Dark Chocolate Coconut Zucchini Bread
Dark Chocolate Coconut Zucchini Bread is a healthier whole wheat quick bread packed with grated zucchini, coconut, and big chocolate flavor!
I grew up on zucchini bread — my mom made it all the time. Being the veggie lover I was as a child, even I was skeptical of a bread made with vegetables. Sure, there was carrot cake and pumpkin bread, but zucchini?
Even today I wonder about it — it’s not like it lends a big flavor to your baked goods — it’s pretty flavor-less! Maybe people started adding it to quick breads because it overflows the old garden, or because of the nutritional value it adds? Maybe because — flavorless or not — it just makes things ridiculously moist and delicious?
I think I’m going with that last one. 🙂
Last year I posted my Oatmeal Zucchini Bread and it was so wholesome and delicious! This chocolate zucchini bread is like the sinful, dark-chocolatey cousin of that bread. There’s dark chocolate cocoa powder AND semi-sweet chocolate chips, so it’s double the chocolate pleasure, and I added my favorite instant espresso powder to intensify that chocolate flavor.
My motto is, and always has been, the more chocolate the better. 🙂
And I believe the more coconut the better, which is probably why I left the coconut oil and sweetened shredded coconut in this version. Coconut oil makes baked goods so tender, and while it doesn’t really taste like coconut, it smells like coconut, which makes it seem like there’s more coco-nutty goodness to me.
Be warned, this chocolate zucchini bread will not last long, especially if there are severe chocolate lovers in the house. I ought to know! My husband doesn’t care for chocolate that much, but he still seemed to find it good enough to eat, and the kids wanted two slices a day, which I put a stop to fast. Nobody was keeping me from having my fair share — nosiree.
I am the baker, after all, and the baker should always get more than everybody else.
Always. 🙂
More zucchini recipes you’ll love!
Flourless zucchini oatmeal muffins
Zucchini cake by Simply Recipes
Dark Chocolate Coconut Zucchini Bread
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups whole wheat white flour all purpose flour may be substituted
- 1/3 cup unsweetened dark chocolate cocoa powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon instant espresso powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup brown sugar packed (granulated sugar may be substituted)
- 1/2 cup coconut oil melted (canola oil may be substituted)
- 2 large eggs room temperature
- 2 cups grated zucchini about 2 medium
- 1/2 cup sweetened shredded coconut
- 1/3 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray a standard size loaf pan with cooking spray and set aside.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, espresso powder, and salt. Set aside.
- In a medium bowl, vigorously whisk the brown sugar, coconut oil, and eggs until thickened and frothy, about 1 minute. Stir in the zucchini and coconut until well combined.
- Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir with a rubber scraper until the flour is incorporated, and stir in the chocolate chips. The batter will be thick. Pour into the prepared pan and spread evenly.
- Bake for 45-55 minutes on the middle rack of the oven, checking for doneness after 40 minutes as oven temperatures vary significantly. The bread is done when a toothpick inserted into the center of the bread comes out with moist crumbs. Cool on a wire rack in the pan for 10 minutes, then remove from the pan and cool completely. Slice, serve, and enjoy!
Notes
- Store bread in an air tight container at room temperature for up to 5 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
Nutrition
Nutrition is estimated using a food database and is only intended to be used as a guideline for informational purposes.
42 Comments on “Dark Chocolate Coconut Zucchini Bread”
I never actually tried zucchini bread until I got older, as I was very skeptical of it, too! This chocolate coconut version sounds fantastic, Marcie! I think the chocolate makes this even better than regular zucchini bread. What a delicious treat!
My mom never made chocolate zucchini bread, so the first time I had it felt like I’d been missing out! The dark chocolate here really does make this a treat. . Thanks, Gayle!
Oh, maaaan. This zucchini bread looks so extra-EXTRA moist and chocolate-y I just want to sink my teeth into a slice right now! Love that you threw both dark chocolate AND coconut into the mix! Two total favs of mine.—I need this bread in my life!
