquid, then you may want to get rid of some but I’ve never had to do that. Enjoy! :)

      Reply
  • Mimi says
    July 29, 2016 @ 3:55 pm

    Do you have nutrition facts for these?

    Reply
    • Erin replies to Mimi
      July 29, 2016 @ 10:18 pm

      I don’t have that info but you can copy and paste the recipe here for the nutritional profile, if you’d like. :)

      Reply
  • Barbra says
    July 29, 2016 @ 8:45 am

    If i don’t want to use cocoa powder can i substitute with lets say 1/4 cup of melted dark chocolate? And maybe reduce the sugar?

    Reply
    • Erin replies to Barbra
      July 29, 2016 @ 11:29 am

      I’m sorry but I really don’t think that that’ll work! You can read more about why here. I recommend just getting some cocoa powder. :) I’d hate for you to waste your ingredients by experimenting with chocolate!

      Reply
  • Lera says
    July 21, 2016 @ 8:44 pm

    Could I use teff flour for these?

    Reply
    • Erin replies to Lera
      July 21, 2016 @ 8:52 pm

      I’ve had good luck with teff in brownies but can’t guarantee it’d work here since I haven’t tried it. I do have a teff brownie recipe here. :)

      Reply
      • Lera replies to Erin
        July 21, 2016 @ 8:55 pm

        Yep, and I’ve made that one twice and its delicious! Was just curious since I have the teff flour laying around. I may just use the 1-1 GF baking flour just to be safe.

        Reply
        • Erin replies to Lera
          July 21, 2016 @ 9:04 pm

          I think that’s a good idea! I’d hate for you to waste your flour on experimenting. I’m planning on trying an oat flour version of this soon so at least there’ll be 1 GF option soon. :) And I’m happy you enjoyed the other brownies!

        • Ruby replies to Lera
          August 9, 2016 @ 6:35 am

          I used a GF flour blend of buckwheat & sorghum flour & it turned out just fine. Also I used chia seeds for the eggs. It was delicious!

        • Erin replies to Ruby
          August 9, 2016 @ 8:34 pm

          Thanks for sharing your GF / vegan version! Sounds great. :) So happy they came out well for you!

  • Lauren says
    July 15, 2016 @ 8:08 pm

    Just made these, they’re AMAZING! So delicious!

    Reply
    • Erin replies to Lauren
      July 16, 2016 @ 12:07 am

      Yay! So happy that you liked them. Thanks for your comment. :)

      Reply
  • Yana says
    June 29, 2016 @ 9:47 pm

    Hi,do you think I could use liquid sweetener instead of sugar, would it make any difference in the texture?

    Reply
    • Erin replies to Yana
      June 29, 2016 @ 10:33 pm

      Hi there! If you add liquid to the recipe then you need to reduce the other liquids in the recipe. Unfortunately, this recipe doesn’t have any milk or anything that you can really reduce so I wouldn’t recommend it.

      Reply
      • Yana replies to Erin
        June 30, 2016 @ 5:02 pm

        Oh okay, and what if I exclude the sugar from the recipe/use a smaller amount ?

        Reply
        • Erin replies to Yana
          June 30, 2016 @ 10:29 pm

          You can reduce it a bit but if you reduce it too much, then the texture and taste will be negatively affected. Excluding all the sugar would be a disaster and I don’t recommend it. ;)

  • Regina
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    June 23, 2016 @ 10:18 pm

    These are amazing! The recipe turned out perfect!

    Reply
    • Erin replies to Regina
      June 23, 2016 @ 10:47 pm

      I’m happy to hear that! Thanks so much for your comment. :)

      Reply
  • Lisa says
    June 17, 2016 @ 10:05 pm

    Can you use cacao powder instead of Dutch cocoa?

    Reply
    • Erin replies to Lisa
      June 18, 2016 @ 10:04 pm

      I wasn’t sure so I googled it and still don’t have a good answer. I’m sure it’ll taste fine but you’ll probably end up with cakey brownies rather than gooey like in the pictures. Let us know how it works if you try it out! Enjoy. :)

      Reply
  • Sheila Wright says
    June 15, 2016 @ 11:28 pm

    Made these a few weeks ago and like lots of people have said before, it was more like a moist cake…. so, I put a thin layer of cool whip on the top and called it zucchini cake… it was loved by all our kids and family at our cookout! I will replace my regular chocolate cake recipe with this one for now on. It’s our new family favorite! ! Thank you!

