Chocolate chip banana zucchini muffins are moist, tender zucchini muffins filled with rich pockets of melty chocolate chips. A great way to use up leftover bananas and zucchini!
If you love a traditional zucchini bread muffin and also love bananas, these chocolate chip banana zucchini muffins need to go next on your baking list!
These tender, moist muffins are filled with nutritious banana and zucchini, and rich, melty chocolate chips. Because we're adding fruits and veggies to this bread, we're able to reduce other ingredients slightly, like eggs and oil.
Chocolate chips can be substituted with walnuts or pecans for a little crunch.
Serve chocolate chip banana zucchini muffins for breakfast with your morning coffee or enjoy as a dessert.
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Ingredients and substitutions
- Zucchini - You'll need one cup of finely grated zucchini (before squeezing out the liquid). We're squeezing the liquid out of the zucchini because we're also adding bananas and don't want to add too much moisture (which causes your bread to be gummy). One cup of shredded zucchini should weigh about 135 grams before, and about 70 grams after squeezing the liquid out. This equals about 1 medium or 1.5 small zucchini.
- Bananas - Ripe, medium-sized, several days old bananas work best. Bananas sweeten as they age, adding extra sweetness to your muffins. They're also softer and easier to incorporate into the batter.
- Sugars - We're using a combination or granulated and brown sugars in this recipe.
- Vegetable oil - Adds moisture to your muffins. Can be substituted with ghee or any neutral cooking oil you have on hand.
- Egg - You'll only need one egg for this recipe today, since the banana and zucchini help add structure to the muffins.
- Vanilla extract - Adds depth of flavor.
- All-purpose flour - Adds structure to your muffins and balances out the wet ingredients in the recipe. I have not tested this recipe with other types of flour. Baking is an exact science, so I can't say for sure whether other types of flour will work as a substitute.
- Leavening - You'll need a combination of baking soda and baking powder to get the proper rise in this recipe.
- Cinnamon - Adds a hint of warmth and depth of flavor to your muffins. Can be omitted if desired.
- Chocolate chips - Adds rich, melty pockets of chocolate throughout your muffins. To lighten up this recipe, omit the chocolate chips, use half as many, or substitute with chopped walnuts or pecans.
Tips and tricks
Grating zucchini for muffins - I recommend shredding zucchini using the small or "fine" side of a box grater. The smaller pieces melt right into the zucchini muffins as they bake. A larger grate will work but adds a noticeable texture to your finished muffins. Here's the grater I use for my zucchini: OXO Good Grips Box Grater
Gently mix batter - If the batter is overmixed, the gluten is overworked and your muffins can turn out tough. Instead, use a gentle stirring motion with a spoon (no need for a stand mixer or hand mixer) and only stir until ingredients are just incorporated.
Pan size - This recipe makes standard size muffins. I recommend a Wilton Non-Stick 12-Cup Muffin and Cupcake Pan. If you'd like to make mini muffins or large muffins, keep in mind that the baking times and quantity of muffins made will differ from what's written in the recipe.
Food processor - If you have a food processor with a grating disc, this is a great time-saving way to grate zucchini.
Use very ripe bananas - They blend easily into the batter when mashed and become sweeter over time, making your muffins naturally sweeter.
Storage
For detailed information how to store zucchini bread and muffins, check out my full post: How to store zucchini bread
Zucchini muffins will keep for about 3 to 4 days in a tightly sealed container at room temperature.
Muffins can be frozen for up to six months. To freeze, wait until muffins have cooled completely to room temperature. Store in a freezer safe container or plastic bag (with excess air removed). Optionally, wrap each muffin in plastic wrap/foil before storing in a freezer-safe container for extra protection. To thaw, place on the counter top for 1 hour.
Frequently asked questions
No, there's no need to peel your zucchini before shredding it for muffins. The skin of the zucchini contains fiber and other nutrients you'd otherwise be missing out on by peeling it off.
Once your muffins have baked, the only sign of zucchini is tiny flecks of green throughout. Otherwise, the zucchini (skin included) melts right into the muffins.
