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Home » Chocolate Desserts » Zucchini Chocolate Cupcakes

Zucchini Chocolate Cupcakes

Published July 1, 2020 Last Modified July 1, 2020 By GreedyEats

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Moist and Decadent Zucchini Chocolate Cupcakes hiding loads of Veggies in them. But you will never be able to guess. Pile them high with Chocolate Fudge Frosting and you are eating the Best Chocolate Cupcakes ever!

Try my Chocolate Zucchini Muffins next! Find all my Chocolate Dessert Recipes here!

Chocolate Zucchini Cupcakes topped with chocolate fudge frosting and mini chocolate chips.

If you love to bake with zucchini you are sure to like these Cute Chocolate Cupcakes. Is it not the best way to eat your Greens! 😉

Cupcakes Taste and texture:

  • Soft and squishy Cupcakes
  • Decadent Chocolate Flavor
  • Creamy Chocolate Frosting takes them over to the top
  • Loaded with Chocolate chips in every bite

Recipe ingredients:

Wet and dry ingredients for chocolate cupcakes batter.

  • Unsweetened Natural Cocoa Powder: Don't use dutch cocoa powder for this recipe. If you don't have natural one right now, try my chocolate zucchini muffins linked at the top of this post.
  • Espresso Powder: Do not skip it. A little espresso powder amplifies the chocolate flavor and you won't taste coffee at all!
  • Oil: Oil makes these cupcakes super moist. With so much chocolate flavor going on in the cupcakes, you won't miss butter at all.
  • Sugar: For this recipe we are using both granulated and brown sugars.
  • Sour Cream: If you don't have sour cream on hand, you may replace it with plain yogurt (full fat).
  • Mini Chocolate Chips: I like to use choc chips inside the cupcakes batter and to top coz why not! 😉 If it's a lot of choc chips for you, skip them inside the batter or for decoration.

Rich and moist chocolate cupcakes frosted with chocolate frosting.

How to make Chocolate Cupcakes:

It can not get any easier!

  • Shred and blot your zucchini.
  • Sift all the dry ingredients together.
  • Whisk all the wet ingredients together.

Blotted zucchini to make chocolate cupcakes.

  • Fold dry ingredients in wet.
  • Add chocolate chips and blotted zucchini.
  • Pour in liners
  • And Bake!
Chocolate cupcakes batter in a mixing bowl with zucchini and chocolate chips/
Choc cupcakes ready to be baked in cupcake liners.

A close up of soft Chocolate Zucchini Cupcakes with chocolate frosting in green cupcake wrapper.

Chocolate Fudge Frosting:

You may use natural or dutch processed cocoa powder to make this frosting. I like it both ways. For this recipe I used natural cocoa.

I also like to add ½ Tbsp of corn syrup to make this frosting. You may leave it out, it you like. But it makes frosting super glossy and smooth.

Chocolate Cupcakes decorated with chocolate frosting kept on a wooden board.

How to Shred Zucchini?

  • I used medium shredding blade to shred zucchini for this recipe. There is no need to peel the skin off.  
  • You may blot the shredded zucchini using a paper towel, on a fine strainer or just squeeze out all the extra liquid out of it.

How many zucchini are in a cup?

One medium zucchini yields about 1 cup of grated zucchini.

Soft, fluffy and moist chocolate cupcake's texture snap shot frosted with creamy chocolate frosting.

How long do frosted cupcakes stay fresh?

I'd say a day or 2 at room temperature. If you plan to store them for a longer period of time, keep them in refrigerator. Always store them in air tight containers.

More Chocolate Desserts for you:

Small Batch Fudgy Brownies

Cream Cheese Chocolate Cookies

Small Batch Easy Chocolate Cupcakes

Decadent Chocolate Bundt Cake

If you liked these Cupcakes give them a star review. Also, tell me in the comments below, how did this turn out for you! And don’t forget to share your creations with me on Instagram at #greedyeatsblog Also follow me on Pinterest and Facebook! 

Zucchini Chocolate Cupcakes

Moist and Decadent Zucchini Chocolate Cupcakes hiding Veggies in them. Pile them high with Chocolate Fudge Frosting and you are gold!
5 from 17 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Dessert
US Customary - Metric
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 22 minutes
Cooling and Frosting: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 37 minutes
Servings 12 Cupcakes
Calories: 451kcal
Author: Neha

Ingredients

  • 1 Cup (250 g) All Purpose Flour
  • 6 Tbsps (31 g) Unsweetened Natural Cocoa Powder
  • 1 tsp Baking Powder
  • ¼ tsp Baking Soda
  • 1 tsp Espresso Powder
  • ¼ tsp Salt
  • ½ Cup (120 ml) Oil (Canola or vegetable)
  • ½ Cup Granulated Sugar
  • 6 Tbsp Brown Sugar
  • 2 Large Eggs (at room temp)
  • 2 ½ Tbsp Sour Cream (or plain yogurt, at room temp)
  • 1 tsp Pure Vanilla Extract
  • 1 ½ Cup Zucchini
  • ½ Cup Semi sweet Chocolate Chips

Chocolate Fudge Frosting

  • ½ Cup Unsalted Butter (softened to room temp)
  • 2 ¼ Cups confectioners' Sugar
  • 6 Tbsps (32 g) Natural Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
  • ¼ Cup Whole Milk
  • ½ Tbsp Light Corn Syrup
  • Pinch Salt
  • ¾ tsp Pure Vanilla Extract
  • ½ Cup Mini Chocolate chips (for topping, optional)
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 deg F and line a 12 count pan with cupcake liners.
  • In a medium bowl, using a hand held mixer beat eggs, both sugars, oil, sour cream and vanilla together till combined.
  • Sift flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, salt and espresso powder over wet ingredients. Fold them gently till the flour disappears.
  • Now add blotted zucchini and chocolate chips to the batter and fold them in.
  • Pour batter in the prepared liners and bake for 18-22 minutes. Or till they pass the toothpick test.
  • Allow cupcakes to cool completely on a wire rack before frosting.

