This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, read my disclosure policy.
Zucchini brownies are a healthier recipe for brownies, and these are the BEST zucchini brownies ever! They’re ooey, gooey, and SUPER fudgy brownies. And NO one will know they have zucchini inside!
Yes, it is another zucchini recipe. I know, you’re probably yelling at the computer chanting “No more zucchini…NO MORE ZUCCHINI…”
Think of how I feel? At one point I think I had seven ginormous ones in my crisper drawer. Unfortunately, two didn’t make it through. When you get a pile of veggies that just keeps growing…things get forgotten underneath.
Alas, only one is left. I haven’t had to buy zucchini for dinner in over a month. In another few weeks, I’ll be grumbling at the prices and wishing I wasn’t having to buy it to make these zucchini brownies again.
Because, my friends, I will be making these zucchini brownies again. They are delightfully fudgy, due in part to the chocolate frosting on top.
Have tons of zucchini? Make Zucchini Bread!
These brownies are addicting and so good. They’re gooey, fudgy, and super chocolaty…and they have zucchini in them. So they’re healthy brownies. Practically a vegetable.
I promise you though – NO ONE will guess there is zucchini in this homemade brownies recipe. They taste like the most decadent brownies ever…and it just so happens they’re a vegetable.
#You’reWelcome.
When you make the recipe you’re going to think something is strange, because there are no eggs in it. Yes, that’s right, a brownie without eggs. Also, there’s no butter in the brownies, so if you skip the frosting these are vegan brownies.
(Don’t skip the frosting. More on that later.)
The recipe calls for water as an additional binder to the zucchini. How much water you add will vary depending on your zucchini. If you have a very wet zucchini, you may not need as much water. Add a tablespoon at a time and stop adding once the mixture JUST comes together and is no longer powdery. It is a very thick dough, almost like cookie dough. This batter is not a traditional brownie batter consistency.
Just go with it.
Let’s talk about frosting. My Grandma (my mom’s mom) used to make the best vanilla frosting. It was smooth and soft and got kind of crunchy after sitting on the cake. Problem was, my Grandma never measured. So no one was really sure how she made her wonderful frosting. Then I made these brownies and I think I’ve figured out her secret: melted butter. I can’t wait to experiment more to see if I can make the frosting from my memories.
Now you pretty much know the secret to the ooey gooey chocolate frosting. It’s cocoa, melted butter, milk, salt, and vanilla. No mixer even needed, just use a whisk! Pour it over the cooled brownies and let it semi-set. This frosting stays gooey and wet with a teeny hardening on the top.
I could drink the stuff.
I call these zucchini brownies “fork brownies”, because they’re so gooey you need a fork. #worthit
I hope you enjoy these as much as I do! I apologize in advance if you end up spending to much at the grocery store because you’ve run out of zucchini in your garden. They are that good.
Zucchini Brownies
Recipe Video
Ingredients
For the brownies:
- 2 cups (248g) all-purpose flour
- ½ cup (40g) unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ cup (118g) vegetable oil
- 1 ½ cups (300g) granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 cups shredded zucchini 1 large or 2 small zucchinis
- 3-5 tablespoons (15-75ml) water
- ½ cup chopped walnuts optional
For the frosting:
- 3 tablespoons (15g) unsweetened cocoa powder
- ¼ cup (59ml) unsalted butter melted
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- ¼ cup (59ml) milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 9×13″ baking pan with foil and spray with cooking spray. Set aside.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
- Using an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, mix together the oil, sugar, and vanilla until well combined. Add the dry ingredients and stir. Fold in the zucchini. Let the mixture sit for a few minutes so the batter can absorb the moisture from the zucchini. Then, if your mixture is still very powdery, add up to 5 tablespoons water (start with 1 tablespoon and work up from there, stirring well after each addition). The batter will be very thick but shouldn’t be powdery. (It partially depends on how wet your zucchini is!) Add walnuts, if desired. You may need to use your hands to work the water in instead of a spoon. The dough is super thick, like cookie dough. Do not add too much water! Spread in prepared pan.
- Bake 25-30 minutes until the brownies spring back when gently touched.
- To make the frosting: Whisk butter, cocoa, salt, and powdered sugar. Whisk in milk and vanilla. Spread over cooled brownies. Cut into squares and chill to semi-set. The frosting hardens slightly on the top but stays wet and gooey underneath.
- These brownies are best stored in an airtight container and eaten within 2 days. Chill them to make them last an extra day. They’re what I call “fork” brownies because they are so gooey.
- *NOTE* People have been saying these brownies are cakey. Every time I’ve made them they turn out super fudgy like in the photos. The problem is how much water you add. It’s hard to say how much to add because every time I’ve made these I’ve added a different amount. It really does depend on your zucchini. The batter will be very thick and need help spreading in the pan. If your batter is at all liquidy or thin you’re going to get a more cakey brownie.
Recipe Nutrition
Want more delicious brownie recipes? Come on, you know you do.
Mint Chocolate Brownies, from Wine & Glue.
Peanut Butter Brownies with Chocolate Ganache Frosting, from It’s Yummi.
Buckeye Brownies, from Brown Eyed Baker.
Peanut Butter Cup Brownies with Oreo Crust
We are in the “using up zucchini” mode around here right now. This recipe is fantastic and deserves to be made even when the goal isn’t to use up zucchini. I ended up not needing any extra water after letting it sit a few minutes before putting it in the pan. Was perfectly fudgy! Will definitely make again!
I agree with previous comments that these brownies are cakey rather than gooey. I put no water at all in them and they are still cakey, not dense and gooey as I was hoping. The icing is good though.
I followed the directions and made no alterations (as I always like to do the first time I try a new recipe). Love that there’s no egg, as my grandson has an allergy to eggs! As a few others have noted, these brownies came our more cakelike than fudgy. I did not add ANY water so that wasn’t the culprit. I guess my zucchini was just watery. I think next time I will squeeze out the water first (even tho the recipe says not to) and then add back water, as needed. I knew the cakelike texture was possible because my batter was not “thick” or “cookie dough-like”. Perhaps I could’ve added something to my batter to thicken it?? They are delicious, just the same. I probably would’ve eaten MORE if they were fudgy, so maybe this is a good thing lol. I do LOVE the frosting!
Thanks for the recipe. I will def try again!
Excellent recipe.
Mine definitely turned out cakey. I think it may have been because I used more zucchini than the recipe called for: I just grated up my two medium sized zucchinis, and didn’t add any water.
Featured In
Rate This Recipe
Recipe Ratings without Comment