Zucchini Chocolate Chip Muffins with Cream Cheese Frosting

Name: Zucchini Chocolate Chip Muffins with Cream Cheese Frosting
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 40 min
Ingredients: ¾ cup salted butter; ½ cup granulated sugar; ½ cup light brown sugar; ⅔ cup whole milk; 2 large eggs; 1 cup zucchini (grated and wrung dry (about ½ medium zucchini)); 1 ½ teaspoon baking powder; ½ teaspoon baking soda; ½ cup cocoa powder; 2 cups all-purpose flour; 1 cup chocolate chips; 8 ounces cream cheese (room temperature.); 2 cups powdered sugar; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 2 teaspoons whole milk

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Zucchini chocolate chip muffins with cream cheese frosting are so good. This addictive chocolate zucchini cream cheese muffins recipe is a keeper.

These chocolate cream cheese muffins are a yummy way to use up all of your zucchinis and are the perfect treat anytime of day. That is the problem. It is so hard to stop at only one zucchini muffin with cream cheese frosting!

Closeup photo of Zucchini Chocolate Chip Muffins topped with a white frosting and placed onto a marble table.

Zucchini chocolate chip muffins are a delicious treat that you can easily whip up in your own kitchen. They're rich in flavor and incredibly moist, thanks to the inclusion of grated zucchini. The combination of subtle zucchini and sweet chocolate chips creates a perfect balance that will delight your taste buds and satisfy your cravings.

We always plant a large garden at my house that includes zucchini but if you don't have garden zucchini available or you are impatient like me, store bought zucchini also works perfectly in this zucchini cream cheese muffins.

This zucchini muffins with cream cheese frosting recipe is also a great way to incorporate more vegetables into treats. Your kids (or husbands) won't even know they are eating vegetables that are good for them. Hidden inside these amazing muffins.

Chocolate Cream Cheese Muffins

This baked good was inspired by my chocolate zucchini bread, my caramel filled coffee cake muffins and apple pie muffin recipe on this site, and pairs well with this berry smoothie or green smoothie recipe.

Why You Will Love this Recipe

Deliciously moist muffins with a rich, chocolaty flavor
A great snack or dessert for any occasion
A delicious treat that both adults and kids will enjoy
Quick and easy to make - only 30 minutes from start to finish
Great way to use up excess zucchini
Cream cheese frosting adds a delightful sweetness to every bite but is not necessary to enjoy these muffins

Top Tip:

I find it easiest to wring the zucchini dry using a dish towel. You want to remove as much moisture from the zucchini as possible to prevent the batter from being too wet.

Zucchini Cream Cheese Muffins Ingredients

These zucchini chocolate chip muffins need ingredients you most likely already have. Nothing fancy.

Muffins

salted butter
granulated sugar
light brown sugar
whole milk
eggs
zucchini
baking powder
baking soda
cocoa powder
all-purpose flour
chocolate chips

Cream Cheese Frosting

cream cheese
powdered sugar
vanilla extract
whole milk

See recipe card below for exact quantities needed to make this zucchini muffins recipe.

Substitutions and Variations

Don't have the correct ingredients on hand? Or want to change something up? Here are some helpful tips for you to change this (Alternate Keyword here) Use as many as you need to. But try for at minimum of two.

Go Nuts - Add your favorite chopped nuts like peanuts, hazelnuts, almonds, pecans, walnuts or shredded coconut to give your cookies added crunch.
Vanilla extract - Vanilla is a universal crowd-pleaser, but feel free add a half a teaspoon of your desired extract flavor to your egg mixture like almond, coconut, peppermint, lemon, banana, maple, orange, or rum extract instead prior to dipping your English muffins into it.
Chocolate Chips - Add peanut butter chips, caramel chips, butterscotch chips, white chocolate chips, chocolate mint chips or a combination instead.
Add Flavor to Muffins- Add ½ teaspoon espresso powder, instant coffee, ground cinnamon or ground ginger to the batter for subtle spice flavor and aroma.
Add Flavor to Frosting - Try adding a few tablespoons of melted white chocolate, dark chocolate, peanut butter, hazelnut spread or almond butter to the cream cheese frosting before spreading over muffins.
Nonstick cooking spray - Use butter instead to grease pan.
All-Purpose Flour - Use gluten free flour instead.

Instructions

This recipe is so easy to make. Most ingredients you may already have in your pantry.

Overhead photo of butter, brown and white sugar inside a large glass bowl.

Overhead photo of Milk, eggs and zucchini added to the butter sugar mixture inside the large glass bowl.

In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter and sugars together for 2-3 minutes using an electric hand mixer.

Add the milk, eggs, and shredded zucchini. Mix again until the eggs are fully incorporated into the batter.

Overhead photo of baking powder, baking soda, cocoa powder, and flour added to the wet ingredients inside a large glass bowl.

Overhead photo of Chocolate chips added to the muffin mixture in a large glass bowl.

Whisk in the baking powder, baking soda, cocoa powder, and flour on medium speed until the muffin batter is smooth and homogenous.