To make Chocolate Fudge Frosting:

  • Using a hand held mixer beat room temp. butter until pale and creamy. About 1 ½ minutes. Add sifted cocoa and confectioners' sugar to butter. Also add milk, corn syrup, vanilla and salt.
  • Beat the frosting for 2 more minutes. Add a little splash of milk if you find the frosting way too thick. And a little more confectioners' sugar if you find it too thin.
  • Frost on cooled cupcakes as desired and top with chocolate chips.

Notes

Storage Information:
  • Any leftovers will keep in the fridge for 3-4 days.
  • Unfrosted cupcakes can be frozen for about 2 months. Thaw completely before frosting.
Cocoa Powder: You may use natural or dutch processed cocoa powder to make this frosting. I like it both ways. For this recipe I used natural cocoa.
Corn Syrup: I also like to add ½ Tbsp of corn syrup to make this frosting. You may leave it out, it you like. But it makes frosting super glossy and smooth.
Blotting the Zucchini: This can be done using a paper towel or a fine mesh strainer. You may also press zucchini between your hands and squeeze all the excess liquid out.

Nutrition

Serving: 1Cupcake | Calories: 451kcal | Carbohydrates: 58g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 23g | Sodium: 97mg | Sugar: 41g
Tried this recipe? Pin it for later!Mention @greedyeats or tag #Greedyeats!
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Beth

    July 07, 2020 at 7:16 pm

    5 stars
    I made these for my son's birthday and he loved them! They were a big hit here at the house!

    Reply
  2. Kara Taylor

    July 07, 2020 at 7:08 pm

    5 stars
    So chocolatey and delicious! I love recipes that sneak in extra vegetables and nutrition. Perfect for the kiddos.

    Reply
  3. Kushigalu

    July 07, 2020 at 6:17 pm

    5 stars
    You can never go wrong with this combo. These cupcakes look amazingly delicious

    Reply
  4. Angela

    July 07, 2020 at 6:16 pm

    5 stars
    Wow! Such a delicious recipe. The cupcakes were perfect and the zucchini kept them so moist. YUM!

    Reply
  5. Jeannette

    July 07, 2020 at 4:58 pm

    5 stars
    I've never had zucchini in my desserts before, but this combo sounds like the texture would be incredible! Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  6. Michelle

    July 03, 2020 at 10:27 pm

    5 stars
    So rich and moist! Chocolate lovers dream! My kids couldn't even tell there was zucchini in it

    Reply
  7. Renee | The Good Hearted Woman

    July 03, 2020 at 5:26 pm

    5 stars
    I love using zucchini in cakes: it always makes baked goods stay so moist! This is a great recipe! I love that you are not afraid of the baking cocoa; so many recipes use too little cocoa and the result is flat and lacking. This recipe has plenty of cocoa, plus that wonderful espresso flavor boost - satisfying enough to ring your chocolate-loving bell!

    Reply
  8. Patty at Spoonabilities

    July 03, 2020 at 3:28 pm

    5 stars
    OMG these cupcakes! Not only so out of this world yummy and decadent, but they are the most beautiful cupcakes I've ever seen!!

    Reply
  9. Vicky

    July 03, 2020 at 3:27 pm

    5 stars
    Anything that is yummy that I can sneak veggies in is a fantastic recipe for me! 🙂 Sounds great!

    Reply
  10. Capri

    July 03, 2020 at 2:42 pm

    5 stars
    I love the addition of zucchini! You can not even taste it and it makes these cupcakes a healthy treat for me and the family!

    Reply
  11. Shadi Hasanzadenemati

    July 03, 2020 at 2:40 pm

    5 stars
    I made your recipe for a gathering the other day and everyone kept asking for the recipe. It was totally a hit!

    Reply
  12. Jill

    July 01, 2020 at 9:42 am

    5 stars
    I like that you describe these as soft and squishy because there's nothing worse than a dry cupcake. I'll be trying your recipe!

    Reply
  13. kim

    July 01, 2020 at 9:22 am

    5 stars
    These are absolutely delicious! Love how easy they are too! Will definitely be making again!

    Reply
  14. Abigail Raines

    July 01, 2020 at 9:06 am

    5 stars
    I love using zucchini for baking as it makes any cake or muffin moist! Love that we get to eat veggies as we enjoy these treats, too. Looks yummy!

    Reply
  15. Charla

    July 01, 2020 at 8:33 am

    5 stars
    I love the concept of adding veggies to sweet treats. That's what I do and it makes a great way for kids to get their 5 a day.

    Reply
  16. Toni

    July 01, 2020 at 8:32 am

    5 stars
    This was so amazing! Everyone at my house loved it!

    Reply

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About Neha

I'm Neha, baker, recipe developer, photographer and writer at Greedyeats.com I aim to create kitchen tested and quality recipes, accompanied by helpful process clicks and lots of tips & tricks along the way. I truly hope my recipes give you confidence to bake and cook from scratch! Read More…

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