The Best Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread

I’ve been making this zucchini bread recipe for years because it really is the best chocolate chip zucchini bread! Based off of Paula Deen’s recipe, It’s easy to prepare and it makes two loaves so you have plenty to share.

Zucchini is my favorite summer vegetable and every year, it seems anyone that grows it has an excess amount to share. This zucchini bread is a great way to use some up!

A moist quick bread that is easy to mix up and filled with dark chocolate chips. My entire family loves this bread, even my kids who don’t usually like zucchini.

This easy quick bread is great any time of day but I like to serve it with breakfast after a ham & potato breakfast casserole or for dessert after zucchini boat turkey tacos.

Even if it isn’t zucchini season, I always keep zucchini on hand for dinner (I love roasted zucchini or zucchini noodles with meatballs) or for baking (try my zucchini brownies next!).

Homemade Zucchini Bread Ingredients

• Flour – I’ve only tested this recipe with all purpose flour.
• Baking Powder
• Salt
• Cinnamon – Use a high quality cinnamon, it’s worth it!
• Nutmeg
• Baking Soda
• Eggs – Three large eggs, at room temperature.
• Sugar – Granulated white sugar.
• Vegetable Oil – canola oil will also work.
• Applesauce – I like to use a combination of oil and half cup of applesauce. If you don’t want to use applesauce (or don’t have any), you can use all vegetable oil.
• Vanilla Extract – A good quality pure vanilla extract, not imitation. I know it’s pricey! I buy mine at Sam’s or Costco in bulk.
• Zucchini – You’ll need two cups of shredded zucchini, which is usually two medium zucchini.
• Chocolate Chips – I like to use Ghirardelli baking chips. They’re large and good quality. Semi-sweet chocolate chips also work if that’s your preference.

Equipment to help you make this easy zucchini bread

• Loaf pans – 9 x 5 loaf pans work best for this recipe.
• Whisk – You don’t need a mixer for this recipe, but you do need a whisk.
• Box Grater – For grating the zucchini.
• Cheese Grater – I recently got this hand grater to grate cheese and it also works beautifully for zucchini!
• Mixing Bowls – It helps that this set is so pretty!

This recipe makes two loaves. I sliced one, for these pictures, and ate a piece (or two) while shooting (look at that melty chocolate – can you blame me?!), then I wrapped up the other half to take to my mom’s.

The other loaf, I immediately wrapped up to send to work with Bob. By the next morning, I realized I had already eaten all the slices I left for myself and snuck into the wrapped loaf. Bob’s coworkers were slightly shorted.

How to make the best chocolate chip zucchini bread recipe

1. First, in a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and baking soda.
2. Then, in another large bowl, whisk the eggs until they’re light and fluffy. Add in the sugar and beat until well blended.
3. Next, stir in the apple sauce, oil, vanilla, grated zucchini, and chocolate chips.
4. Then, pour in the dry ingredient mixture and stir until just combined.
5. Finally, evenly pour the batter into two greased 9 x 5 loaf pans. Bake for 50 minutes at 350 degrees or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

How to store it

Store leftovers covered with plastic wrap at room temperature for up to a week.

Can I freeze zucchini bread?

Sure can, zucchini bread freezes beautifully. Let the loaf cool and then wrap with foil or plastic wrap and drop it into a large freezer bag. Press out an air and store in the freezer. Thaw at room temperature and then enjoy any time of the year!

How to prepare zucchini for bread

Many people wonder when making zucchini bread do I peel the zucchini. The answer is no, you don’t. Just give the zucchini a wash then grate it, leaving the skin on, with a box grater or cheese grater. That’s it!

How to keep chocolate chips from sinking to the bottom

Often when you’re baking with chocolate chips, they have a tendency to sink to the bottom of the loaf or cake because they’re too heavy for the batter to support them. This is especially true when you use my favorite Ghirardelli baking chips that are larger.

To prevent the chocolate chips from sinking and keep them in the center of the loaf (or any baked good), give them a toss in about a tablespoon of cocoa powder before you add them to the batter.

Need more ways to bake with zucchini? Try these:

• Zucchini Brownies
• Chocolate Marble Zucchini Bread
• Zucchini Banana Bread
• Apple Cinnamon Zucchini Muffins
• Lemon Zucchini Cake
• Double Chocolate Zucchini Bread

Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread

Melissa | Persnickety Plates

I’ve been making this zucchini bread recipe for years because it really is the best chocolate chip zucchini bread! Based off of Paula Deen's recipe, It’s easy to prepare and it makes two loaves so you have plenty to share.

5 from 1 vote

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate Recipe

Prep Time 15 mins

Cook Time 50 mins

Total Time 1 hr 5 mins

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Servings 2 loaves

Calories 2535 kcal

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 3 cups all purpose flour
• ½ teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 3 large eggs at room temp
• 2 cups granulated white sugar
• ½ cup vegetable oil
• ½ cup unsweetened applesauce
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 cups grated zucchini
• 1 cup chocolate chips

Instructions

 

• Preheat the oven at 350 degrees. Grease two 9 x 5-inch loaf pans and set aside.
• In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and baking soda.
• In another large bowl, beat eggs until light and fluffy.
• Add the sugar and continue beating until well blended.
• Stir in the oil, apple sauce, vanilla, grated zucchini, and chocolate chips.
• Stir in the whisked dry ingredients until just combined.
• Pour evenly into your prepared loaf pans.
• Bake for 50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.
• Remove loaves from pans and cool.

Notes

Adapted from Paula Deen

To prevent all your chocolate chips from settling to the bottom of your bread, pour your chocolate chips into a small bowl & sprinkle on cocoa powder, toss gently to coat.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 2535kcalCarbohydrates: 417gProtein: 33gFat: 84gSaturated Fat: 60gCholesterol: 259mgSodium: 1883mgPotassium: 761mgFiber: 9gSugar: 266gVitamin A: 805IUVitamin C: 23.3mgCalcium: 233mgIron: 11.7mg

Nutritional information is an estimate and provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator.

Tried this recipe? Tag me!Mention @melissa_pplates or tag #persnicketyplates!

Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying/pasting and/or screenshots of full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited. Content and photographs are copyright protected.

Originally published 10/10/11

Or maybe you’ll like…
Chocolate Marble Zucchini Bread

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Quick Bread

Apple Cinnamon Zucchini Muffins