Gluten Free Zucchini Muffins (Dairy Free)

Made with fresh produce, dark chocolate chips, and a blend of gluten free flours, these Gluten Free Zucchini Muffins are soft, fluffy, and naturally sweetened! Whip up a batch in no time for healthy breakfasts, quick snacks, and more. Dairy free. 

Zucchini Muffin Madness

With late summer in full swing, we’re up to our eyeballs in fresh zucchini from the local markets. But with recipes like Three Herb Tomato Zucchini Salad and Green Chile Tuna Zucchini Casserole, we think that’s a good thing! However, while we love a good savory recipe, we can’t help but want something a little sweet every once in a while. So, what better way to use up leftover produce than with a healthy zucchini muffins recipe?

Quick to make and totally gluten and dairy free, we tested, re-tested, and tested these muffins again to make sure they came out absolutely perfect for you!

Ingredients for Extra Flavorful Zucchini Muffins Recipe

In addition to a few standard muffin ingredients like baking powder, baking soda, salt, and eggs, there are a few items you will need.

They include: 

• Oat and Almond Flours – Great on their own in recipes like Flourless Honey Oat Ricotta Muffins and  Coconut Almond Flour Banana Muffins, these gluten free flours are even better when combined! The fat content from the almond flour helps keep these zucchini muffins moist while the oat flour helps create a fluffier texture and incredible taste. We love using this flour blend in cookies as well! 

• Cinnamon and Vanilla Extract – These help enhance the natural sweetness of the muffins.
  
• Flax Meal – This not only provides a boost of fiber and healthy fats but also helps baked goods like zucchini muffins and apple oatmeal muffins retain their shape with plenty of fluff.
  
• Banana – Full of antioxidants and rich in vitamin C and potassium, we swear by using mashed bananas when making waffles for a hint of sweetness without the need for refined sugar. Turns out, they work in muffins to replace the egg or oil found in most muffins, too!
  
• Almond Milk – Just like any baked good, milk is used to thin out the batter. We love almond milk or oat milk, too!
  
• Honey or Maple Syrup – A natural substitute for refined sugar, honey adds a hint of sweetness and helps hold the rest of the ingredients together. Or, for a vegan option, use honey instead.
  
• Zucchini – Of course, you can’t have a zucchini muffin recipe without zucchini! Just as in this bread, it provides a boost of moisture, plenty of vitamins, and lots of fiber to keep you full. Even better, it’s one of the most neutral-tasting vegetables you can find. This means that even the pickiest of eaters will have zero complaints.
  
• Dark Chocolate Chips and Other Optional Add-Ins – There’s never a bad time for dark chocolate, right? However, feel free to experiment with all your favorite flavor add-ins like chopped nuts, dried fruit, or even a pinch of nutmeg. 

Step-By-Step Instructions 

• Preheat your oven to 350° Fahrenheit, and grease a muffin pan with cooking spray. 
  
• Use a cheese grater to shred the zucchini, and squeeze out any excess moisture. You’ll want to start with 1 full cup of grated zucchini, but it should reduce down to ¾ cup. See our notes below! 
  
• Whisk together the dry ingredients in a medium bowl. 

• In a separate large bowl, mash the banana. Then, add the wet ingredients including the shredded zucchini. 
  
• Add the dry ingredients to the bowl with the wet ingredients for easier mixing. Then, stir until just combined. Do not overmix! Your muffins will become tough and rubbery if you do.  

• Fold in the chocolate chips or any extras you want to include. Spoon the batter into a prepared muffin tin. 

• Bake for 15-20 minutes or until a toothpick can be inserted and comes out clean. Cool in the pan for 5-10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack. 

Now that you know the basics for making zucchini muffins, I’ll let you in on a few of my go-to gluten free baking tips.

Baking Tips & Tricks 

More than your average muffin, there are a few tips and tricks that will help your muffins come out delicious and fluffy. I may be bias, but just look at that muffin madness! You wouldn’t even know it’s gluten free.

Grate and Squeeze Your Zucchini. This is crucial to achieving the right texture! A hydrating vegetable, zucchini is naturally full of water, which is great when using it on its own. However, when it comes to baked goods, this excess moisture will leak out, creating soggy muffins. For easy squeezing, we recommend using a cheesecloth, but a towel would work, too. 

Include Room Temperature Eggs. This allows for easier blending and helps the batter rise, creating the ultra fluffy muffin texture we love. 

Use Liners. Silicone, foil, or paper liners make prevent your muffins from sticking and make for easy cleanup and a pretty presentation! 

Fill Your Muffin Tins ⅔ of the Way Full. There’s no use crying over spilled muffins! Or, however the saying goes. Filling the muffin tin all the way to the top will lead to your batter spilling over and potentially burning on the pan. To prevent this from happening use a cookie scoop or spoon to fill each cup. 

Storage Options for Leftover Zucchini Muffins

Before you store your muffins, be sure to let them cool completely. We know it’s tempting to dig in right away, but it’s worth the wait! As they cool, they’ll continue to bake. So, removing them from the pan too soon will cause them to crumble and fall apart. 

If you plan to eat your muffins right away, they can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. However, for longer-lasting muffins, you’ll want to store them in the fridge where they’ll keep for up to 1 week! 

Print