These Gluten-Free Vegan Chocolate Zucchini Muffins are seriously moist, rich and indulgent and perfectly chocolatey. They come together in one bowl and are refined sugar free optional. You definitely won't notice the vegetables, and they taste surprisingly like chocolate banana bread!
How to make this recipe
Scroll down to the bottom of the post for the full recipe.
- The zucchini (courgette) will need to be grated - the easiest way to do this is to use a box grater.
Tip: Use both hands to squeeze as much water as possible out of the grated zucchini - this will help it cook better.
- Then place all the ingredients in a glass mixing bowl and mix it all together.
Tip: Make sure to use a measuring jug to measure out the exact amount of plant-based milk!
- Divide the batter between muffin cases in a muffin/cupcake tin.
- Bake for 20 minutes.
How long do these keep for?
Although these do taste best when fresh, they keep well covered in the fridge for up to a few days. If you have just taken them out of the fridge, I'd recommend warming them up in an oven toaster if you have one.
Substitutions you can make
- You can use any type of oil: coconut oil, olive oil or vegetable oil.
- You can use any type of plant-based milk: almond milk, rice milk, soy milk, cashew milk, oat milk etc.
- You can use any type of liquid sweetener: maple syrup, agave syrup, brown rice syrup etc.
- You can replace the ground almonds (almond meal) with ground walnuts.
- For a nut-free version: replace the ground almonds with ground sunflower seeds and use a nut-free plant-based milk.
- You can use plain flour, wholemeal (whole wheat) flour or spelt flour instead of the gluten-free flour if you're not gluten-free.
- For a refined sugar free version, use refined sugar free chocolate chips.
- The chocolate chips can be omitted or replaced with chocolate chunks.
- If you don't like chocolate, make my plain Gluten-Free Vegan Zucchini Muffins instead!
- Want to make a loaf instead? Use my Gluten-Free Vegan Chocolate Zucchini Bread recipe!
More gluten-free vegan muffin recipes
- Carrot Muffins
- Blueberry Banana Bread Muffins
- Chocolate Muffins
- Apple Muffins
- Blueberry Muffins
- Chocolate Banana Muffins
- Banana Muffins
- Orange Muffins
- Lemon Muffins
- Chocolate Pumpkin Muffins
- Gingerbread Muffins
If you try out this recipe or anything else from my blog, I'd really love to hear any feedback! Please give it a rating, leave a comment, or tag a photo @rhiansrecipes #rhiansrecipes on Instagram! Thank you.
Gluten-Free Vegan Chocolate Zucchini Muffins
Ingredients
- 150 g (1 cup) zucchini (courgette) , grated
- 60 g (¼ cup) coconut oil (or sub olive or vegetable oil)
- 12 tablespoons maple syrup (or sub any other sweetener)
- 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar * (ensure gluten-free if necessary)
- Pinch salt
- 150 ml (⅔ cup) unsweetened almond milk (or any other plant-based milk)
- 150 g (1 ¼ cup) ground almonds (almond meal) **
- 150 g (1 ¼ cup) gluten-free flour blend (or sub plain flour if not gluten-free)
- 2 heaped teaspoons baking powder (ensure gluten-free if necessary)
- ¼ teaspoon bicarbonate of soda (baking soda)
- 50 g (½ cup) cocoa powder
- 50 g (⅓ cup) dark chocolate chips *** (ensure vegan/gluten-free if necessary)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 180 degrees Celsius (350 degrees Fahrenheit).
- Use both hands to squeeze as much water as possible out of the grated zucchini - this will help it cook better.
- Place the coconut oil in a large bowl and melt over a saucepan of boiling water or in the microwave (skip this step if using any other oil).
- Once melted, add the zucchini, maple syrup, vinegar, salt, milk and ground almonds to the same bowl.
- Sift in the flour, baking powder, bicarbonate of soda and cocoa powder.
- Mix well, adding a splash more milk if it's looking too dry.
- Add the chocolate chips and fold in gently.
- Transfer the mixture between muffin cases in a muffin tin.
- Bake in the oven for 20 minutes until risen and an inserted skewer comes out clean.
- Tastes best when fresh, but keeps covered in the fridge for up to a few days.
Notes
- If you don't like chocolate, make my plain Gluten-Free Vegan Zucchini Muffins instead!
- Want to make a loaf instead? Use my Gluten-Free Vegan Chocolate Zucchini Bread recipe!
Disclosure: This posts contains affiliate links to Amazon. If you purchase any of these products, a small percentage will come to me with no extra cost to you! This income will go towards the running of this blog - thank you.
Pam in Sacramento
I made these yesterday. Came out perfect in every way! Moist, rich chocolatey flavor. Excellent texture and flavor. I used olive oil for my oil, and Bob's Red Mill GF 1-to-1 flour. Thank you for a yummy recipe. I'd give you 10 stars if I could! ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
Rhian Williams
Thank you so much, so so happy to hear that!!
Jennifer
These were amazing!
Rhian Williams
Thank you so much, so happy to hear that!
Karen
These look amazing and I'd love to try them! However, I only have yucca, banana, rice, chickpea flours, not an all purpose gluten free flour. Do you have any suggestions for which of the above flours would work best?
Rhian Williams
Thank you! White rice flour plus 2 tablespoons tapioca flour works. Don't think the other ones you listed will work for this recipe unfortunately!
Tina McNally
Forgot to add the importance of hand stirring and not to much...just until incorporated. It makes a big difference in the outcome. They are much fluffier and tender if not overmixed.
Rhian Williams
Thank you so much for sharing!!
Kim
Made these today, didn’t tell the family they were healthy, everyone raved over them and wanted more. I had to freeze the rest of the batch so they couldn’t eat them! Thanks for a great recipe, this is a keeper.
Rhian Williams
Thank you so much, so happy to hear that!