Thess gluten-free triple chocolate zucchini brownies, slathered in chocolate avocado frosting is the ultimate decadent dessert but with a healthy twist.
Who says you can’t have your cake and eat it too?! Or in this case, your brownies!! Do you remember McCain’s Deep’n Delicious chocolate cake? I think if you grew up in North America, as a kid or maybe even as an adult you thought this cake was the bee’s knees. I sure did, but that was pre HealthNut days. When creating this recipe, that’s pretty much what I was going for. I wanted that deep’n delicious chocolatey goodness but of course it had to be healthified.
Refined Sugar Free & Gluten Free
How exactly do you healthify a decadent brownie recipe? I know, I know, it’s still dessert, it still has some sugar in it, but every once in a while you just gotta indulge and satisfy that sweet tooth. I skipped the processed sugar and added coconut sugar, which is lower on the glycemic index, and I used buckwheat flour which is high in protein and fiber and also gluten-free.
Veggies
Of course, I couldn’t resist, I had to sneak in some veggies. I contemplated using sweet potatoes, yes that’s a thing, but I went with zucchini as I loved using it my Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread. Zucchinis are fantastic to use in your baked goods as it adds moisture and takes on the flavours that you add, and the best part…your kids will never know you snuck it in there. To continue with the chocolatey goodness, I tossed in a few dairy-free chocolate chunks, which when melted adds another layer of ooey gooey goodness in every bite. But if I’m completely honest, I think my favourite part of this entire recipe is the frosting!
Chocolate Avocado frosting is the bomb! Who needs butter when you got the mighty avocado. I mean is there anything that this green goddess can’t do? Avocados are not just for toast or guacamole, it’s amazing in your dessert recipes, like my Strawberry Chocolate Mousse Tarts. No one will believe that this isn’t a butter frosting slathered on your brownie. This frosting is so rich, creamy and so chocolatey, with the added bonus of healthy fats. Although you can enjoy these brownies naked…I mean frosting free…haha…I highly recommend you don’t skip this part of the recipe!
If you make these Triple Chocolate Zucchini Brownies, be sure to share a photo on social media and tag me @healthnutnutrition and #healthnuteats so that I can see your creations!
Recipe
Triple Chocolate Zucchini Brownies
Ingredients:
Brownies
- 1/4 tsp sea salt
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 2 eggs large
- 1/4 cup dairy-free chocolate chunks
- 1/4 cup almond flour
- 1/2 cup buckwheat flour
- 1/2 cup coconut oil melted & warm
- 1/2 cup coconut sugar
- 1/2 cup cocoa powder
- 1 medium zucchini* grated and excess water squeezed out
Chocolate Avocado Frosting
- 1/2 cup coconut icing sugar**
- 1/4 cup cocoa powder
- 1 tbsp coconut oil melted
- 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 1 lage ripe avocado
Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 350℉ and line a 8 X 8 baking pan with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, using a hand held mixer, whisk together the warm coconut oil, coconut sugar and vanilla for 30 seconds, then add in the eggs and whisk for another 15 seconds until smooth.
- In a separate bowl, add the buckwheat flour, cocoa powder, almond flour, baking soda, salt and stir until well combined.
- Add the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients and whisk on low setting until smooth and starts to look like a brownie batter. Fold in the zucchini and chocolate chunks.
- Transfer the batter to the prepared baking pan and smooth over with the back of the spatula. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes and allow to cool completely in the pan on a wire rack.
- While the brownie is baking, prepare the chocolate avocado frosting. In a food processor, add the coconut icing sugar, cocoa powder, coconut oil, vanilla and avocado. Process for 30 seconds or until smooth and well blended.
- Spread the frosting on top of the cooled brownie and slice into squares. Store any leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days, or in the freezer for up to 1 month.
Notes
Leave a comment
hello, I have a question: Do you have to melt the chocolate chunks for this recipe before folding in with the zucchini?
Hi Alma! No, you don’t have to melt the chocolate chunks. They are to be folded in (see step 4) with the zucchini. The cocoa powder is what gives the brownies the colour and extra chocolate flavour too!
Made these today for quarantine baking and they turned out SOOO good! Better than I expect and everyone loved them. So rich and decadent. I replaced the 2 eggs with flax eggs.
I am so happy to hear that!! Thank you for sharing and leaving a review, I really appreciate it. Stay safe & healthy. 🙂
What are the calories in these brownies?
Hi Nikole,
Would I be able to swap out cocoa powder in this recipe and replace it with cacao powder?
Thanks!
Hi Sarah! Yes you can use cacao powder instead. The only difference between cacao and cocoa is that cacao is made from unroasted cocoa beans, where as cocoa has been roasted at high temperatures.
This looks so good! I’d love to see a ‘print’ button for the recipe so I don’t have to print the whole post.
Unless it is there but just not displaying in my browser …
Thanks Nikole. I love all that you do.
Great suggestion! I will work on having that option available for you in the near future! Thank you for your kind words 🙂