Cacao Nib Zucchini Bread and Muffins

The girls have been bugging me to make Zucchini bread and as soon as we had zucchini ready to be picked in the garden I whipped these up. These are not overly sweet as you can see there is less than half of the amount of sugar in traditional zucchini bread recipes but I also added banana. The girls loved them! I added part sweetened and part unsweetened cacao nibs, you could use all sweetened or chocolate chips that will also make them sweeter. I made 1 loaf of bread and 12 muffins, you can do the same or do 24 muffins or 2 loaves of bread. These are perfect for breakfast, a snack, or anytime. They are great plain or you can top them with a little nut butter!

Cacao Nib Zucchini Bread and Muffins

Makes 2- 8×4 breads or 24 standard muffins

1 1/2c buckwheat flour

1 1/2 c all-purpose flour (used Bobs Red Mill All Purpose Gluten Free)

3 Eggs,  or flax eggs (used flax eggs, 3tbsp flax 6tbsp water)

1c applesauce (used homemade that had some cinnamon in it)

1 tsp salt

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp baking powder

3 tsp cinnamon

1/4c coconut oil

1 banana, mashed, just under 1/2c *

3/4c sucanat, coconut palm, or brown sugar

3 tsp vanilla

2c grated zucchini

½c cacao nibs or chocolate chips (used half sweetened, half regular Navitas Naturals Cacao Nibs)

*Also made without banana added an extra 1/2c applesauce.

Preheat oven to 325. If making using flax eggs mix together your flax and water and set aside. In a large bowl mix together flours, salt, baking soda, baking powder, and cinnamon. Grate your zucchini, I used a box shredder and make large short shreds. In another bowl mix together applesauce, banana, coconut oil, sugar, and vanilla. Add flax egg and zucchini to wet mixture and stir until just mixed. Add your wet mixture to your flour mixture and mix until just combine, I used a hand mixer. Fold in your cacao nibs or chocolate chips. Prepare your pans by spraying with a non stick spray, I used coconut oil spray. Spoon mixture into prepared pans and bake. Muffins for approximately 25 minutes and bread approximately 45 minutes. Check for doneness with a toothpick and let cool on a rack for a few minutes when done. Remove from pans and enjoy!