    Reply
    • Erin replies to Sheila Wright
      June 16, 2016 @ 11:39 am

      Did you use Dutch-process cocoa powder or the regular Hershey’s kind? I think the commenter below you has figured out why they’re coming out cakey for some people but not cakey for others! And I’m so happy you still enjoyed it and turned it into a cake. :) Thanks so much for your comment!

      Reply
  • Irene says
    June 10, 2016 @ 1:43 am

    I’m not sure if the mystery of the “cakey” brownies has been solved but I’m quite sure it has to do with Dutch-processed cocoa vs natural cocoa. Dutch-process cocoa has a nutral pH which means the recipe needs baking powder to have any leavening occur, which is not what you use in your recipe hence yours are dense and moist. If someone substitutes natural cocoa it will react with the baking soda and cause a cake-like texture. The two cocoa’s are not interchangeable.
    Hope this is helpful :)

    Reply
    • Erin replies to Irene
      June 10, 2016 @ 10:23 pm

      Wow, thanks so much for your comment! I just updated the recipe stating that Dutch-process cocoa powder must be used. That’s what I originally had listed but then several people told me that they had used natural cocoa powder with success so I listed that as an option. I’m going to go through my other brownie recipes and add a note to them, as well. Really, thanks so much for taking the time to leave this comment! It’s a huge help. :)

      Reply
      • Irene Whitehead replies to Erin
        June 14, 2016 @ 7:10 pm

        No problem, glad to be of help. My head is full of random baking facts, I’m glad they can be useful :)

        Reply
        • Erin replies to Irene Whitehead
          June 16, 2016 @ 11:34 am

          Haha. Better than a bunch of random film trivia, like mine. ;) Thanks again!

    • Rachael replies to Irene
      October 23, 2016 @ 6:15 am

      Mine came out like a cake. Used Dutch cocoa and followed exactly. Only baked 32 minutes. Hmm not sure. Tastes pretty good though.

      Reply
      • Erin replies to Rachael
        October 23, 2016 @ 5:07 pm

        The only other variable I can think of is water content, which varies a lot in zucchini. I’m happy you still liked them. :)

        Reply
  • Machelle
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    says
    June 7, 2016 @ 4:16 pm

    I made these last night. I will make them again but i will tweak the recipe. i used a tablespoon of pure vanilla extract and these had a very strong taste of liquor. So i will cut that back quite a bit. The brownies were more like cake but I may have stirred them too much or baked them too long, according to your comments. But over all I will be making these again. Thank you for sharing this is a keeper.

    Reply
    • Erin replies to Machelle
      June 8, 2016 @ 5:07 pm

      I’m happy you enjoyed them! And good call on being careful with the overstirring. I hope next time they’ll come out as gooey as they should be! Thanks a bunch for your comment. :)

      Reply
  • Rachel says
    June 3, 2016 @ 12:40 pm

    Oh my! These are so decadent! Delicious and easy. I skipped the chips on top.

    Reply
    • Rachel
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      replies to Rachel
      June 3, 2016 @ 12:41 pm

      Oops, forgot to add a 5 star rating!

      Reply
      • Erin replies to Rachel
        June 3, 2016 @ 6:51 pm

        And thanks for leaving another comment just to leave a rating. Much appreciated! :)

        Reply
    • Erin replies to Rachel
      June 3, 2016 @ 6:51 pm

      I’m so happy you liked them! Thanks for your comment. :)

      Reply
  • Jackie says
    June 1, 2016 @ 10:43 pm

    If I am in the mood for a healthy desert and don’t have zucchini could I substitute it for a banana? (I’m not familiar with substitutions just trying to eat healthier) LOL any advice would help! Thanks!

