Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bars

Let’s get this out of the way: these Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bars are a knock-off of these Zucchini Bars with Brown Butter Frosting. When I made this Zucchini Bars recipe a few years ago with Brown Butter Frosting, I knew I had a serious winner on my hands, and it is too good not to recreate with other mix-ins and flavors. 

Enter chocolate. The natural next step is to make over these Zucchini Bars with chocolate. Chocolate and zucchini will forever belong together, no matter how many other ways we find to use up zucchini. Forget zoodles or a spiralizer, gather all the chocolate in the house, and make a batch of these Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bars.

Oh… or these Death by Chocolate Zucchini Brownies. Those are bonkers with chocolate. Or this Chocolate Zucchini Coffee Cake. It’s like 4 inches tall, and has ribbons of chocolate streusel throughout.

Okay, okay, getting back on track… find other chocolate + zucchini recipes down below. 

For the last few summers, I’ve been on a major zucchini kick! And this is coming from someone who is actively purchasing it. I don’t garden (hate it), and I don’t grow zucchini (despite hating to garden, I did try). Nope, I actually buy it voluntarily, and lots of it. I just like it, whether it’s prepared sweet or savory.

As with the last few years, I was eager to do a lot of zucchini recipes again this summer. To me, zucchini is the pumpkin of summer. Everyone goes bananas for pumpkin in the fall, myself included, and I feel like zucchini is the vogue ingredient of summertime. Agree or disagree??

A few years ago, I wanted a perfect recipe for Zucchini Bars. I envisioned something like a cross between a sheet cake and a really really soft, moist, cakey blondie. Mission accomplished.

These Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bars are very cake-like, soft, and moist. A little denser than cake, but still very soft. They also have a bit more chew and a bit more weight. They are just how I wanted them to be: zucchini bread crossed with cake, and made into bars. Clear as mud, no? 

Flavor-wise, you’d never know there is a veggie hiding out in these Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bars…. but for the great qualities that zucchini contributes, like moisture, and a light sweetness.

What matters most here is the mass smattering of chocolate. Big hunks of melty semi-sweet chocolate laced throughout these Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bars, and then the thick layer of luscious chocolate cream cheese frosting on top. Heaven! Must make.

I love creating new twists on traditional zucchini bread too, and for the citrus route, check out my Lemon Blueberry Zucchini Bread, or this Orange Zucchini Bread with Orange Glaze.

For other fruity zucchini breads, do not overlook this Streusel Apple Zucchini Bread. It’s like apple pie met zucchini bread, and you can’t go wrong with a heap of streusel! This Zucchini Banana Bread with Streusel Topping is also lovely, plus streusel. 😉

If you’re on the hunt for brunch zucchini recipes, these Blueberry Zucchini Bread Pancakes are the most gorgeous and tasty stack of pancakes you’ll ever experience.  Also love these Lemon Zucchini Muffins with Lemon Glaze or Almond Blueberry Zucchini Muffins. Such moist, sweet, fluffy muffins.

I promised other chocolate + zucchini options. Love these Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Zucchini Cookies, and they can be made really fast start-to-finish. I also suggest these Chocolate Zucchini Muffins with Chocolate Chips. They’re lightened up, but don’t sacrifice flavor or texture at all. 

Looking for a savory zucchini recipe? This Parmesan Zucchini Cornbread is *the* cornbread of summer! You need it at your picnics and BBQs. And these Goat Cheese Zucchini Scones make the best egg sandwiches for breakfast.

What will you make first? What’s on your zucchini baking list this summer?

Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bars

Sarah

A suuuuper soft and moist zucchini bars recipe, generously laced with semi-sweet chocolate chips, and topped with a thick layer of silky and rich cream cheese cocoa frosting. These Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bars are like a cross between a sheet cake and zucchini bread, plus chocolate!

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 45 mins

Cook Time 40 mins

Total Time 1 hr 25 mins

Course Dessert - bars

Servings 24

Ingredients

  

For zucchini bars:

• 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
• 1 cup vegetable or canola oil
• 3 large eggs
• 2 tsp. vanilla extract
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 2 cups grated zucchini about 2 medium
• 2 1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

For cocoa frosting:

• 8 oz. cream cheese softened
• 1/2 cup butter softened
• 2 tsp. vanilla extract
• 2-3 tbsp. heavy cream
• 3-4 cups powdered sugar
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1/2 cup cocoa powder

Instructions

 

For zucchini bars:

• In a medium bowl, whisk together sugar, oil, eggs, and vanilla.
• In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
• Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, stirring until just combined.
• Fold in grated zucchini and semi-sweet chocolate chips.
• Spread into the bottom of a lightly greased 13x9-inch baking pan.
• Bake at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes, or until top and edges are golden, and a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean.
• Remove to a wire rack to cool completely.
• Meanwhile, prepare cocoa frosting.

For cocoa frosting:

• In a large mixing bowl, beat cream cheese and butter until smooth and creamy.
• Beat in vanilla and 2 tbsp. heavy cream.
• Add 3 cups powdered sugar, salt, and cocoa powder, beating until thick and creamy. Add additional powdered sugar and heavy cream, as needed, to achieve a frosting of medium consistency. Thick and creamy, but easily spreadable.
• Frost the zucchini bars. Cut and serve.

Keyword chocolate chip zucchini bars, chocolate zucchini bars, zucchini bars