The BEST (healthy) Zucchini Chocolate Chunk Coconut Bread. One bowl, pantry staple ingredients, super quick to mix up, healthy…ish, the great use for all that summer zucchini, and SO DELICIOUS! Yes, that pretty much sums up this zucchini bread. It’s the perfect bread to bake up today, tomorrow, this weekend, WHENEVER. With just a couple of zucchini, some good honey, and your favorite chocolate bar, this is sure to become your favorite way to use up all your garden or farmers market zucchini. Good for breakfast, as an afternoon snack, or a late-night dessert.

overhead photo of Sneaky Zucchini Chocolate Chunk Coconut Bread with 3 slices cut and melted chocolate inside bread

I wasn’t sure I was going to bake anything with zucchini this summer. To be honest, it just sounded boring and kind of overdone. And let’s be real, why bake with zucchini when I could bake with peaches, you know?

But then, I made this bread and it changed my mind about baking with zucchini forever and ever. If you think baking with zucchini is weird, I get that. BUT, I’m here to tell you that baking with zucchini can actually be a really good thing. Read, VERY GOOD.

Here’s the story. I never had plans to bake anything with zucchini, but after asking you all on Instagram what you wanted to see in recipes this month, I got so many of you requesting a zucchini bread. So, after a little back and forth, and some recipe brainstorming, I decided I’d take the last two zucchini I had in the fridge (that were very much on their last leg) and give a new zucchini bread recipe a try. I’ve made banana zucchini bread, but never just zucchini bread. As in zucchini is really the main ingredient with nothing else to help it shine.

shredded zucchini in measuring cup

I was nervous, but I figured I really had nothing to lose…other than two zucchini past their prime.

I tried a few things, played around with some flavors, jotted a few things down in my notebook, and about half a day later I had this bread. My kitchen smelled…well it smelled incredible. Nothing like zucchini, but everything like sweet, buttery, cinnamon-infused, chocolate bread. Almost fall-like, but with a mix of summer in the air too. Twas the perfect thing to bake on a very rainy day.

And then? I cut into the warm bread, added whipped browned butter (the best), and I was SOLD. Nothing at that moment could be better. This bread. You guys – it’s GOOD!

overhead photo of Sneaky Zucchini Chocolate Chunk Coconut Bread before baking

Best part? It could not be easier to make.

You need ONE bowl, 10 (pantry staple) ingredients, 20 minutes of time to prep, and about an hour for baking.

First step, the zucchini. Here’s the thing, when baking with zucchini it’s really important to remove any of the excess moisture (so the water). You want to do this so your baked goods don’t end up super dense and watered down. Simply shred the zucchini, let it sit on paper towels for 10 minutes, then ring the zucchini out to squeeze out all the water. It’s really easy. The drier you can get the zucchini, the lighter your loaf is going to be.

overhead photo of Sneaky Zucchini Chocolate Chunk Coconut Bread in baking pan after baking

Now that your zucchini is squeezed of excess water, the rest is so quick and easy.

In a bowl, mix up melted coconut oil, a couple eggs, honey – for some sweetness, and a splash of vanilla. Then stir in the zucchini. Now add in some whole wheat pastry flour, almond flour, baking soda, cinnamon, plus a touch of salt. Last up, add chocolate chunks.

Bake. Wait…this is the hardest part, so do something fun while you wait. Maybe your favorite TV show? Work through emails? Or if you’re like me, stand by the oven impatiently waiting for the timer to go off. Yes, I am that person.

overhead photo of Sneaky Zucchini Chocolate Chunk Coconut Bread with 2 slices cut to show the chocolate inside

Once the bread is out of the oven, you can let it cool or you can enjoy warm. You all know I’m all about a warm loaf of bread. So after letting this cool in the pan for 5 or so minutes, I turned it out onto a cutting board and made the first slice.

overhead close up photo of Sneaky Zucchini Chocolate Chunk Coconut Bread with 3 slices cut showing the chocolate inside

The bread comes out steaming and smells so good. It actually looks good too…I was nervous the zucchini would turn the bread a weird color.

And the taste? The warm and sweet hints of cinnamon, together with the puddles of chocolate are so delicious!

Oh, and the texture? Super soft and so incredibly moist.

Every last bite leaves you wanting another. You can make this bread even better with a smear of butter. Ok, and maybe a drizzle of honey too, but it’s truly delicious on its own as well.

overhead photo of Sneaky Zucchini Chocolate Chunk Coconut Bread with 1 slice cut to show chocolate inside

My favorite part? This bread is really pretty healthy too. Well, healthy to my standards at least. Honey is the sweetener, coconut oil the fat, whole flour + almond flour make it whole grain, and yeah, it’s made with zucchini. So basically we can eat this for breakfast every day until we move on to pumpkin bread.

Sounds like a plan to me. Happiest Tuesday baking to you all!

overhead photo of Sneaky Zucchini Chocolate Chunk Coconut Bread with butter on bread

Lastly, if you make this Zucchini Chocolate Chunk Coconut Bread bread be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!

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4.4 from 241 votes

Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.

The Recipe

Chocolate Chunk Coconut Zucchini Bread.

Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings 8
Calories 406 kcal

Ingredients

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  1. 1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9x5 inch bread pan.

    2. Lay a clean towel on the counter and spread the zucchini out in an even layer, sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon salt, cover with another towel, and let sit 10 minutes, then squeeze out any excess water. 

    3. In a large mixing bowl, stir together the coconut oil, honey, eggs, and vanilla until combined. Mix in the squeezed out zucchini. Add the flour, almond flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt, mix until just combined. Fold in the chocolate chunks. 

    4. Pour the batter into the prepared bread pan. Bake for 50-60 minutes, or until center is just set. If the bread is browning before it's done cooking, cover with foil. Remove and let cool for at least 30 minutes before cutting...or just eat it warm with a smear of butter...preferably with a drizzle of honey too. Enjoy!

Recipe Notes

To Make Gluten Free: Use an equal amount of your favorite gluten free flour blend in place of the all-purpose flour. I recommend Cup4Cup gluten free flour. 

Storing: this bread keeps well for 2-3 days at room temperature. 

Freezing: cool the bread, wrap well with plastic wrap, then store in a freezer safe container. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw for a few hours on the counter. 

horizontal photo of Sneaky Zucchini Chocolate Chunk Coconut Bread with 3 slices cut