Vegetables are a must on a diet.
I suggest carrot cake, zucchini bread and pumpkin pie.
~Jim Davis, “Garfield”
If you’re like me and you grow summer squash, you’re always looking for new ways to use them. Fresh is best, healthy is great… and chocolate gets the teens to eat them. I bake up a batch of these on request (usually once a week in the summer)… after all we have plenty of zucchini and they’re quick and easy! They’re a bit more cake-like than traditional brownies but that’s never stopped our family from gobbling them up! (By the way, there’s no eggs needed for this recipe.) Enjoy!
Zucchini Brownies
- 1/2 c. natural applesauce (or vegetable oil)
- 1 1/2 c. organic granulated sugar
- 2 tsp. vanilla
- 2 c. organic flour
- 1/2 c. cocoa powder
- 1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
- 1 tsp. salt
- 2 c. shredded zucchini (unpeeled, seed if necessary)
- OPTIONAL: 1/4 tsp. cinnamon, 1/2 c. chopped walnuts
Heat oven to 350 degrees. grease and flour a 9″x13″ pan. Mix the oil, sugar and vanilla blendng well. Add the flour, cocoa, salt and baking soda. Mix well. (The mix will be dry.) Stir in the zucchini and optional ingredients if using. Spread into the baking pan. Bake 25-30 minutes until the top springs back when touched. remove from oven and allow to cool.
Frosting:
- 1/4 c. fresh butter
- 1/3 c. cocoa
- 1 1/2 c. powdered sugar
- 2 Tbsp.. milk
- 1/2 tsp. vanilla
Melt butter and stir in cocoa. Combine well. Stir in the vanilla. Using a mixer, beat in the powdered sugar. Mix on high speed until smooth and creamy. Spread over cooled brownies.
What a great way to use a traditional vegetable in a sweet way! Zucchini brownies give a whole new reason to grow organic zucchini.
YUMMO…. I am going to try this version and send you a photo of them!
((hugs)) love your garden recipe shares. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks Bren! I hope you like them..I’m sure the picture will be beautiful!
I am a sinner now Oh, wow are these going to be fun to make…Thank you
Just picked our first zucchini from the garden today! And now I know just what I’m going to do with it! Thanks, Lisa!
Oh me oh my, I will have to thank Bethe for turning me on to this recipe, these look heavenly!
LOL! Enjoy Annie!
Save a squash at the end of August and we’ll bake a batch together for Jan in Michigan!!
Our teens ASK for these…and they are not fond of zucchini! Enjoy and let me know if you like them!
oh I have to try these for my son…i will not tell him that there is squash in them.
Looks absolutly delicious. Thank you for the recipe!!!
My pleasure, I hope you enjoy them as much as we do!
Got a batch in the oven right now
[...] Great blog to read during gardening time! Think of the soft and moist texture of zucchini bread and then apply it to brownies. Yum. Here is the link to the recipe. [...]
Looks very, very sweet. I love zucchini and would incorporate this easily into the brownies. Thanks for sharing.
My pleasure, I hope you enjoy them!