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    You are here: Home / Breads / Chocolate Chip Zucchini Muffins

    Chocolate Chip Zucchini Muffins

    July 31, 2017 By Sam 58 Comments

    This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read my disclosure policy.
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Chocolate Chip Zucchini Muffins

    This fluffy chocolate chip zucchini muffin recipe is a great way to use up fresh zucchini from your garden or farmer’s market!  They are soft, moist, and slightly sweetened with a generous helping of semisweet chocolate chips and a sweet sprinkling of sugar on top!

    Fluffy Zucchini Muffins

    Another Monday, another muffin recipe!

    These chocolate chip zucchini muffins actually debuted on the blog just over two years ago, and while the recipe itself was sound, they were in major need of a facelift (check alllll the way at the very bottom of this post for one of the original photos… we’ve come a long way).

    I’ve been wanting to re-make these muffins since last summer, so when Zach’s mom handed me a few gigantic zucchinis I knew exactly what to do with them (and of course it involved adding chocolate).

    My Favorite Zucchini Muffins

    While many zucchini muffins are generally very dense, with this recipe I wanted something that was lighter and fluffier, and I think you can see from the photos that this is exactly how they turned out.

    Thanks to the shredded zucchini, they are soft, moist, and tender, the crumb of the muffin is light, but still moist.

    I always shred my zucchini in a food processor because when I try to do it by hand I end up with either

    1. Zucchini shreds that are far too thick, you can actually feel yourself biting into the strands of zucchini in the muffin and having your tooth distinctly bite into a vegetable is just about the biggest turn off for me when trying to enjoy baked goods, or
    2. Zucchini that is so finely grated it is essentially mush.

    Maybe you have a better hand grater at home, but for me, just using my food processor gets the job done quickly and correctly, providing perfectly grated strands for muffins (this is the food processor that I use (affiliate), it’s also a must-have when making my carrot cake).

    Freshly shredded zucchini for zucchini muffins

    Zucchini muffins about to be baked

    Despite some pretty sweet add-ins, these zucchini muffins aren’t overly sweet (they’re a bit less sweet than my chocolate chip muffins, if you’re familiar with them) and they’re a perfectly acceptable breakfast option (I feel that way about every single one of my muffin recipes, though, even these).

    There’s a reasonable amount of chocolate chips, enough to accent without overwhelming, well-sugared muffin tops, and I even added a bit of cinnamon into the mix.  Don’t skip this, it’s the perfect accent to the chocolate and the zucchini.

    These muffins keep well as leftovers, but if you manage to not eat all of them in one sitting then I recommend popping them in the microwave for a few seconds before enjoying.  There’s just nothing quite like biting into a soft, warm muffin and hitting those melty semisweet chocolate mines.

    Chocolate Chip Zucchini Muffins -- look at that melty chocolate!

    What have you been doing with your zucchini this year?  If you’re looking for more baking options, I recommend checking out my zucchini roll recipe — it’s like a summertime version of a pumpkin roll and is so good!

    Chocolate chip zucchini muffins

    Chocolate Chip Zucchini Muffins

    Chocolate Chip Zucchini Muffins: Incredibly moist, flavorful muffins made with plenty of fresh zucchini and a generous helping of chocolate chips.
    5 from 9 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 15 minutes
    Cook Time: 20 minutes
    Total Time: 35 minutes
    Servings: 14 muffins
    Calories: 326kcal
    Author: Sam Merritt

