Deliciously moist zucchini or courgette chocolate muffins. Made with a blend of white and rye flour. Nut free and refined sugar free making them perfect for lunchboxes.
My kids absolutely loved these chocolate courgette muffins. None of them, not even the picky eater, detected the hidden vegetable here - the grated courgette.
How are these zucchini chocolate muffins sweetened?
These muffins are sweetened with mashed banana and honey. Honey is of course still sugar. However, I prefer to use it to sweeten my bakes than, for example, white caster sugar.
Maple syrup is a good alternative, particularly if you're making these for a baby under-one. Remember that honey isn't allowed for babies).
These muffins are great finger food for an older baby, especially if you're doing baby led weaning.
You could make them in mini muffin tins to make them more baby-sized. If you do this remember to reduce the cooking time.
These courgette chocolate muffins would be great in a lunch box
Many of my healthy recipes contain nuts. However, as most schools in the UK are nut free I needed some adaptations for my son's lunch box.
These chocolate courgette (or zucchini as it's called in many parts of the world) muffins are one of my favourite lunch box fillers.
They look like a treat yet contain plenty of goodness.
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More courgette recipes
- Courgette and potato fritters
- Courgette, lemon and blueberry overnight oats
- Potato and courgette soup
- Courgette and banana buckwheat pancakes
- Summer chickpea and courgette curry
- Courgette polpette
- Lemon courgette cake
- See my favourite courgette recipes and get some cooking tips.
Check out my healthy lunchbox ideas and tips
Pin zucchini chocolate muffins for later:
See all my kid-friendly muffin recipes in one place.
How to make courgette chocolate muffins:
Courgette or zucchini chocolate muffins
Ingredients
- 100 g self raising flour
- 60 g rye flour or use plain
- 40 g cocoa powder
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda
- 50 ml vegetable oil
- 100 ml honey or maple syrup
- 1 medium egg beaten or use one flax or chia egg if vegan
- 1 medium courgette grated and squeezed of excess water
- 1 ripe banana mashed
- 60 ml milk I used almond but use oat, dairy or soya if you're putting these in a lunchbox
Instructions
- Pre-heat the oven to 180°C (fan)/200°C/gas mark 6.
- Line a muffin tin with 12 muffin cases.
- Sift 100g self raising flour, 60g rye flour, 40g cocoa powder, 1 tsp baking powder and 1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda together. Add any bran left in the sieve to the bowl and stir in. Set aside.
- Place 50ml vegetable oil, 100ml honey or maple syrup and 1 egg (or flax egg*) into a mixing bowl. I use a stand mixer but you can do this with a handheld mixer or by hand with a wooden spoon. Beat well for 2 minutes.
- One by one add one grated courgette, 1 ripe mashed banana and 60ml milk, beating a little after each addition.
- Finally fold in the flour and chocolate mixture.
- Fill each muffin case to 2/3 full with the mixture.
- Bake in the oven for 20-25 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the centre comes out clean.
- Leave to cool in the tin for a few minutes then transfer to a wire rack.
Notes
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Jo
This recipe ticked A LOT of boxes for me and my 3 year old! Fun to make together (she loved mashing the banana and squeezing the courgette!), killed a nice chunk of time in the afternoon, and tasted yummy without being loaded with sugar. Win win!
Mandy Mazliah
Oh that's brilliant Jo - so happy that you both enjoyed them. And how can she possibly be three already?!?!
Choclette
I didn't know babies shouldn't have honey. Having said that I didn't think they should have added sugar of any kind. I find a bit of rye flour in baking works a treat and I'm always up for chocolate courgette cakes. They sound delicious. thanks for sharing with #WeShouldCocoa. Pinned.
Mandy Mazliah
There's a (rare) condition called something like bolutism that can be carried in honey - that's why they say no honey for babies. Thanks for commenting on the recipe x
Jenny
Looks tasty and healthy
Corina
My kids love homemade chocolate muffins and these would be a great way to get some extra veggies into them, especially the vegetable hater. I often make chocolate banana muffins for an after-school snack so I'll have to try this variation one day too!
Mandy Mazliah
Let me know what you think Corina!
Balvinder
These look SO INCREDIBLY GOOD!!! love a recipe that is lightened up and full of healthy ingredients!!
Mandy Mazliah
Thanks so much Balvinder!