National Zucchini Bread Day

Bread is one of my favorite foods (Oprah and I have that in common), and zucchini is a versatile, nutritious addition to many meals. Today just so happens to be National Zucchini Bread Day, which I did not know existed but am excited about! To celebrate, I whipped up a loaf of zucchini bread to share with you below. It even has chocolate, so you know it’s good!

Dark Chocolate Zucchini Bread

All You Need:

Cooking spray

1/2 cup sugar

2 tbsp vegetable oil

2 large eggs

1 cup unsweetened applesauce

1/4 tsp vanilla extract

2 cups whole wheat flour

2 tbsp cocoa powder

1 1/4 tsp baking soda

1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

1/4 tsp salt

1 1/2 cups finely shredded zucchini (about 2 medium zucchinis)

1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips

All You Do:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F; grease 9x5 loaf pan and set aside.

2. In a large mixing bowl, combine sugar, vegetable oil, eggs, applesauce and vanilla extract. Whisk together until well-blended.

3. Add the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt to mixture and stir until combined.

4. Add the shredded zucchini and chocolate chips and fold into the mixture until evenly distributed.

5. Pour the mixture into the greased loaf pan from step one and spread evenly.

6. Place in oven and bake for 60-75 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean from the center of the loaf.

7. Remove the pan from the oven and let cool for at least 10 minutes. Finish cooling on cooling rack if desired.

8. Enjoy!

Pro-tip: Enjoy with whatever topping you like. I personally prefer butter slathered on top as it is delicious and satisfying to my taste buds, but you do you. J 

Until next time!

-Dietitian Melissa