Fold in the chocolate chips until they are evenly distributed throughout the mixture.

Overhead photo of muffin mixture inside a prepared muffin tin.

Overhead photo of baked zucchini muffins with cream cheese frosting inside a muffin tin.

Spray a muffin pan with nonstick cooking spray. Divide the batter among the muffin cups and bake for 20 minutes.

Allow the chocolate chip zucchini muffins to cool in pan for 10 minutes before removing and placing on wire rack. Prepare the frosting.

Overhead photo of all the frosting ingredients inside a mixing bowl.

Overhead photo of of whisked frosting inside a large glass bowl.

Whip all of the frosting ingredients together in a large bowl. Mix until smooth and creamy.

Overhead photo of a chocolate muffin on a marble counter top.

Overhead photo of chocolate muffins covered with a white frosting.

Frost the chocolate zucchini muffins, serve, and enjoy!

Hint: If you are unsure if the muffins are cooked, poke with a toothpick. If toothpick comes out basically clean, with a crumb or two, remove the pan from the oven.

If you love recipes like this, you may also enjoy our blueberry cornbread muffins or our pumpkin spice muffins with cream cheese swirl.

Closeup photo of zucchini muffins with cream cheese frosting piled up on a table.

Storage and Make Ahead Options

On the Counter

Store any remaining muffins on counter up for up to 4 days if no frosting.

Refrigerator

To store your zucchini chocolate chip muffins in the refrigerator, first allow them to cool completely. Once cooled, place them in an airtight container with layers of parchment paper between the muffins to prevent them from sticking together. Store the container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Freezer

To freeze your muffins, follow these instructions:

Allow the muffins to cool completely.
Place the muffins on a baking tray lined with parchment paper ensuring they do not touch each other.
Freeze the muffins on the tray for 1-2 hours, or until they are solid.
Transfer the frozen muffins to an airtight container or a resealable freezer bag, separating layers with parchment paper.
Label the container or bag with the date and type of muffins, and store in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Reheat

To reheat your zucchini chocolate chip muffins, either remove them from the freezer and allow them to thaw overnight in the refrigerator, or use your microwave for a quicker option. When using a microwave, reheat the muffins for 15-20 seconds, or until warmed through.

Make Ahead

Tthese muffins can be frozen after they are fully cooled and frosted. I prefer to fereze without frosting whenever possible. Freeze on a baking sheet for 1-2 hours. Place each individual, frozen muffin in its own airtight container and store in the freezer for up to 2 months. When ready to eat, thaw out either at room temperature or in the refrigerator overnight before serving.

What to Serve With Zucchini Chocolate Chip Muffins

Zucchini Chocolate Chip Muffins are the perfect combination of a delicious treat. Whether you're enjoying them for breakfast, a snack, or an on-the-go option, there are several sides and beverages that can complement these tasty muffins.

When you're having Zucchini Chocolate Chip Muffins for breakfast, consider pairing them with:

A cup of freshly brewed coffee or tea
A bowl of yogurt topped with granola and fruits
A fruit salad, combining your favorite seasonal fruits

For a more filling on-the-go breakfast or snack, try serving your muffins with:

A smoothie made with your choice of fruits, veggies, and protein powder
A portion of scrambled eggs or an omelette with veggies and cheese
A small serving of oatmeal, cooked to your preferred consistency with fruits and nuts

Tips

Here are some tips to assist you in creating the best zucchini muffins with cream cheese frosting.

If you are unsure if the muffins are still uncooked, you can poke one with a toothpick. As long as only a few crumbs stick to the toothpick, you can remove the pan from the oven. The muffins will finish baking as they cool.
Do not overmix your batter when adding these additional ingredients or else your muffins may become tough or dense instead of light and fluffy.
Allow muffins to totally cool before frosting them.
Grate zucchini and use a dish towel to wring out as much moisture as possible from it before adding it to the batter mixture.

FAQ

Do you have questions about zucchini muffins with cream cheese frosting? Here are some of the most commonly asked questions about them.

Is it necessary to wring out all of the liquid from my zucchini before adding it to the batter?

Yes, it is important to remove as much moisture from the zucchini as possible before adding it to the batter so that it does not become too wet. This can be done easily by using a dish towel or paper towels and squeezing out any excess liquid until you have ½ medium zucchini worth of grated zucchini left.

Does the size of my grated zucchini matter?

It does not matter whether your grated zucchini is coarsely grated or finely grated as long as you squeeze out all the excess liquid before adding it to the batter. If there is too much moisture in your batter, your muffins may not bake properly and will have a dense texture.

How do I know when the muffins are done baking?

When a toothpick inserted into one comes out clean with no dough sticking to it, they are done baking. If there is still dough sticking, bake them a few minutes longer and check again with a toothpick.

Closeup photo of zucchini cream cheese muffins topped with white frosting and resting on a table.

More Zucchini Recipes

Do you like zucchini? Here some recipes you may also like to try.