This One Bowl Vegan Chocolate Zucchini Banana Bread is a super moist, wholesome treat packed with chocolatey goodness!
There are no words I can think of to describe this masterpiece other than a PRESENT FOR YA FACE.
Baking makes my heart so happy. I did an activity in mindfulness recently where I wrote down times when I felt my mind was “quiet,” i.e. when it’s not bouncing from thought to thought in the distracted manner in does 99.7% of the time. The few things I could think of where I was truly present were cooking, working out, and being in nature. With working out, it’s usually just so mentally taxing that my brain doesn’t have much room to think about anything else. Music is another part of my life that really helps me calm my mind down. I always have tunes on when I’m in the kitchen.
And when I’m baking, I feel home. I feel safe and cozy and calm. I like making things with my hands. I like how the whole house smells like happiness. It’s so soothing to me in a way that nothing else is.
For how much I probably appear to have my shit together, I really don’t. I’m always trying to do so many things at once that oftentimes I don’t give the task at hand enough thought. Instead of finishing things to completion before moving on, I try juggling seventeen things at the same time. That leads to me making carless mistakes more often than I’d like to admit, like leaving the stove and/or my car on. Or leaving the fridge and/or garage door open. Or forgetting my phone in my trunk.
But I think there’s beauty in my absentmindedness. I get a lot done each day and productivity makes me feel awesome. Even if it’s just making dinner and doing a load of laundry, I’ve always thrived on doing a bunch of things at once. It might not all be 100%, but better done than perfect. Amiright?
So this One Bowl Vegan Chocolate Banana Bread…I MEANNNNN, it’s everything. It’s double chocolatey (hi, cocoa powder and chocolate chips), lusciously sweet but not overly sweet, so freaking moist from the banana and coconut oil, and really just so satisfying for the heart and belly. It’s fun to make and it’s even more fun to eat! I know from experience.
I made three loaves of this before I was happy enough to share the recipe. I’m lucky because it’s not often that I have to make a recipe that many times before I post it. I won’t be grating another zucchini for a hot minute, I’ll tell ya that. When I first made this recipe, I used 1/2 cup of sugar, less oil, and some almond milk and it was not at all sweet enough. It tasted like boring chocolate bread. Meh.
Cocoa powder is really bitter and we’ve got 1/3 cup of it here, so that’s why this bread calls for more sugar than my Chocolate Chunk Banana Bread, Chai-Spiced Carrot Banana Bread, and Pumpkin Gingerbread. Long story short, I really don’t advise reducing the sugar. If you don’t have organic cane sugar, regular white sugar or coconut sugar is fine. I imagine maple syrup or honey would work but I would maybe do 1/2 cup liquid sweetener and 1/4 cup granulated sweetener so the ratio of wet to dry isn’t too funky.
I didn’t squeeze the liquid out of my zucchini and the moistness level was PERFECT. Now let’s talk about flour. Whole wheat pastry flour is my go-to in baking because it’s 100% whole grain but still so light and fluffy. You can also use all purpose flour or all purpose gluten-free baking flour to make it 100% gluten-free. So customizable!
All in all, this Vegan Chocolate Zucchini Banana Bread is a more wholesome option for an insanely tasty treat that I’m totally confident the entire fam will adore. I’ve been enjoying it for breakfast with hot coffee and as a night-time treat warmed in the microwave with a little scoop of ice cream and chilly almond milk.
P.S. If you’re looking for a muffin version of these, try my Vegan Chocolate Zucchini Muffins. They’re insane.
Who else has mad love for baking?! LOVE YOU AND LOVE THIS LOVELY LOAF.
PrintOne Bowl Vegan Chocolate Zucchini Banana Bread
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 65 mins
- Total Time: 1 hour 15 mins
- Yield: 10 1x
This One Bowl Vegan Chocolate Zucchini Banana Bread is a super moist, wholesome treat packed with chocolatey goodness!
- 2 tbsp ground flaxseed + 6 tbsp water
- 1 cup very overripe mashed banana (about 3 small bananas)
- 1/4 cup coconut oil, melted (can sub avocado or canola oil)
- 3/4 cup organic cane sugar
- 1 cup grated zucchini, packed
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 1/4 cups whole wheat pastry flour
- 1/3 cup cocoa powder
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup chocolate chips
- Preheat oven to 350F. Grease a 9x5in loaf pan with cooking spray.
- Stir together flax and water in a large mixing bowl and set aside to thicken for 5 minutes.
- To the same bowl, add banana, melted coconut oil, sugar, vanilla and zucchini. Stir to combine.
- Add flour, cocoa powder, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt. Stir just until combined, being careful not to over-mix. Fold in chocolate chips.
- Pour batter into pan and top with additional chocolate chips if desired. Bake for 1 hour and 5 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack.
- Store in an air-tight container on the counter or tightly wrapped in plastic wrap.
Did You Make This Recipe?
Let me know by leaving a review or tagging @hummusapien on Instagram!
Oh God, this is mouthwatering! Chocolate and banana is the best combo ❤️
Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog
http://charmainenyw.com
Oh God, this is mouthwatering! Chocolate and banana is the best combo ❤️
Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog
http://charmainenyw.com
SO delish!!!
★★★★★
SO delish!!!
★★★★★
This looks and sounds oh so dreamy!!! Thank you for working on and perfecting the recipe. I cannot wait to make it for Matt and me! I hope you are having an amazing trip!
This looks and sounds oh so dreamy!!! Thank you for working on and perfecting the recipe. I cannot wait to make it for Matt and me! I hope you are having an amazing trip!
Looks amazing. Can’t wait to try it.
Looks amazing. Can’t wait to try it.
This looks divine. And with such a small list of ingredients. I can’t wait to make it!.