    Reply
    • Erin replies to Jackie
      June 2, 2016 @ 4:13 pm

      I’ve never tried subbing a banana for zucchini so I’m sorry to say I have no idea if that’d work. I’m guessing not, though. 2 cups is a lot of zucchini to omit / sub! These brownies have a lot more sugar in them but there’s no zucchini to worry about. :)

      Reply
  • Madhavi says
    May 29, 2016 @ 6:22 pm

    It is splendid to come across your recipe for healthy brownies. Just a thought to help out those who found their brownies turning out cakey could be the baking time….I experiment a lot with mixed Millet/buckwheat flours in brownies and I think it helps to get the brownies out soon as they are at a stage where a few crumbs stick to the tester/sticky as you mention in the procedure. Timing is key when it comes to making fudgy multi-grain brownies.

    Reply
    • Erin replies to Madhavi
      May 30, 2016 @ 9:47 pm

      Exactly! I suppose the few people who said these are cakey might be overbaking them (if they didn’t make any subs) because these just aren’t cakey. I hope you’ll enjoy the brownies if you try them out! Thanks for your comment. :)

      Reply
  • Andrea Hooper says
    May 12, 2016 @ 2:49 am

    Do you think these would be 21 day fix approved?! PLEASE SAY YES!

    Reply
    • Erin replies to Andrea Hooper
      May 12, 2016 @ 9:50 pm

      I’m sorry but I’m not at all familiar with that program! Do they have guidelines anywhere?

      Reply
      • Andrea Hooper replies to Erin
        May 12, 2016 @ 10:13 pm

        Yes they do! I think I would basically need to substitute the sugar for maple syrup or agave. http://www.daystofitness.com/21-day-fix-eating-plan/

        Reply
        • Erin replies to Andrea Hooper
          May 13, 2016 @ 9:22 pm

          Hmm. I can’t find any mentions of sweeteners (maple, agave, or sugar) in that post, though I didn’t read the comments! The problem with using a liquid sweetener is that you’ll be adding quite a bit of liquid, which I think will make the brownies cakey.

  • Lisa
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    says
    May 9, 2016 @ 11:41 pm

    Holy Toledo! The most moist delicious brownie!

    Reply
    • Erin replies to Lisa
      May 11, 2016 @ 12:29 pm

      Yay! So happy you liked them. Thanks for your comment!

      Reply
  • Lucia says
    May 8, 2016 @ 6:56 pm

    I just made these and they are amazing!!! I left out the chocolate chips (I didn’t have any on hand) and it still came out delicious!! I used me own mix of gluten free flours (instead of the whole wheat flour. Yes these brownies are a bit more ‘cake like’ but they are super light and moist. A total winner! Thank you for sharing!!

    Reply
    • Erin replies to Lucia
      May 8, 2016 @ 8:40 pm

      I’m happy your GF mix worked out well here! Which flours did you use? I’m thinking of trying these with buckwheat. I’m pretty sure they’d come out gooey and fudgy like the whole wheat version with that. :) Thanks a bunch for your comment!

      Reply
      • Leila replies to Erin
        June 8, 2016 @ 5:34 pm

        Hi,

        For a buckwheat flour substitution how would I change the measurements? Or is it a 1:1?

        Thanks!

        Reply
        • Erin replies to Leila
          June 8, 2016 @ 11:36 pm

          Hello! I’d do a 1:1 sub but since I haven’t tried it yet, I can’t say if it’d actually work. I hope you’ll enjoy them if you give it a go. :)

  • Kelly
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    says
    April 25, 2016 @ 12:52 am

    I love to bake but up until today everything I’ve baked has been super unhealthy (albeit delicous). I’m looking to make some healthier changes but I could never cut out sweets! I tried this recipe today and I have to say, these are by FAR the best brownies I’ve ever had. These will be my go-to from here on out. Thank you!

    Reply
    • Erin replies to Kelly
      April 25, 2016 @ 8:25 pm

      I’m with you! I want to eat a little more healthfully but sweets aren’t going anywhere. ;) I’m so happy that you enjoyed the brownies and your first healthier sweets! Thanks a bunch for your feedback. :)

      Reply
  • Jane says
    February 20, 2016 @ 9:10 pm

    I followed the recipe, but mine turned out to be more of a cake consistency than brownie… What are your thoughts? Still delicious though!

    Reply
    • Erin replies to Jane
      February 20, 2016 @ 9:22 pm

      Did you make any subs at all? Or did you perhaps mix a little too much? Or did you maybe use a black or very dark colored pan? They definitely shouldn’t be cake-like but I’m happy they were still tasty!

