Healthy Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread {Gluten-free}

This healthy chocolate chip zucchini bread is the very best – moist, fudgy, and full of rich chocolatey flavor and melty chocolate chips! It’ll satisfy any sweet tooth, yet is naturally sweetened for a delicious option the whole family will love! {Paleo, gluten-free & vegetarian}

A slice of healthy chocolate chip zucchini bread on top of another slice.

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Healthy Double Chocolate Zucchini Bread

Zucchini bread is a classic quick bread known for being tender and flavorful, thanks to the added moisture in the zucchini. This healthy chocolate zucchini bread takes “moist and tender” to a whole new level!

Made with very ripe bananas instead of vegetable oil, each slice is perfectly soft, naturally sweetened, and full of flavor. Better yet, this chocolate zucchini bread recipe is dairy-free, gluten-free, and paleo, so it suits a wide variety of dietary needs!

Healthy Zucchini Banana Bread

A close-up of a slice of healthy double chocolate chip zucchini bread on a white plate.

Why We Love This Healthy Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread

So easy to make: Although this chocolate banana zucchini bread is certainly an update on more traditional recipes, it’s still super simple to make. Mix the wet ingredients together in one bowl, the dry in another, add them together and bake! No need to break out the mixers or any fancy gadgets. You can make this with just a few simple kitchen tools.

Healthier alternative: This gluten free chocolate zucchini bread already has extra fiber from the zucchini, but it also uses bananas to eliminate the need for oil, is naturally sweetened with maple syrup, and uses a mixture of almond flour and coconut flour for a low sugar gluten-free bread that’s packed with healthy fats. As a bonus, it’s moist, tender, and full of flavor!

Single loaf recipe: Many zucchini banana bread recipes make two loaves, which can definitely be way more zucchini bread than you need! It’s a great option for couples, smaller families, or people who just need a small loaf of zucchini bread to satisfy a craving!

Ingredient Notes

Individually portioned ingredients for the healthy chocolate chip zucchini bread.

Bananas: The mashed bananas will sweeten the bread and add moisture, just like your favorite banana bread.
Egg: Egg will bind the batter together and help the bread rise.
Zucchini: Shred and squeeze out the excess moisture as much as you can.
Maple syrup: This will sweeten the bread and add a subtle maple flavor.
Vanilla extract: For extra flavor.
Almond flour: This is a classic paleo flour option as it’s made from nuts, not grains.
Coconut flour: Coconut flour is highly absorbent and will keep this chocolate chip zucchini bread recipe from being too moist or soggy.
Unsweetened cocoa powder: This healthy zucchini bread recipe is made with cocoa powder in the batter for an extra dose of chocolate flavor.
Cinnamon: This really highlights the flavors!
Baking powder: The baking powder will lift the batter and make your bread rise. Make sure it is fresh, and sift out any clumps.
Salt: For flavor.
Mini chocolate chips: Look for dark chocolate chips for less sugar. You can also use dairy-free or sugar-free chips. Chocolate chunks are delicious, too!

How to Make Chocolate Zucchini Bread – Step-by-Step Instructions

Mashing the bananas until smooth in a bowl with a spoon.

Whisking together the bananas and eggs in a bowl with a fork.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Spray a loaf pan with non-stick cooking spray.
In a medium bowl, mash bananas until smooth (some lumps can still be present). Add eggs and beat together with banana using a whisk or fork. Mix in grated zucchini, vanilla, and maple syrup.
In a separate bowl, mix together the almond flour, coconut flour, cocoa powder, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt until all lumps are gone.
Pour dry ingredients into wet and mix until combined. Add the chocolate chips and fold into the mixture.
Bake for 55-60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.

Keep scrolling to the recipe card below for the full printable recipe!

Recipe Tips:

I recommend using a very ripe banana as that lends the best flavor to this loaf. Save those spotty bananas and throw them in the freezer before they go bad. They’re perfect to have on hand for when you want to make recipes like this chocolate zucchini bread.
To prevent the bread from becoming too moist, shred the zucchini and place it in a colander for about 10 minutes. You can even sprinkle it with a bit of salt to help it release some of its moisture. Once the shredded zucchini has been sitting for a few minutes, wring it out using your hands or a cheesecloth. That should take care of the excess moisture.
To shred the zucchini quickly, you can either use a box grater or the grater attachment on your food processor! It’s really handy and works through those summer zucchini in no time.

Two slices of chocolate chip zucchini bread stacked on top of each other with the loaf in the background.

Recipe FAQs

Can I substitute the almond flour?

This recipe is specifically formulated to use both almond flour and coconut flour together. The proportions won’t work with regular all purpose flour or another gluten-free alternative. It’s best to follow the recipe exactly as written or find one that uses the ingredients you have!

Is zucchini bread healthy?

Although zucchini is nutritious, most zucchini bread recipes are made with lots of sugar, oil, and flour. This means that each slice is generally pretty high in calories, with quite a bit of carbs, fat, and sugar without much fiber or protein. This version shifts the balance by lowering the sugar, and using almond flour and coconut flour for a lower carb, grain-free, higher fat option. It should still be enjoyed sparingly or as part of a balanced meal, but it will have a lower glycemic impact than old-fashioned recipes.

Can I replace the bananas with applesauce?

Although I haven’t tried it, you can generally substitute mashed bananas and applesauce interchangeably in baked goods. This would be a great option if you’re all out of bananas or just prefer apple sauce!

Storage Guidelines

Once baked, allow the chocolate zucchini bread to cool to room temperature, then store it in an airtight container for 3-4 days.

For longer storage, you can keep it in the fridge for about a week or freeze it for months! Before freezing, it’s best to wrap the loaf well with aluminum foil or plastic wrap, then tuck it into a freezer-safe bag. Just thaw it out in the fridge before serving!

A slice of chocolate zucchini bread on a white plate with a fork cutting into it.

Serving Suggestions

This healthy chocolate chip zucchini bread recipe is intended to be served as a healthier snack or dessert, but it’s also a really nice option to serve at breakfast! Pair it with some protein and fresh fruit for a filling, balanced meal. Try it with any of these options:

Egg White Bites with Cottage Cheese
Egg White Breakfast Casserole
Mini Egg Bites
Banana Smoothie without Yogurt
Eggs in a Muffin Tin
Fruit on the bottom yogurt recipe
Spread with peanut butter or almond butter

Recipe Variations

Healthy zucchini muffins: Scoop the loaf batter into muffin cups and bake them for the most delicious chocolate zucchini muffins. You’ll need to adjust the baking time quite a bit, so start checking them at 20-25 minutes.
Vegan zucchini bread: Replace the eggs with flax eggs for a totally plant-based treat!
Chocolate Zucchini pancakes: You can turn any muffin or quick bread batter into pancakes pretty easily! Just crank up the griddle, pour the batter, and cook and flip like normal. Such a fun treat!

A close-up of a loaf of gluten-free chocolate zucchini bread in a pan.

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Two slices of healthy chocolate zucchini bread stacked on a plate.

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