Ina Garten’s Luscious Chocolate Zucchini Bread Recipe – Bake Joy

Chocolate lovers rejoice when zucchini bread meets decadent chocolate in this Ina Garten chocolate zucchini bread recipe that blends unexpected flavors.

Moist, rich, and surprisingly wholesome, this delightful treat sneaks vegetables into a luscious dessert everyone will adore.

The magic happens when grated zucchini creates an incredibly tender crumb that melts in your mouth.

Dense with chocolate and subtly earthy from the zucchini, this bread strikes a perfect balance between indulgence and nutrition.

Soft, fragrant, and wonderfully simple to make, the recipe promises a crowd-pleasing experience.

Each slice offers a delectable journey of sweet and subtle vegetable notes that dance beautifully together.

Grab your mixing bowl and get ready to bake a bread that will become your new favorite afternoon delight.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 55 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes

Calories: 300 kcal

Servings: 8

Ingredients List for Ina Garten Chocolate Zucchini Bread

• All-Purpose Flour: Provides structure and helps bind the ingredients together, choose unbleached flour for better texture.
• Cocoa Powder: Adds rich chocolate flavor and deep color, opt for high-quality Dutch-processed cocoa for intense taste.
• Baking Soda: Helps the bread rise and create a tender crumb, ensure it's fresh for maximum leavening power.
• Fine Salt: Enhances overall flavor and balances sweetness, use kosher or sea salt for best results.

• Unsalted Butter, Vegetable Oil: Create moisture and tender crumb, use room temperature butter for smooth mixing.
• Sugar: Adds sweetness and helps with browning, granulated white sugar works best.
• Large Egg: Binds ingredients and provides structure, use fresh eggs at room temperature.
• Vanilla Extract: Deepens flavor complexity, choose pure vanilla for authentic taste.
• Buttermilk: Adds tanginess and helps activate baking soda, can substitute with yogurt or milk with lemon juice.

• Zucchini: Adds moisture and nutrition, use fresh zucchini and gently squeeze out excess water.
• Semisweet Chocolate: Provides rich chocolate chunks, chop high-quality chocolate for best melting and flavor.

Must-Have Tools for Ina Garten Chocolate Zucchini Bread

• Loaf Pan (9-by-5-inch): Essential for baking the bread with the perfect shape and size.
• Electric Mixer: Critical for creaming butter and sugar, and mixing wet ingredients smoothly.
• Medium Mixing Bowls (2): Needed for separating dry and wet ingredient preparations.
• Whisk: Perfect for blending dry ingredients evenly without lumps.
• Measuring Cups and Spoons: Crucial for accurate ingredient measurements.
• Wire Rack: Helps bread cool evenly and prevents soggy bottom.
• Toothpick: Used to test bread doneness by checking for clean insertion.
• Spatula: Helpful for folding ingredients and scraping bowl sides.

Easy Instructions for Ina Garten Chocolate Zucchini Bread

Chocolate Zucchini Bread

• Oven Preparation Cozy kitchen setup with preheated warmth at 350 degrees. Lovingly coat the loaf pan with butter and a delicate flour dusting, creating a perfect non-stick surface.
• Ingredient Harmony Whisk together dry components until they dance seamlessly, creating a rich chocolate foundation that promises delectable moments.
• Butter and Sugar Magic Blend unsalted butter and sugar with electric mixer passion, transforming simple ingredients into a fluffy, cloud-like mixture that signals something extraordinary is happening.
• Liquid Love Introduce vegetable oil, egg, and vanilla extract, allowing each element to meld into a smooth, silky batter that whispers sweet promises.
• Texture Symphony Gently fold in flour and buttermilk, alternating with tender care, ensuring a velvety consistency that speaks of baking expertise.
• Zucchini Chocolate Dance Carefully incorporate shredded zucchini and chopped chocolate, creating unexpected depth and surprise in every potential bite.
• Pan Transformation Pour the baking marvel into the prepared pan, crowning it with a delicate zucchini slice that hints at the hidden vegetable treasure within.
• Oven Meditation Bake until a toothpick emerges clean, signaling the bread's perfect readiness after approximately 55 minutes of patient transformation.
• Cooling Moment Allow the bread to rest and settle, developing its full flavor profile before slicing into this decadent chocolate wonder.

Add-In Ideas for Ina Garten Chocolate Zucchini Bread

• Add an extra 1/4 cup of buttermilk or sour cream to create an incredibly moist, tender chocolate zucchini bread that stays soft for days.
• Swap semisweet chocolate for dark chocolate chunks or mix in chocolate chips for deeper, richer chocolate flavor profiles that complement the zucchini's subtle sweetness.
• Incorporate healthy mix-ins like chopped walnuts, pecans, or chia seeds to increase protein and add delightful crunch without compromising the bread's delicate texture.
• Experiment with warming spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, or cardamom to elevate the bread's complexity and create a more sophisticated taste experience that surprises your taste buds.
• Wrap the cooled bread tightly in plastic wrap or store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days, or freeze for maximum freshness up to 3 months.

