Double Chocolate Zucchini & AppleSauce Muffins
These ultra moist double chocolate zucchini muffins are fudgy, moist and super easy to make with pantry staples that you can easily buy from the grocery store. My kids (and their friends) eat them up thinking they’re enjoying a cupcake! What they don’t know is that they’re relatively low in added sugar, packed with veggies (zucchini) and fruit (apple sauce). Parent win! Shhhhh, don’t tell the kids! ;)
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The sneaky veggie snack your kids will devour thinking they're cupcakes
By Danielle | Prep: 10 min | Cook: 22 min | Makes: ~ 12 standard sized muffins
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Why Every Mom Needs This Recipe
You know that moment when your kid takes a bite of something, eyes go wide, and they say "more please", all while having absolutely no idea they just ate a vegetable? That's this muffin. Every. Single. Time.
These double chocolate zucchini muffins are moist, deeply chocolatey, and just sweet enough to feel like a treat, without the sugar crash. The zucchini and applesauce do double duty: they add moisture and a sneaky serving of produce, while letting you cut back on oil and sugar compared to a traditional muffin. The result is a batch of muffins your kids will call cupcakes, and you'll call a win.
Pro tip: Don't tell them there's zucchini in there. Seriously! This was the afternoon snack that I prepare for my kids and their friends during our last snow day. All 4 kids ate twice the amount I expected! Their friends even asked me to make some for their lunches the next day!
What Makes These Muffins Special
There's a lot going on in this batter that makes these stand out from your average chocolate muffin:
Double chocolate: Cocoa powder + coffee mixture gives this base the fudgy taste we all know and love.
Semi-sweet Chocolate Chips: semi-sweet chocolate chips = deep flavour without being too sweet.
Hidden zucchini: Blends right into the batter. Kids never know, and you get a veggie serving. The zucchini also contributes to how moist these muffins are.
Applesauce: Replaces extra oil and adds subtle fruit sweetness. Less fat, more moisture. I always chose apple sauce with no added sugar.
Lower sugar: Only 2/3 cup total sugar for 12 muffins, far less than most bakery-style recipes.
Ingredients
Everything here is likely already in your kitchen. If not, you can easily find them on your next grocery run. No specialty health-food store runs required. ;)
What you'll need:
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla extract
½ cup milk
½ cup canola oil
½ cup unsweetened applesauce
1 cup shredded zucchini
½ tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup cocoa
1/4 cup coffee
1/3 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
2 cups all-purpose flour
Equipment:
Large mixing bowl (affiliate link), or standmixer with paddle attachment
Fork (not needed if using standmixer)
¼ cup measuring cup
Spatula (affiliate link) optional but helpful to scrape the sides of the bowl
Muffin Tin (affiliate link)
Muffin Liners (affiliate link), or non-stick cooking spray
How to Make Double Chocolate Zucchini Muffins, Step-by-step guide
My aim: fewer dishes + faster cleanup, because we’re in the busy season of life!
This is a one-bowl recipe. Perfect for busy weekday mornings or a weekend batch to stock the freezer.
Step 1: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease or line a standard 12-cup muffin tin.
Step 2: In a large mixing bowl, combine coffee and cocoa powder, and mix well.
Step 3: Add the eggs, vanilla, milk, canola oil, applesauce, and shredded zucchini. Mix well until everything is incorporated.
Step 4: Add salt, baking soda, baking powder, brown sugar, granulated sugar, and chocolate chips. Mix again until combined.
Step 5: Add the flour and mix until just combined, being careful not to over mix. A few streaks of flour are perfectly fine. Overmixing develops gluten and makes muffins tough. Stop as soon as it comes together. Your batter mixture is done!
Step 6: Add muffin tin liners to your muffin tin. Don't have muffin tin liners? Lightly spray with non-stick cooking spray. These muffins release cleanly once they've cooled for the full 15 minutes in the pan.
Step 7: Using a ¼ cup measuring cup, scoop batter evenly into the muffin tin. Each cup should be about ¾ full.
Bake for 22 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the centre comes out clean (a melted chip on the pick is fine, you're looking for raw batter).Step 8: Let muffins cool in the pan for 15 minutes before transferring to a wire cooling rack. This prevents them from falling apart while still warm.
How to store & freeze
Fridge: Up to 5 days
Freezer: Up to 3 months in a freezer-safe bag
To freeze: let muffins cool completely, then place in a single layer on a baking sheet to flash-freeze for 1 hour before transferring to a freezer-safe zip bag. Grab one out the night before for a no-fuss lunchbox addition. They thaw overnight in the fridge or in about 10-15 seconds in the microwave.
