Recipe: Healthy Chocolate Zucchini Bread (Gluten Free!)

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You know, sometimes I think having a husband is kind of like having a child. 

I mean, I'm not saying that Jesse throws tantrums (though I kind of wish he did because I'd be uploading that onto Youtube in 0.000001 seconds and living off my viral video fortunes) but when it comes to food? Sometimes I've got to use the same tactics I used with kids when nannying. 

Stealthily grated veggies, pureeing them into sauces and coming up with creative names for my veggie laden concoctions. 

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You see, this Healthy Chocolate Zucchini Bread Recipe has been a favourite of ours for quite some time - but Jesse had no idea it contained zucchini........ until I decided to photograph it for you. 

Whilst usually I peel most of the zucchini so it's hidden away, this time I left it peeled so you could see the zucchini bits.... only I forgot Jesse would see them too. 

I gave Jesse a slice while he was playing video games, thinking I'd get away with it because he'd just shovel it into his mouth whilst he destroyed some devon or pulverised a punk - but it just so happened that he had a break between battles. 

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I watched him pick at the bread and say "this is delicious but....". I could see his brain ticking away. It was green and green stuff was definitely not supposed to be chocolate cake. 

"Does this have avocado in it?"

"Nope"

Brain still ticking away and then......

"Wait. The zucchini you were grating.... did you put zucchini in my CAKE?!" 

"Yep"

"What?! That's so weird"

"But it tastes good right?"

"Yes... it's delicious.... but....."

I thought I'd lost him - only to find him sneaking another slice from the container just an hour or so later - and before I knew it, my "weird" chocolate cake had disappeared!  

And here I was thinking the visible zucchini was going to mean more cake for me! Ha!

But let me share the recipe with you! >> 

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Healthy Chocolate Zucchini Bread Recipe

makes one loaf of about 10-12 slices 

low fat, gluten free, clean eating recipe, dairy free

nut free, vegan option, refined sugar free, egg free option

2 medium zucchinis, grated (peel them if you don't want green bits - about 225g or 1 1/2 cups grated)

2 tbsp (30 ml) rice bran oil or melted coconut/neutral tasting oil 

2 eggs (or 2 tbsp ground flax + 6 tbsp water)

1 cup (240g) unsweetened applesauce 

1/3 cup-1/2 cup (65-100g) coconut sugar or brown sugar*

2 cups (240g) gluten free plain flour 

1/4 cup (20g) unsweetened cocoa powder

1 1/4 tsp baking soda 

1 tsp baking powder

Pinch of salt 

Optional: ~1/3 cup chocolate chips or mix-ins of your choice 

• Preheat your oven to 180C/355F 
• Grease and/or line a loaf tin and set aside (we used this deep loaf pan for a taller loaf). 
• In a large mixing bowl, mix your zucchini, oil, eggs, applesauce and sugar until combined. 
• Add in your dry ingredients, mixing until just combined. If using, stir through your chocolate chips or mix-ins.
• Pour your mixture into your loaf tin and bake for 40-60 minutes or until cooked through and a skewer inserted into the middle removes clean. Baking times will vary depending on how thick your loaf is - so keep an eye on it!
• Allow to cool before slicing and enjoying! This bread will keep in an airtight container at room temperature or in the fridge for 2-3 days and can also be frozen in individual slices to enjoy whenever you like!

Notes:

*Use more/less sugar depending on how sweet you like your baked goods. We usually use 1/3 cup. 

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Oh and, make sure you enjoy a slice smothered in almond butter (or peanut butter). Your taste buds will thank me ;) 

But tell me, are you a fussy eater? 

If so, what are you fussy about?

Or who's the fussy one in your family?

I'm a bit weird in that I don't really like food touching (mainly hot and cold foods) and food has to be either really cold or really hot (unless it's baked goods... room temperature is fine for them). 

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