    Ingredients

    Muffins

    • ½ cup canola oil or vegetable oil (120 ml)
    • ½ cup milk (120 ml)
    • ½ cup granulated sugar (100g)
    • ½ cup light brown sugar tightly packed (100g)
    • 1 large egg lightly beaten
    • 1 ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
    • 2 ¼ cup all-purpose flour (280g)
    • 2 teaspoons baking powder
    • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • 1 ½ cup grated zucchini patted dry with paper towel (175g)
    • 1 ½ cup semisweet chocolate chips (255g)
    • coarse sugar, for sprinkling (regular granulated sugar will also work)
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 425F (220C) and line muffin tin with paper liners. Set aside.
    • In large bowl, combine oil, milk, and sugars, whisking well until well-combined and ingredients are not separated (oil and milk should not be separating and sugar should be mostly dissolved).
    • Add egg and stir well.  Stir in vanilla extract.
    • In a separate, medium-sized bowl, combine flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt.
    • Give your wet ingredients another brief whisking to ensure ingredients are well combined, and then, using a spatula, carefully fold dry mix into liquid (do not over-mix, a few flour lumps are OK at this point).
    • Fold in grated zucchini and chocolate chips.
    • Evenly divide batter between prepared muffin cups, filling each liner ¾ way full.
    • Sprinkle muffin batter generously with coarse sugar.
    • Bake on 425F (220C) for 8 minutes and then reduce the oven temperature to 350 (175C) (do not open the oven door or remove the muffins, just leave them in and reduce the temperature) and bake another 10-12 minutes.  
      Do not over-bake or your muffins will dry out!

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1muffin | Calories: 326kcal | Carbohydrates: 41g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 17mg | Sodium: 98mg | Potassium: 216mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 22g | Vitamin A: 46IU | Calcium: 60mg | Iron: 2mg

    Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered an estimate only. Actual nutritional content will vary based upon brands used, measuring methods, cooking method, portion sizes, and more.

    Tried this recipe? Show me on Instagram!Mention @SugarSpun_Sam or tag #sugarspunrun!

    Chocolate Chip Zucchini Muffin with sugar on top

    PIN IT and follow me on Pinterest!

    Chocolate Chip Zucchini Muffins

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    Recipe originally published 7/24/2015, updated 7/31/2017.  Original photo below, for entertainment purposes 😜

    Zucchini muffins

    Zucchini Muffins Studded with Chocolate Chips
    « Oreo Cheesecake Dessert Shooters
    Crumbs »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Ashley

      August 11, 2021 at 11:54 am

      5 stars
      I had a coworker bring in a bunch of zucchinis so I came to your website first since everything I have ever made from here has been divine. These muffins are no exception! The only thing I did different was use 1/2 a cup less of the chocolate chips. I had to stop myself at 3 muffins once they came out of the oven… The next day, I brought some into work, and I had coworkers emailing me for the recipe so I sent them this link! Thanks, Sam!

      Reply
      • Sam

        August 11, 2021 at 3:00 pm

        I’m so glad everyone enjoyed them so much, Ashley! 🙂

        Reply
    2. Larissa Thomson

      December 24, 2020 at 2:25 pm

      I have commented before, but I have to comment again. These are my go-to zucchini muffin recipe. They are amazing! So amazing in fact, that my daughter’s boyfriend requested these as a Christmas gift this year! They’re in the oven right now–in Christmas liners (of course!).

      Reply
      • Sam

        December 24, 2020 at 2:43 pm

        I m so happy to hear this! Thank you for letting me know how much your family loves them, it means a lot to me! 🙂
        Merry Christmas!

        Reply
    3. Grace

      August 31, 2020 at 7:27 pm

      5 stars
      Thees are so good! You cant even taste the Zucchini! I made a mini muffin batch and they were gone in less then 5 minutes. (I wasn’t the one who ate them all.) Theses are good beyond words! Thank you so much for sharing this recipe!

      Reply
      • Sam

        September 01, 2020 at 10:07 am

        I am so glad you enjoyed them so much, Grace! 🙂

        Reply
    4. Madelyn Giles

      August 31, 2020 at 12:40 pm

      I can’t remember if you already stated this, but can I add nuts?

      Reply
      • Sam

        August 31, 2020 at 4:47 pm

        Hi Madelyn! That should be fine. 🙂

        Reply
    5. Shelley Garl

      August 11, 2020 at 12:40 am

      My family devoted them….I made a double batch!! High praise from the non-zucchini eaters in the family!

