Are you up to your eyeballs in zucchini yet?
Believe it or not, no one has gifted me a giant zucchini yet this year! No matter, I can grab fresh, local zucchini at my grocery store to make all things zucchini!
I love to cook and bake with zucchini. You might remember last week when I shared a delicious, savory, Amish inspired recipe for Zucchini Casserole. So good, my husband is already requesting a recipe repeat.
I've used zucchini as a wholesome filler in these Chicken and Zucchini Enchiladas. I've used it raw to make Greek Style Zucchini Ribbon Salad. And, I've used it in sweet recipes like these Glazed Orange Zucchini Muffins.
But today, I'm focusing on this sweet recipe using zucchini. Chocolate Chip Zucchini Muffins is a wonderful sweet zucchini recipe. These easy-to-make, moist, dense muffins are too good not to make when your garden is overflowing with fresh zucchini.
I think most everyone has a favorite recipe tucked away somewhere for zucchini bread. While I do enjoy zucchini bread, I really like to make quick bread recipes like zucchini bread in muffin form. Muffins bake up faster and, by their design, are portion controlled.
This recipe takes my favorite zucchini bread recipe and transforms it into muffin form. I added mini chocolate chips and chopped walnuts to the batter to create the perfect Chocolate Chip Zucchini muffin. But, if you prefer to make bread over muffins, there's directions for that on the recipe card below too!
Can I freeze zucchini muffins?
Yes! You can freeze these muffins. They should keep for a few months in your freezer in an airtight container or bag. Defrost before eating them.
Can I double the recipe for these muffins?
Yes! The recipe as written makes about 12 muffins, but you can easily double the recipe to make approximately 2 dozen muffins.
Can I use this recipe to make Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread?
Yes, you can use this recipe to make zucchini bread instead of zucchini muffins. Instructions for making bread are included in the recipe card below. Looking for something without chocolate? Give this classic zucchini bread recipe a try!
How to make Chocolate Chip Zucchini Muffins
Gather all the ingredients needed:- Flour
- Sugar
- baking soda
- salt
- cinnamon
- buttermilk
- egg
- oil
- vanilla extract
- shredded zucchini
- mini chocolate chips
- chopped walnuts
Whisk together the dry ingredients. Whisk together the wet ingredients. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix until JUST COMBINED. Don't over mix.
Notice below that the flour isn't completely incorporated into the wet ingredients and that's perfectly fine!
Mix in the shredded zucchini. The zucchini will be quite wet, and will help loosen the batter once it's stirred in.
Divide evenly between the prepared (grease or paper line) wells in a standard sized muffin tin. I like to sprinkle a few extra mini chocolate chips on top for good measure. This step is totally optional.
Bake as directed and enjoy!
Can I use this recipe to make healthy zucchini muffins?
Yes you can. Use the following substitutions as a guideline:
- Replace half or all of the all purpose flour in the recipe with whole wheat flour
- Replace half of the oil in the recipe with unsweetened applesauce
- Replace the granulated sugar in the recipe with a sugar substitute (like Swerve) that measures like sugar
- Omit the mini chocolate chips
Yield: 12 servings

Chocolate Chip Zucchini Muffins
prep time: 10 Mcook time: 25 Mtotal time: 35 M
Moist, dense zucchini muffins full of chocolate chips and walnuts.
ingredients:
- 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
- 3/4 cups granulated sugar
- 1 tsp. baking soda
- 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp. kosher salt
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 cup canola or vegetable oil
- 1/4 cup buttermilk
- 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 cups shredded fresh zucchini
- 1/4 cup mini chocolate chips
- 1/4 cup chopped walnuts
instructions:
How to cook Chocolate Chip Zucchini Muffins
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line with paper liners or grease a 12 standard size muffin tin. Set aside.
- In large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking soda, ground cinnamon, and salt.
- In a 4 cup glass measuring cup, whisk together egg, oil, buttermilk, and vanilla. Pour into flour mixture and mix until it just starts to come together. (Visible flour is ok. It will be dry at this point and doesn't need to be completely mixed. )
- Add in zucchini and mix to combine. The moisture from the zucchini will allow the dry ingredients to be completely incorporated into the wet ingredients. Take care not to over mix. Over mixing will create a tough crumb.
- Gently stir in chocolate chips and walnuts.
- Divide batter equally between 12 prepared muffin wells.
- Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let rest in muffin tin for 2 minutes, then remove to wire rack to cool completely.
NOTES:
To make Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread - mix as directed then pour batter into greased 9 inch loaf pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 55 to 60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into center comes out cleanly.
Make the following substitutions for Healthy Chocolate Chip Zucchini Muffins - replace half the all purpose flour with whole wheat flour. Replace 1/4 cup oil with unsweetened applesauce. Replace the sugar with a sugar substitute that measures like sugar.
Make the following substitutions for Healthy Chocolate Chip Zucchini Muffins - replace half the all purpose flour with whole wheat flour. Replace 1/4 cup oil with unsweetened applesauce. Replace the sugar with a sugar substitute that measures like sugar.