Yes, for this recipe you'll need to squeeze the excess liquid from the shredded zucchini before adding it to the batter. Too much liquid will make the muffins soggy, gummy, and dense.
No, zucchini has a mild flavor that makes it ideal for baking. Cucumber has a fresh "melon" flavor that's much more pronounced and not ideal for hiding in baked goods. For more information: Zucchini vs Cucumber - What's the Difference?
As written, this recipe makes standard size muffins. This recipe will work to make mini muffins or large muffins, but I have not tested baking times for these sizes. Keep in mind that the baking time and quantity will differ from what's written in the recipe card below. If you give another muffin size a try, let us know how it turned out in the comments below!
Troubleshooting
If your baked zucchini muffins turned out soggy or sinking in the center, then they were either underbaked or had too much moisture. Make sure not to add extra wet ingredients to this recipe, like extra zucchini, a dollop of sour cream, applesauce, or extra vegetable oil. This recipe includes exact measurements of wet and dry ingredients to ensure your muffins turn out perfectly baked and moist, not wet or soggy.
Dry baked goods can happen for several reasons. Either your muffins were overbaked, too many dry ingredients (like flour) were added to the recipe, or the moisture-adding ingredients (eggs, sugar, oil, zucchini) were reduced.
Bland baked goods can happen for a few reasons. Omitting the salt, reducing the sugar, or adding too much flour can cause your muffins to turn out bland. Salt enhances the flavors of the other ingredients - it's not there to make your muffins "salty". Measure flour accurately by weighing it using the gram measurements listed in the recipe card. If you don't have a scale, use the spoon and level method. Gently spoon flour into a measuring cup, then level off the top with a knife. Scooping flour with a measuring cup compacts flour into the cup, adding up to 25% extra flour to the recipe. Decreasing the listed sugar can also make your muffins turn out bland (and sometimes dry).
📖 Recipe
Chocolate Chip Banana Zucchini Muffins
Ingredients
- 1 cup (135 g) finely grated zucchini, after measuring, squeeze liquid out*
- 2 medium bananas, very ripe
- ½ cup (106 g) brown sugar
- ¼ cup (50 g) granulated sugar
- ⅓ cup (66 g) vegetable oil
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 ½ cups (180 g) all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¾ cup (127 g) chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a muffin pan with paper liners and set aside.
- Measure 1 cup (135 grams) of grated zucchini, then place into a few layers of paper towels, or a kitchen towel, and gently squeeze over the sink to remove excess liquid. Zucchini should measure about 70 grams afterward.
- In a large bowl, add peeled bananas. Mash with a fork or a hand mixer. Add remaining wet ingredients: zucchini, brown sugar, granulated sugar, oil, egg, and vanilla extract. Mix on low, or stir, until incorporated.
- In a separate bowl, add dry ingredients: flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. Whisk to remove clumps. Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and stir until just incorporated. Add chocolate chips and stir to combine (optionally, reserve a few to sprinkle on top).
- Divide batter between 14 muffin tins, filling to about ⅔ full. Bake for about 18 to 22 minutes, OR until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with crumbs (baking times will vary based on your oven and type of pan used).
- Transfer muffins to a cooling rack and allow to cool completely before unwrapping (muffins/cupcakes will stick to the wrappers if they're still warm).
Recommended Equipment
Notes
- Squeeze it: Measure 1 cup (135 grams) of finely grated zucchini, then squeeze liquid out (70 grams) before adding to the batter.
- Storage: Leftover banana zucchini muffins will keep in a tightly sealed container at room temperature for 3 to 4 days, or in the refrigerator for up to 7 days. If your bread is very moist/wet, I recommend refrigerating.
- Freezing: Muffins can be frozen for up to 6 months. Tightly wrap in plastic wrap/foil and store in a freezer safe bag or container. Thaw on the counter top for 1 hour.
- Mix-ins: Chocolate chips can be omitted or substituted with chopped walnuts or pecans.
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