The BEST healthy zucchini brownies you'll ever eat are gluten free, paleo, deliciously fudgy and the perfect way to bake with zucchini. These easy, gluten free zucchini brownies are sweetened just with pure maple syrup, coconut sugar and your favorite chocolate chips. Top them with fancy sea salt to make them extra special!
1medium zucchinishredded and squeezed of excess moisture with a paper towel (1 cup shredded zucchini)
1large egg
1/2cuptahini*
¼cuppure maple syrup
½cupcoconut sugar
1teaspoonvanilla extract
½cuphigh quality cocoa powder (or cacao powder)
2tablespoonscoconut flour
½teaspoonbaking soda
½teaspoonsalt
2tablespoonsmelted and cooled coconut oil
⅓cupchocolate chips, dairy free if desired
Optional: ½ cup chopped walnuts
For the topping:
2tablespoonschocolate chips, dairy free if desired
1/2teaspooncoconut oil
Fancy sea salt, for sprinkling on top
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line an 8x8 inch pan with parchment paper and spray with nonstick cooking spray.
First, measure out 1 heaping cup of shredded zucchini, then place shredded zucchini in a paper towel or cheese cloth and squeeze out all of the moisture/water. This is very important!
Next add in egg, tahini, maple syrup, coconut sugar and vanilla; stir until smooth. Gently stir in cocoa powder into the batter, mixing until well incorporated.
Next add in coconut flour, baking soda, salt and finally the melted coconut oil. Stir until well combined. Fold in chocolate chips (and walnuts if you are using).
Pour into prepared pan. Bake for 30-35 minutes or until toothpick inserted into center comes out with just a few crumbs attached (it should not be completely wet, but a little gooeyness is just fine).
Allow to cool completely. This will be tough, but it’s the best way to make sure the bars stay together perfectly since they will be moist.
Once ready for the chocolate drizzle: Add 2 tablespoons chocolate chips and coconut oil to a small microwave safe bowl. Microwave in 30 second increments, stirring in between, until chocolate is melted.
Drizzle over zucchini brownies. Sprinkle with a little fancy sea salt (trust me, it’s good!). Cut into 16 squares.
Notes
To sub tahini: Instead of tahini, feel free to use almond butter, sunflower seed butter or cashew butter. I would not recommend peanut butter because it throws off the flavor. Tahini is best though and I have only tested the recipe using tahini.To make it vegan: I recommend using 1 flax egg (1 tablespoon flaxseed meal mixed with 3 tablespoons water). Let it sit in fridge for 5 minutes before using in recipe.See the full post for tips, tricks, substitutions and storing instructions.