Calories
234.12
234.12
Fat (grams)
12.53
12.53
Sat. Fat (grams)
1.68
1.68
Carbs (grams)
28.52
28.52
Fiber (grams)
1.27
1.27
Net carbs
27.25
27.25
Sugar (grams)
15.47
15.47
Protein (grams)
3.25
3.25
Sodium (milligrams)
219.38
219.38
Cholesterol (grams)
15.70
15.70
Nutritional Information provided is an estimate.
Copyright © 2019 Renee's Kitchen Adventures
Have made this recipe once. Light and fluffy muffins. very good recipe. Baking time was spot on. I used a larger muffin paper.
ReplyDeleteHello Heinz! Thank you so much for your review and I'm so happy you enjoyed the recipe!
DeleteHi, Do you squeeze out the water from the shredded zucchini first?
ReplyDeleteNo, I don't squeeze it out, but if you have excess water from the zucchini, you can drain some of it off if you like.
DeleteCould I used frozen grated zucchini which has been thawed and drained?
ReplyDeleteI've never used frozen zucchini. Not sure if it would contain too much liquid or if the texture would be right. I think I would advise to stick with fresh zucchini here. Thanks for your question though! It's a good one!
DeleteI use frozen zucchini all the time. I just defrost, and strain out excess moisture.
DeleteThank you for your comment! Good to know!
DeleteHi Renee! Thank you for sharing your choc chip zuccini muffin recipe - it sounds delish!I am definitely making this tomorrow!
ReplyDeleteHi! Thanks for stopping by. I hope that you enjoyed this recipe!
DeleteMakes really good muffins
ReplyDeleteThank you for the review!
DeleteDo you need to peel zucchini before using in this recipe?
ReplyDeleteNo peeling required.
DeleteI made these muffins today. I just had a warm one with a cup of coffee. It was delicious!! So moist and fluffy. Will definitely make these again. I left out the walnuts.
ReplyDeleteMarie
Hi Marie! Thank you for your review and comments! I'm so happy you enjoyed this recipe.
DeleteCan you use whole milk instead of buttermilk?
ReplyDeleteHi and thanks for your question. Yes, you can substitute whole milk for buttermilk, but you may not get the tender texture and rise buttermilk gives. Hope this helps.
DeleteAdd 1tsp. of vinegar to the 1/4 C. of milk this will be a substitute for buttermilk
DeleteCan you use EVOO in place of veg. or canola oil?
ReplyDeleteHello! Thank you for your question. I haven't tried this recipe with EVOO, but if that's what you have on hand, I don't see why it wouldn't work. May change the flavor a bit. Hope this helps.
DeleteThese were very good! I used 1 cup all purpose flour and 1/2 cup white whole wheat flour. I used toasted pecans since that’s what I had on hand. I did use closer to 2 cups zucchini. I added 1 TBS of ground chia seed and 1/3 cup milk protein powder to make them a bit healthier. My kids liked them and so did our friends who got to taste them today.
ReplyDeleteLove your additions. Thank you for your review and I'm so happy you enjoyed this recipe.
DeleteHas anyone tried this using gluten free flour? I was just given 12 cups of shredded zucchini from my neighbor and want to try this recipe but need it to be gluten free. Thanks
ReplyDeleteI've not made this recipe with gluten free flour, but I'd say go for a brand that measures cup for cup like all purpose flour for the best results.
DeleteJust made these this morning and they are delicious!!!!
ReplyDeleteThank you for your review! Glad you enjoyed this recipe.
DeleteThis is one of the best chocolate, zucchini recipe I have tried. The finished product turned out to be awesome.
ReplyDeleteI'm so happy this recipe post was helpful to you and you enjoyed it! Thank you so much for your candid review!
DeleteI don’t have mini chocolate chips but I have the regular size. Will this work instead?
ReplyDeleteYes, you can substitute regular sized chips for the mini. You'll just end up with bigger chocolate bites than the more dispersed minis.
DeleteI’m gonna be honest. These turned out terrible for us. I’m gonna have to try a second time.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry to hear this. This is the first negative review on this recipe. Everyone has had success.
DeleteI made mini muffins (34 total) and they baked for about 11-13 minutes and they were PERFECT! My toddler LOVED them and so did I!
ReplyDeleteHello! Thanks so much for your review and I'm so very happy you enjoyed this recipe.
DeleteOh my goodness made a double batch last night... sooooo good 🤤 thank you for sharing the recipe.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment! So happy you enjoyed them.
DeleteIf I don’t have enough zucchini can I use carrots for part of it ?
ReplyDeleteI have not tried that substitution myself, but I think it would work just fine.
DeleteI made a double batch yesterday…and they are nearly gone! This recipe was moist and delicious! (The key is to not mix them too much!) Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteHello! Thanks so much fo your review. You are right! Overmixing is a bad idea and will make quick bread/muffin recipes like this tough. So happy you enjoyed them!
DeleteThese turned out really tasty. 2 out of 3 kids loved them. I did mini muffins. 1 recipe made 40 muffins 13 minutes at 350 was the perfect cook time.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for your review. I'm delighted you enjoyed this recipe.
Delete