I’d give you a big, giant slice if there were any left, Sarah — most definitely! Thanks!
Marcie, it’s funny . . I didn’t have any baked treats with zucchini until a few years ago and now I can’t get enough! love this Chocolate Coconut Zucchini Bread!!!
Thank you, Alice! Zucchini is just pure magic!
Yay for zucchini bread! Man, is it the best! This version looks fantastic! I LOVE that you added a little espresso powder!
Thanks, Ashley — zucchini bread IS the best!
I LOVE the addition of coconut in this bread! Sounds so delicious!
Thanks, Cathy!
More chocolate the better is a motto I can live by. Chocolate and coconut are two of my favorite things!
Sounds like we’re on the same page, Laura!
I love dark chocolate cocoa powder! This bread looks decadent and delicious 🙂 Pinning!
Dark chocolate is definitely the very best kind! Thank you, Medha!
More chocolate is definitely better! I love how much moisture zucchini adds!
Me, too! Thanks, Ashley!
You must be reading my mind because I just picked 6 GINORMOUS zucchinis and am scratching my head as to what I should put them in. This cake looks seriously moist, chocolatey, and heavenly…and I love that there’s sneaky zucchini in it. Looks amazing, Marcie!
I had some major zucchini given to me and I made this bread many times for “recipe testing”. Haha. Thanks, Denise, and can’t wait to see what you do with all that zucchini!
Hi Marcie, love that this is a zucchini chocolate cake, looks amazing!
Thank you, Cheri!
So much yes to this chocolatey bread. Zucchini and chocolate is an incredible combo. Amazing share, Marcie! 🙂
This bread is definitely a lot of yes! haha Thanks so much, Anu, and have a lovely weekend!
I love zucchini bread and bake it all the time! I’m very excited to try your recipe, Marcie! Love that you added coconut! Pinned!
Quick bread is such a great way to use up a lot of zucchini! Thanks, Mira, and have a great weekend! 🙂
I love zucchini bread, but this is amped up in the delicious department zucchini bread! LOVE that something that looks so decadent is so healthy! #Winning! Cheers to a beautiful weekend!
Thank you, Cheyanne! Chocolate and coconut always means #winning for me. 🙂 Have a great weekend!
Haha yes, the baker should always get more especially when there’s more chocolate involved! This zucchini bread looks so moist and delicious, Marcie! I love that you added dark cocoa, espresso powder and yummy coconut in here!:)
Thank you, Kelly! Getting more than everyone else is definitely one of the perks of baking. 🙂
Yum! I love how dark and chocolaty your zucchini bread looks. The coconut must taste so good in it!
Thanks, Christin, and the coconut was so delicious! 🙂
You add choclate in anything and I am in. Boy oh boy, Marcie that loaf looks amazing, moist and choclatey. I could eat the whole loaf, really.
I am pinning this, will make it asap.
Great one. Have a lovely weekend dear.
Thank you, Ash — sounds like you love chocolate as much as I do. 🙂 Thanks for the pin and hope you had a great weekend!
Chocolate and zucchini = love! Great way to use them!
Love indeed! Thanks, Deb! 🙂
Love is made with chocolate… totally irresistible for me.. wish I could have had it alongside my coffee this morning
Sounds like we think alike when it comes to chocolate, Ella! Wish I could send you a slice!
I just love that by adding in some zucchini I can feel great about this bread. It looks fantastic, and I love the addition of the coconut. So unique.
Thank you, Rachael! Chocolate and coconut are two of the best things in the world for me. 🙂
I have a use for some coconut oil that I have! This looks so delicious!
Thanks, Nancy! The coconut oil makes a big difference!
Do you have the nutritional info?
No I don’t, Jody, but you can Google how to calculate nutritional info and find a number of great sites to help you do this. Just enter the ingredients and the info will be calculated. Hope that helps!