      Reply
    • Kristi Moyer replies to Jane
      April 21, 2016 @ 4:40 am

      I totally agree, this was very cakey, not what I was expecting. Good, very good, but it was a chocolate cake with chocolate chips.

      Reply
      • Erin replies to Kristi Moyer
        April 21, 2016 @ 4:32 pm

        If these brownies came out cakey, I’m pretty sure something must have gone wrong. Or did you make any subs at all? Or make any changes to the recipe? Or perhaps overmix the batter? If you overmix, that can lead to more cakey brownies. I’m happy you still enjoyed them!

        Reply
  • Tracy Harp says
    January 11, 2016 @ 9:28 pm

    We went plant based last January and this brownie has become our occasional treat! Instead of eggs I have used flax eggs (1 Tbsp ground flax with 3 Tbsp water per egg) and last time tried an aqua faba substitute (the liquid that drains off of chick peas). Both work fabulously!! These brownies are rich and moist. Our favorite way to eat them is topped with fresh strawberries.

    Reply
    • Erin replies to Tracy Harp
      January 15, 2016 @ 9:43 am

      How awesome that your vegan subs worked out well! Thanks for sharing your tips with us. :)

      Reply
  • Kelly says
    January 6, 2016 @ 1:34 am

    I made these tonight and they are delicious! I was making them on a whim from my pantry and only had granulted sugar so I used that. I also only had a bag of mixed chocolate chips and peanut butter chips and let me just tell you… I don’t regret using that combo! In the future I’m going to try to pare down the refined sugar even more and use the coconut sugar and maybe a different kind of chocolate chip, but for now I’m enjoying these and feeling pretty satisfied with myself that they are pretty healthy!

    Reply
    • Erin replies to Kelly
      January 7, 2016 @ 9:52 am

      Mixed chocolate and peanut butter chips sounds amazing! I’ll definitely have to try that. :) I’m happy that they came out well for you. Thanks a bunch for your feedback and let me know how the different chocolate chip versions go!

      Reply
  • Char says
    December 29, 2015 @ 10:33 am

    Hi, do you think we can sub applesauce for the eggs and still get a good result? Thanks!

    Reply
    • Erin replies to Char
      December 30, 2015 @ 2:48 am

      Hi, there! I haven’t tried that sub so I’m not sure if it’d work out. I’m pretty sure it’d make the brownies a bit more cakey and a lot less fudgy, though. Sorry I don’t have a more definite answer for you!

      Reply
  • Sarah says
    November 4, 2015 @ 3:04 am

    How many calories are in each brownie and can you substitute whole wheat flour for almond flour?

    Reply
    • Erin replies to Sarah
      November 4, 2015 @ 3:37 pm

      I don’t have that info but you can copy and paste the recipe here and it’ll give you what you’re looking for. :) Almond flour isn’t interchangeable with wheat. If you need these to be gluten-free, I’d recommend oat flour (though I haven’t tried it myself).

      Reply
      • Michelle replies to Erin
        May 30, 2016 @ 8:32 am

        could you use coconut flour?

        Reply
        • Erin replies to Michelle
          May 30, 2016 @ 10:52 am

          No, sorry. Coconut flour also isn’t interchangeable with wheat flour (or any other flour for that matter!). If you want to make these gluten-free, I recommend using a GF baking mix that’s a 1-to-1 sub for all-purpose flour.

  • Shae says
    October 14, 2015 @ 2:57 am

    THESE ARE THE BEST BROWNIES I’VE EVER MADE! I was looking for alternative ways to make desserts and cam across this recipe i tried it and they were perfect, i have made them multiple time since. One time i used half chocolate chips and half butterscoth for a party everyone was in awe….Tonight i made them and substituted the applesauce for pumpkin puree and added nutmeg and cinnamon to turn them into delicious fall brownies….MY FAVORITE RECIPE! thank you so much ive had so many people ask me for the recipe.

    Reply
    • Erin replies to Shae
      October 14, 2015 @ 5:35 pm

      Wow! I’m so happy that you’ve been enjoying them so much. And I love your experimenting! The pumpkin puree version sounds like something I need to try. :) Thanks a ton for your feedback and for sharing your variations!

      Reply

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