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Vegan Zucchini Brownies

Moist, fudgy, addictive and finger licking good, these eggless brownie delights get their moisture from zucchini and that chocolaty hit is totally elevated by a dash of coffee powder (optional but recommended)!

With coconut sugar and whole wheat flour, this is surely going to be your go to from here on for brownies when you are craving for one and need something healthy too!

Course Dessert, Snack
Cuisine American
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Servings 16
Author Vanitha Bhat

Ingredients

  • 1 cup atta/whole wheat flour/multigrain flour
  • ¼ cup cocoa powder
  • ¾ cup coconut sugar or regular sugar/brown sugar/jaggery powder
  • ½ tsp baking soda
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 1 tsp instant coffee powder optional
  • 1 cup grated zucchini or lauki/bottle gourd/calabash
  • ¼ cup neutral oil like vegetable oil
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract/essence
  • 1/4-1/2 cup water or as needed.
  • 1/4 - 1/2 cup chocolate chips or walnuts; optional

Instructions

TO PREP BEFORE BAKING:

  1. Preheat oven to 350 F or 180 C.

  2. Line an 8X8 inch baking pan with parchment paper and grease again. I also grease the pan before placing the parchment paper to help in sticking it to the pan and not slide!

    (I use a overhang of the parchment paper to make it easy to lift the brownie from the pan).

  3. Grate zucchini (with skin) using the small grate of a grater – you will need a packed 1 cup.

  4. (If using lauki/bottle gourd, squeeze out some moisture from grated lauki. Peel the gourd before grating. This strained liquid can be added to batter later on in place of water)

    You can do the same with zucchini too.

TO MAKE BROWNIE BATTER:

  1. Mix. sieve or sift the dry ingredients into a large bowl – 1 cup whole wheat flour (loosen the flour, spoon into cup and then level the top), ¼ cup cocoa powder (sift to avoid lumps), ¾ cup coconut sugar/preferred sweetener; again sift and add, ½ teaspoon baking soda, 1 teaspoon instant coffee powder and ½ teaspoon salt.

  2. To this, add ¼ cup oil, 1 cup grated zucchini (squeeze out moisture before adding if preferred), 1 teaspoon vanilla extract and ½ cup chocolate chips/walnut bits (set aside a few to sprinkle on top).

  3. Mix or fold using a wooden spoon or silicone spatula adding water, about 1/4 to 1/2 cup of water to make for a flowy yet thick batter.

    Don't forget to use the strained liquid from squeezed zucchini (or lauki/bottlegourd). No wastage of any nutrition here!

    Try not to over mix.

TO BAKE VEGAN ZUCCHINI BROWNIES:

  1. Pour into prepared pan and level the top using spatula.

  2. Top with chocolate chips or chopped walnuts or both if preferred.

  3. Bake in preheated oven for 25-30 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out with a few moist crumbs sticking to it.

    Check at around 24 minutes or so.

  4. If you want a cakey brownie and not fudgy one, bake until the toothpick comes out clean; a couple of more minutes.

  5. Mine baked in about 25 minutes for a fudgy yet but with a slight cakey feel. Each oven is different.

  6. Remove from oven and let cool in pan about 20 minutes and then remove the brownie along with parchment and place on cooling rack to cool completely.

  7. Patience is needed here. Wait until COMPLETELY COOL before cutting into desired shapes.

    Remove the brownie using the overhang of the parchment paper and place on a cooling rack to cool completely.

  8. Once cool, slice into desired shapes using a sharp, heavy knife or even just a plastic knife.

    Time to enjoy fudgy, oeey, gooey, decadent, delicious and healthier zucchini brownies now!

  9. Happy Baking/Eating!

Recipe Notes

  • Instead of whole wheat flour, you can use even multigrain flour or plain flour too.
  • If you do not like coconut sugar or do not have, you can use plain sugar or even brown sugar or jaggery powder.
  • Before adding grated zucchini or lauki/bottle gourd, measure 1 cup and then try and squeeze out excess moisture before adding. Use the strained liquid to adjust consistency of brownie batter...no wastage of any nutrition here.
  • Adding chocolate chips is optional; you can leave it out or substitute with walnuts.
  • Do not over bake or the brownie which is supposed to be fudgy will turn cakey although still delicious.
  • Cool completely and then cut into desired shapes.
  • As the brownie is moist, store in an airtight container, placing parchment paper in between layers to prevent them from sticking to each other; that moist!
  • Enjoy and Happy Eating!