Serving Advice for Ina Garten Chocolate Zucchini Bread

• Savor with Coffee Companions: Pair this rich chocolate zucchini bread with a steaming cup of espresso or cappuccino for a delightful morning or afternoon treat.
• Dress Up with Toppings: Spread a thin layer of cream cheese, sprinkle powdered sugar, or drizzle melted chocolate over each slice to elevate the bread's indulgence.
• Create Breakfast Delight: Transform the bread into a hearty breakfast by toasting a slice and adding a dollop of Greek yogurt or a schmear of almond butter on top.
• Pack for Picnic Pleasure: Wrap individual slices in parchment paper for a portable snack during outdoor adventures, picnics, or lunch box surprises.

How to Store Ina Garten Chocolate Zucchini Bread Properly

• Store Smartly: Transfer leftover chocolate zucchini bread to an airtight container, keeping it fresh at room temperature for 3-4 days. Wrap each slice individually for easy grab-and-go snacking.
• Freeze for Later: Wrap the entire loaf or individual slices tightly in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer-safe bag. Frozen bread stays delicious for up to 2 months, perfect for quick dessert emergencies.
• Revive Refrigerated Slices: Bring cold bread to room temperature before serving. Warm slightly in the microwave for 10-15 seconds to restore that fresh-baked softness and enhance the chocolate flavor.
• Moisture Management: Place a paper towel in the storage container to absorb excess moisture from the zucchini, preventing soggy bread and maintaining the perfect texture throughout storage.

Moist Chocolate Zucchini Bread Recipe

---

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.6 from 38 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
• Yield: 8 1x

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

Description

Ina Garten’s chocolate zucchini bread delivers a moist, rich dessert that balances vegetables and cocoa perfectly. Chocolate lovers will savor each dense slice packed with deep flavor and subtle garden-fresh notes.

---

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 1 large egg (room temperature)
• 8 tbsps (1 stick, 113 g) unsalted butter (room temperature)
• 1 cup (8 oz) shredded zucchini
• 1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
• ¾ cup sugar
• ¼ cup buttermilk (room temperature)
• 2 tbsps vegetable oil
• 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
• 2 tbsps unsweetened cocoa powder (not Dutch process)
• ½ tsp baking soda
• ¼ tsp fine salt
• 2 oz (57 g) semisweet chocolate (finely chopped)
• 1 ¼-inch-thick lengthwise slice of zucchini (for garnish)

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

---

Instructions

1. Preheat and Prepare: Calibrate oven to 350°F and meticulously line a 9-by-5-inch loaf pan with butter and flour, ensuring complete coverage and removing excess.
2. Combine Dry Components: Whisk all-purpose flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl until thoroughly integrated and lump-free.
3. Cream Butter Mixture: Utilize an electric mixer to blend unsalted butter and granulated sugar, transforming the mixture into a light, voluminous texture with a pale hue.
4. Incorporate Wet Ingredients: Gradually introduce vegetable oil, whole egg, and vanilla extract, mixing until the components seamlessly merge into a smooth, consistent batter.
5. Blend and Fold: Transition mixer to low speed, alternating dry ingredient mixture with buttermilk, carefully folding in shredded zucchini and chopped semisweet chocolate with minimal manipulation to preserve batter integrity.
6. Finalize and Decorate: Pour batter into prepared pan, garnishing with a delicate zucchini slice across the surface for visual appeal.
7. Bake and Assess: Position pan in preheated oven and bake for approximately 55 minutes, verifying doneness by inserting a toothpick that emerges clean and void of raw batter.
8. Cool and Serve: Rest zucchini chocolate bread on a wire rack, allowing complete cooling before slicing and presenting this delectable treat.

Notes

• Moisture Magic: Zucchini adds incredible moisture to the bread, preventing dryness and creating a tender crumb without overwhelming vegetable flavor.
• Chocolate Depth: Use high-quality cocoa powder and semisweet chocolate for rich, complex taste that elevates the bread from simple to sophisticated.
• Mixing Mastery: Never overmix the batter after adding flour to keep the texture light and prevent tough, dense bread – gentle folding is key.
• Storage Secrets: Wrap cooled bread tightly in plastic wrap or store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, or freeze for longer preservation.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 55 minutes
• Category: Breakfast, Snacks, Desserts
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 8
• Calories: 300
• Sugar: 22 g
• Sodium: 150 mg
• Fat: 14 g
• Saturated Fat: 8 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 37 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 4 g
• Cholesterol: 40 mg