      Reply
      • Sam

        August 11, 2020 at 9:26 am

        I am so glad everyone enjoyed them so much, Shelley! 🙂

        Reply
    6. Anju

      August 03, 2020 at 12:08 pm

      They were so easy to make and turned out super delicious!!! Enjoyed thoroughly assisting my 7year old in this

      Reply
      • Sugar Spun Run

        August 03, 2020 at 5:34 pm

        I am so glad that you enjoyed them! I hope that you had fun making them together too! Thanks for trying my recipe, Anju! 🙂

        Reply
    7. Jenna

      July 19, 2020 at 5:29 pm

      5 stars
      Made these today and they are fantastic. I didn’t have chocolate chips so I just added mite more zucchini to make up for them. Muffins still came out moist and fluffy. Thank you for the recipe!

      Reply
      • Sam

        July 19, 2020 at 9:17 pm

        I am so glad you enjoyed them so much, Jenna! 🙂

        Reply
    8. Jill

      July 13, 2020 at 7:59 am

      5 stars
      Delicious muffins Sam. What a delicious way to use up zucchini from the garden.

      Reply
      • Sam

        July 13, 2020 at 10:25 am

        Thank you so much, Jill! I am glad you enjoyed them. 🙂

        Reply
    9. Larissa

      June 26, 2020 at 1:50 pm

      5 stars
      These were amazing! Even my zucchini-averse teenage boy couldn’t get enough of them! Thank you. We will be putting these on the muffin rotation list for sure!

      Reply
      • Sam

        June 26, 2020 at 4:12 pm

        I am so glad everyone enjoyed them so much, Larissa! 🙂

        Reply
    10. Adina

      July 27, 2015 at 5:35 am

      Mmmmm, I feel like baking the muffins right now, I do have a zucchini in the fridge from my neighbour’s garden :). I love the plates as well, especially the one with the pattern. 🙂

      Reply
      • Sam

        July 29, 2015 at 3:23 pm

        Thank you, Adina!

        Reply
    11. Ben Maclain | Havocinthekitchen

      July 26, 2015 at 11:00 pm

      5 stars
      That’s interesting. I’ve made a lot of carrot baked things. I’ve even incorporated beets, but I’ve never added zucchini. That’s kind of embarrassing. But you know what’s not embarrassing?! These lovely muffins. With cinnamon and chocolate, I’m in! Well done, Sam!

      Reply
      • Sam

        July 29, 2015 at 3:23 pm

        Thanks so much, Ben!

        Reply
    12. Zainab

      July 26, 2015 at 10:03 pm

      Always a great classic to make any morning wonderful!!

      Reply
      • Sam

        July 26, 2015 at 10:30 pm

        Thanks so much, Zainab!

        Reply
    13. Kennedy Cole@ KCole's Creative Corner

      July 26, 2015 at 9:01 pm

      5 stars
      Oh YES, Sam! I absolutely love these! Baking with zucchini is definitely one of my favorite things to do 😉 Zucchini really does add that perfect moist texture to any baked dish! And these muffins look so incredibly fluffy and light! LOVE these, Sam! 😀

      Reply
      • Sam

        July 26, 2015 at 10:30 pm

        Thanks so much, Kennedy! 🙂

        Reply
    14. Beeta @ Mon Petit Four

      July 26, 2015 at 8:48 pm

      Your muffins look positively delicious, Sam! I love using zucchini in baked goods..reminds me of carrots in cake cake…they just tend to make the baked good so incredibly moist. And I bet your sister’s homegrown ones were incredible…the store-bought ones are just sad. Great job – I could totally go for one of these muffins! <3

      Reply
      • Sam

        July 26, 2015 at 10:29 pm

        Thank you so much, Beeta! The zucchini really does do so much for the moisture component!

        Reply
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    The author (Sam) in blue shirt holding donut Hi, I'm Sam! I'm dedicated to bringing you sweet, simple, and from-scratch dessert recipes. My life may or may not be controlled by my sweet tooth. Send help (or chocolate). Read more about me.

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