Alexis
http://simplehealthstyle.com
This looks divine. And with such a small list of ingredients. I can’t wait to make it!.
Alexis
http://simplehealthstyle.com
No ground flax!! Can i sub?
Chia should work or two eggs if not vegan!
Yep—use chia seeds or 2 eggs if you’re not vegan.
No ground flax!! Can i sub?
Chia should work or two eggs if not vegan!
Yep—use chia seeds or 2 eggs if you’re not vegan.
I hate bananas. What can I use instead?
I hate bananas. What can I use instead?
you are the queen of zucchini breads! <3
you are the queen of zucchini breads! <3
Have you tried substituting mashed / food processed dates instead of using cane sugar? I’m thinking about doing that when I try this recipe but wanted to get your take first.
No, I haven’t tried that. Not sure how all that added moisture would effect the bread but I know 1/3 cup maple syrup works so you could try 1/3 cup date paste!
Have you tried substituting mashed / food processed dates instead of using cane sugar? I’m thinking about doing that when I try this recipe but wanted to get your take first.
No, I haven’t tried that. Not sure how all that added moisture would effect the bread but I know 1/3 cup maple syrup works so you could try 1/3 cup date paste!
Oh my goodness. This is heavenly!! Thank you, thank you, thank you. All your recipes are amazing!!
★★★★★
Awww thank you so much!!
Oh my goodness. This is heavenly!! Thank you, thank you, thank you. All your recipes are amazing!!
★★★★★
Awww thank you so much!!
My very picky husband just asked me to make this bread again! It was a hit with our family. I use maple syrup instead of sugar.
Love it!! Thanks, Alison 🙂
My very picky husband just asked me to make this bread again! It was a hit with our family. I use maple syrup instead of sugar.
Love it!! Thanks, Alison 🙂
Any substitutions for pastry flour? Can I use oat?
All purpose would work, haven’t tried it with oat though!
Any substitutions for pastry flour? Can I use oat?
All purpose would work, haven’t tried it with oat though!
I tried it yesterday, since I Bad a leftover zucchini and a leftover banana. It was delicious! I just added some chopped walnuts. After baking it I wanted to try one bite, however I ate half the Loaf! Quick and easy and tastes wonderful!!
mmmm walnuts are the best!!!
I tried it yesterday, since I Bad a leftover zucchini and a leftover banana. It was delicious! I just added some chopped walnuts. After baking it I wanted to try one bite, however I ate half the Loaf! Quick and easy and tastes wonderful!!
mmmm walnuts are the best!!!
Thank you so much for this recipe. My little has several food allergies and this was a delicious and nutritious treat for us to enjoy together! ??♥️
Thank makes me so happy, thank you Brandee!
Thank you so much for this recipe. My little has several food allergies and this was a delicious and nutritious treat for us to enjoy together! ??♥️
Thank makes me so happy, thank you Brandee!
I just made this and it’s so amazing!
I’m trying to reduce my sugar though, any suggestions on what I might substitute with?
★★★★★
Hmmm it won’t taste good with less sugar; I tried it with 1/2 cup and it lacked flavor. I’d consider this a wholesome treat and enjoy in moderation versus reducing sugar 🙂
I just made this and it’s so amazing!
I’m trying to reduce my sugar though, any suggestions on what I might substitute with?
★★★★★
Hmmm it won’t taste good with less sugar; I tried it with 1/2 cup and it lacked flavor. I’d consider this a wholesome treat and enjoy in moderation versus reducing sugar 🙂
Alexis , (thumbs Ups) this is the second time I’m making this CZBB (vegan yay!) The first time I’ had made this, I brought it to a class I teach on Saturday’s to taste test. There was happiness in the room and happy faces. Only thing I just got a corner.of the bread, Lol.. its all good. The purpose of trying this CZBB was to test out some bakes for a valentines bake off this week. The main ingredients needs to be chocolate and as healthy as possible. I’ll make this CZBB (V) throughput the week so I can practice and share with my students. Thanks for sharing this Yummy one.
Also I use dates instead . The 1/3 cup suggestions work out fabulous .. thanks again. Peace
★★★★★
Only a corner?! Oh no! I love that you used dates–did you blend them up??
Yes I did , jwith a tablespoon maple Sryup & little bit of water if needed. Like that Date paste iYou know I’m making again Lol.. I had a request from friend to make it. Also sent your recipe to the students. I taught We really enjoy healthy yummy bread .
Omt Alexis, after eating the bread I felt good. I guess the minerals from ingredients ( cacao, dated, flax seed etc.) thank you, thank you!
Alexis , (thumbs Ups) this is the second time I’m making this CZBB (vegan yay!) The first time I’ had made this, I brought it to a class I teach on Saturday’s to taste test. There was happiness in the room and happy faces. Only thing I just got a corner.of the bread, Lol.. its all good. The purpose of trying this CZBB was to test out some bakes for a valentines bake off this week. The main ingredients needs to be chocolate and as healthy as possible. I’ll make this CZBB (V) throughput the week so I can practice and share with my students. Thanks for sharing this Yummy one.
Also I use dates instead . The 1/3 cup suggestions work out fabulous .. thanks again. Peace
★★★★★
Only a corner?! Oh no! I love that you used dates–did you blend them up??
Yes I did , jwith a tablespoon maple Sryup & little bit of water if needed. Like that Date paste iYou know I’m making again Lol.. I had a request from friend to make it. Also sent your recipe to the students. I taught We really enjoy healthy yummy bread .
Omt Alexis, after eating the bread I felt good. I guess the minerals from ingredients ( cacao, dated, flax seed etc.) thank you, thank you!
Obsessed with this recipe. So easy and kid-approved!
★★★★★
Obsessed with this recipe. So easy and kid-approved!
★★★★★