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You’ll love these moist Skinny Chocolate Zucchini Cupcakes topped with chocolate cream cheese frosting! You’ll never suspect that they are whole wheat and loaded with healthy zucchini!
Do you guys remember last week when I posted a picture on Instagram of a tasty little chocolate cupcake? Well today is the day that I’m finally sharing the recipe for these Skinny Chocolate Zucchini Cupcakes!
I know it hasn’t even been a full week since I shared the photo of the cupcake, but they were so darn good I couldn’t wait another day post the recipe. My garden is currently on zucchini/summer squash overload and I’m frantically trying to come up with recipes and ways to use it. I’ve already started giving some of it away to my aunt because I honestly can’t use it fast enough. I’ve also realized that going out and checking for new zucchini every 4 days isn’t often enough. The last two times I have gone out to do some harvesting a giant 5 pound, 14 inch long zucchini has been staring me in the face! Seriously, where did it come from? I was just out here a few days ago and there was nothing! I should probably just make everyone on our street a batch of these Skinny Chocolate Zucchini Cupcakes then maybe I can get rid of one these beasts!
I called these cupcakes skinny because as far as cupcakes go they are on the lower fat side of the scale and I bumped up the nutrition not only by adding zucchini, but by using whole wheat pastry flour. You might be thinking, what the heck is a vegetable doing in a cupcake, but don’t judge until you taste one of them. I 100% guarantee that you will not taste the zucchini. Heck, my husband didn’t have a clue and he can spot when I made something healthy a mile away!
What you will taste is a super moist chocolatey cupcake! The moisture is all thanks to the zucchini and the Greek yogurt which also double as added nutrients and protein. Since this is a cupcake after all it needed some frosting and chocolate cream cheese frosting was the clear winner. I managed to keep the frosting on the lighter side as well by using low fat cream cheese and replacing the butter with Greek yogurt. The frosting is perfectly sweet, creamy, and full of chocolate flavor!
More Cupcake Recipes
Pistachio Green Tea Cupcakes with Matcha Cream Cheese Frosting
Chocolate Stuffed Cupcakes with Pumpkin Cream Cheese Frosting
Strawberry Filled Angel Food Cupcakes
Skinny Chocolate Zucchini Cupcakes
Ingredients
Cupcakes
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons melted coconut oil or olive oil
- 1 egg
- 1 egg white
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/3 cup plain non-fat Greek yogurt
- 1/4 cup unsweetened almond milk or milk of choice
- 1 cup shredded zucchini squeeze out any excess liquid with your hands
- 1 cup whole wheat pastry flour flour
- 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
Cream Cheese Frosting
- 4 ounces low fat cream cheese softened
- 2 tablespoons plain non-fat Greek yogurt
- 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350° F. and line a muffin pan with 10 parchment paper baking cups or spray the inside of regular baking cups with cooking spray.
- In a large bowl sift together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment or with a hand held mixer, beat together the brown sugar and oil until completely combined. Add in the egg and egg white and beat again until combined. Add in the Greek yogurt, shredded zucchini and vanilla extract and beat for about 1 minute.
- Pour in a 1/3 of the flour mixture and beat until just combined, then pour in half of the milk beating again until just combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl then repeat the process ending with the flour mixture.
- Pour or scoop the batter into the cupcake liners until they are about 3/4 of the way full. Place the cupcakes on the middle rack of the oven and bake for 15-18 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let the cupcakes cool completely on a wire rack before frosting them.
- Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting
- In the bowl of a stand mixer with the whisk attachment or with a hand held mixer add in all of the ingredients.
- Start the mixer on low then once the powdered sugar is incorporated turn it up to high and beat until smooth and combined. Stop once to scrape down the sides of the bowl then beat again for another 1-2 minutes.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
These look amazing!! Can i substitute the flour with All purpose flour and the cream cheese frosting with a light buttercream(very less butter, icing sugar and milk for consistency) thank you!
Yes, the flour can be replaced with all purpose flour. You can top it with whatever frosting you like best.
Hi! Looking for a skinny cake to make for my hubby’s b-day. Could these be made into a cake?? They look delicious!!
Hi Ana,
I haven’t tried making these into a cake, but I’m sure it will work just fine. It will probably just need to bake a little longer. You should be able to find baking time conversions for this online depending on what size cake pan you’re planning to use.
Hi! These look so good!
With the shredded zucchini, can you see the bits of zucchini after they’re baked? I was wondering if instead of shredding if I could just throw them in the blender or food processor to make the bits smaller – OR would it be pointless because the bits are small enough to not be recognized? (Going to make these for my babe’s 1st birthday this weekend!!) :)
Hi Chelsea,
You can’t see the zucchini once they’re baked, no need to put it in the food processor. Happy birthday to your baby, so fun!
Awesome, thanks so much for your quick reply! And thank you for the birthday wishes!
Can I use glutenfree flour instead of whole wheat
Hi Dea,
I haven’t tried making these cupcakes with gluten-free flour so I can’t say for sure if they will turn out. If you try it, I’d love to hear the results.
Just made these (the only addition I added was a handful of chocolate chips to the batter just for kicks)–they are amazing!! This is the first “skinny” cupcake recipe I found that doesn’t taste like a sponge (seriously though, it’s so hard to find a healthier, but still delicious alternative). They’re so good! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you Diane! I’m so glad you liked the cupcakes and I agree it is hard finding “healthier” ones that don’t taste funny. These are one of my favorite cupcakes and everyone always seems to enjoy them!
These cupcakes are gorgeous, Danae! That chocolate icing, OMG. I wish I had a bowl of it. :)
Thanks Julie! I helped myself to far too much of that chocolate frosting, soooo good!
Chocolate cream cheese frosting sounds delicious! I love these pictures too.
Thanks Sarah! The frosting is so good!
Just so your readers know, I always use regular whole wheat flour instead of ww pastry flour. It always works.
The chooooocolate! Oof those look so rich and inviting! They definitely wouldn’t be safe under my roof – I’d have a difficult time prying my mouth away from them, ha! Love the chocolate and zucchini combo and the fact that they’re lightened up!
I have 3 words: gimme gimme gimme!
Ok, ok, ok! :-)