Tips, swaps & variations
Squeeze the zucchini: If your zucchini is very watery, give the shreds a gentle squeeze with a paper towel (affiliate link) before adding to the batter.
Oil swap: Melted coconut oil or light olive oil work in place of canola. Avoid strong-flavoured oils.
Dairy-free: Use oat milk or almond milk 1:1. The muffins bake up just as well.
Chocolate chips on top: Press a few extra chips on top of each muffin right before baking. Kids love the extra chocolatey top.
Mint Chocolate chips: I’ve noticed that stores sell mint flavoured semi-sweet chocolate chips during the holidays. I’ve them instead of regular chocolate chips and they were DEVINE - I highly recommend them! This is a specialty item that’s usually on the grocery store shelves around the holidays.
Add fruit: Toss in ¼ cup of fresh or frozen blueberries for an extra fruit serving hidden in every bite.
Mini muffins: Use a mini muffin tin and reduce baking time to 12-14 minutes. Great for toddler-sized snacks.
Frequently asked questions
Can you taste the zucchini in these muffins?
Not at all. The zucchini has a very mild flavour that completely disappears when baked. It melts into the batter and you'd never know it was there, which is exactly the point. The chocolate flavour takes over entirely.
Can you see the zucchini in these muffins?
Yes. The shredded zucchini strand are visible, despite the chocolate batter. You cannot taste the zucchini, but it is visible.
Can I use VEGETABLE oil instead of Canola oil?
Yes. You can use vegetable oil instead of canola oil (using a 1:1 ratio), and have the same results. I usually have one of the other on hand, but never both at the same time, and the results are just as good.
Do I need to peel the zucchini before shredding?
Nope! The skin is so thin and soft that it fully disappears into the batter during baking. Just rinse it well and shred away.
Are these muffins healthy?
They're a balanced snack that’s lower in sugar than a typical bakery muffin, with real vegetables (zucchini), fruit (applesauce), and no artificial additives. They're not a substitute for a full meal, but as a kid's snack or lunchbox treat, they're a much better option than a store-bought muffin or granola bar.
My muffins came out dense. What went wrong?
Most likely the batter was overmixed once the flour was added. Mix only until you no longer see dry streaks, even a few small floury patches are fine. Also double-check that your baking soda and baking powder are fresh (they lose potency after about a year).
Can I make these gluten-free?
A 1:1 gluten-free flour blend (like Bob's Red Mill or King Arthur) works well here. The texture may be slightly denser, but the flavour is just as good. Ensure that all ingredients you are using are certified Gluten-free before starting to make these muffins.
Why kids love them (and moms do too)
These muffins hit a sweet spot that's genuinely hard to find in a kid snack: they feel indulgent enough that kids get excited, but the ingredient list is short, recognizable, and relatively wholesome. You're getting a serving of vegetables, a serving of fruit, and a chocolate fix.
Make a double batch on Sunday, stash them in the freezer, and you've got grab-and-go snacks for the whole week. Lunchboxes, after-school plates, an afternoon snack for yourself while the kids nap, these muffins have you covered.
And if anyone asks? They're just cupcakes. You didn't hear it from us.
REcipe Card
Ingredients:
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla extract
½ cup milk
½ cup canola oil
½ cup unsweetened applesauce
1 cup shredded zucchini
½ tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup cocoa
1/4 cup coffee
1/3 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
2 cups all-purpose flour
Instructions:
Step 1: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease or line a standard 12-cup muffin tin.
Step 2: In a large mixing bowl, combine coffee and cocoa powder, and mix well.
Step 3: Add the eggs, vanilla, milk, canola oil, applesauce, and shredded zucchini. Mix well until everything is incorporated.
Step 4: Add salt, baking soda, baking powder, brown sugar, granulated sugar, and chocolate chips. Mix again until combined.
Step 5: Add the flour and mix until just combined, being careful not to over mix. A few streaks of flour are perfectly fine. Overmixing develops gluten and makes muffins tough. Stop as soon as it comes together. Your batter mixture is done!
Step 6: Add muffin tin liners to your muffin tin. Don't have muffin tin liners? Lightly spray with non-stick cooking spray. These muffins release cleanly once they've cooled for the full 15 minutes in the pan.
Step 7: Using a ¼ cup measuring cup, scoop batter evenly into the muffin tin. Each cup should be about ¾ full.
Bake for 22 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the centre comes out clean (a melted chip on the pick is fine, you're looking for raw batter).Step 8: Let muffins cool in the pan for 15 minutes before transferring to a wire cooling rack. This prevents them from falling apart while still warm.
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