The Best Gluten-Free Dark Chocolate Zucchini Brownies

Who doesn’t love brownies? My mother made the best-ever (her trick was to cook them a little less than the recipe called for so they would be moist). Yet admittedly, I had rarely eaten any in years because none are as good as my mom’s and they generally are not very healthy. That was until I made these gluten-free dark chocolate zucchini brownies!

Brownies Made With Zucchini

This recipe uses applesauce and zucchini (yes, you read that right) to keep them super moist. And guess what? You don’t even taste the zucchini. These are so good your kids will devour them, and you’ll be able to sneak in a serving of vegetables! Besides that, they are only 87 calories each.

gluten-free Dark Chocolate Zucchini Brownies cut into 16 squares

YES! I LOOK FORWARD TO #GROWINGYOUNGER

PLEASE SUBSCRIBE ME TO YOUR MAILING LIST.
* indicates required

Gluten-Free Dark Chocolate Zucchini Brownies

Yields: 16 brownie squares 

Ingredients:

  • ⅓ cup all natural creamy peanut butter
  • ½ cup unsweetened apple sauce
  • ¼ cup raw honey ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ½ cup gluten free flour
  • ⅓ cup unsweetened cocao powder 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ⅛ teaspoon salt 1 cup zucchini, shredded (1 large or 2 small)
  • 2 oz. dark chocolate (70% cocoa or higher), divided

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Grease an 8×8” baking dish and set aside.

2. Trim off the stemmed end of the zucchini and shred in either a food processor or by hand. You’ll need 1 cup total.

3. If using a large food processor, you can simply add in the creamy peanut butter, apple sauce, raw honey, and vanilla extract. Use the mix option to combine. Otherwise, transfer zucchini to a mixing bowl and then mix in the wet ingredients.

4. Add the gluten free flour, cocao powder, baking soda and salt. Mix until combined.

5. Use a sharp knife to chop up 1 oz. of dark chocolate. Add it to the brownie batter and stir to incorporate.

6. Pour the batter into greased baking dish and place in the oven for 23-26 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

7. Allow the brownies to completely cool.

8. Melt the remaining 1 oz of dark chocolate in the microwave. Spoon into one corner of a small sandwich bag and snip off the edge.

9. Drizzle the dark chocolate in a back and forth motion over the brownies.

10. Use a sharp knife to cut brownies into squares, cleaning the knife with a damp paper towel between cuts.

11. Store brownies in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days.

Notes:

  • Do not squeeze the zucchini dry – it is what helps make these brownies more moist.
  • This brownie recipe is more cake-like than chewy.
Dark Chocolate Zucchini Brownies zucchini in blender
Shred zucchini in a food processor.
Dark Chocolate Zucchini Brownies mix peanutbutter and apple sauce
Mix in the wet ingredients.
Dark Chocolate Zucchini Brownies add cocoa powder
Add the gluten free flour, cocao powder, baking soda and salt.
Dark Chocolate Zucchini Brownies add shaved dark chocolate
Chop up 1 oz. of dark chocolate and add to batter.
Dark Chocolate Zucchini Brownies batter in pan
Pour the batter into greased baking dish.
Dark Chocolate Zucchini Brownies cooked in pan
Bake and allow the brownies to completely cool.
Dark Chocolate Zucchini Brownies out of pan with baggie of chocolate icing
Melt the remaining 1 oz of dark chocolate in the microwave, spoon into corner of a small sandwich bag and snip off edge.
Dark Chocolate Zucchini Brownies drizzed with chocoalte
Drizzle the dark chocolate.
Dark Chocolate Zucchini Brownies with serving on a plate
Gluten-Free Dark Chocolate Zucchini Brownies

 

Yield: 16

Gluten-Free Dark Chocolate Zucchini Brownies

zucchini brownies recipe

This gluten-free brownies recipe use zucchini and you won't even taste it!

Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes

Ingredients

  • ⅓ cup all natural creamy peanut butter
  • ½ cup unsweetened apple sauce
  • ¼ cup raw honey ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ½ cup gluten free flour
  • ⅓ cup unsweetened cocao powder 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ⅛ teaspoon salt 1 cup zucchini, shredded (1 large or 2 small)
  • 2 oz. dark chocolate (70% cocoa or higher), divided

Instructions

  1. 1Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Grease an 8x8” baking dish and set aside.
  2. Trim off the stemmed end of the zucchini and shred in either a food processor or by hand. You’ll need 1 cup total.
  3. If using a large food processor, you can simply add in the creamy peanut butter, apple sauce, raw honey, and vanilla extract. Use the mix option to combine. Otherwise, transfer zucchini to a mixing bowl and then mix in the wet ingredients.
  4. Add the gluten free flour, cocao powder, baking soda and salt. Mix until combined.
  5. Use a sharp knife to chop up 1 oz. of dark chocolate. Add it to the brownie batter and stir to incorporate.
  6. Pour the batter into greased baking dish and place in the oven for 23-26 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
  7. Allow the brownies to completely cool.
  8. Melt the remaining 1 oz of dark chocolate in the microwave. Spoon into one corner of a small sandwich bag and snip off the edge.
  9. Drizzle the dark chocolate in a back and forth motion over the brownies.
  10. Use a sharp knife to cut brownies into squares, cleaning the knife with a damp paper towel between cuts.
  11. Store brownies in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days.

Notes

• Do not squeeze the zucchini dry - it is what helps make these brownies more moist.
• This brownie recipe is more cake-like than chewy.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

16

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 87Total Fat: 4gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 122mgCarbohydrates: 12gFiber: 1gSugar: 7gProtein: 2g

 

Lauren Dimet Waters Signature

You may also like to try more easy to make, gluten-free and healthy recipes like Cinnamon Rolls with Cream Cheese Frosting (Gluten and Yeast Free!) and Healthy and Happy Birthday Cake Protein Balls with Sprinkles.

Are you following Fountain Of 30 on FacebookTwitterInstagram and Pinterest? We’ve got lots going on, so join in on the fun! Subscribe to our newsletter here.  You don’t want to miss a post and promise not to bug you to death. Join our Facebook Group called Growing Younger where women discuss everything good and bad about being over 50. Additionally Lauren hosts a bi-weekly podcast called Beauty is a Bitch! and an Instagram Live series called “Growing Younger Gabfest with Lauren.”

Please pin!

 

Clean Eating Dark Chocolate Zucchini Brownies fountainof30 Gluten Free Zucchini Brownies fountainof30

Dark Chocolate Zucchini Brownies FountainOf30

Gluten-Free Dark Chocolate Zucchini Brownies

Leave a Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Skip to Recipe