Those who have seen my recipes before know that I have a huge sweet tooth. But I also have a passion for all things healthy! So, I’ve taken to making sweet treats with a healthy twist. A few months ago, I developed my Banana Bread Breakfast Cookies (with a no sugar added option), but not everyone in my family could enjoy them. My mom loves chocolate chip cookies, but absolutely despises bananas, so she wouldn’t partake when I made these healthy cookies. I got to thinking about what healthy cookie recipe I could develop for her so that she could join the added-sugar-free fun. So I decided to develop this Loaded Zucchini Cookies recipe! 
What’s in the Loaded Zucchini Cookies
My primary goal with these cookies was to make something absolutely delicious, but wholesome and nourishing at the same time. I’m a big believer that “healthy” doesn’t have to be boring. “Healthy” doesn’t mean something can’t taste good. So obviously, that was a top priority for me. I also really wanted to make something with a vegetable, and zucchini is the logical choice. I mean, have you tried zucchini bread? So good. Anyway, I wanted to use zucchini as the base, also using my favorite blend of almond and coconut flours, and a flax egg. A good dose of cinnamon adds a natural sweetness and spice. Coconut oil serves as the fat source in these Loaded Zucchini Cookies, keeping them vegan and well-balanced. Oats add extra fiber and substance to the recipe to help satiate the palette and the stomach.
I also really wanted to not add any sugar. Yes, these cookies still have sugar, but the only “sweetener” is applesauce. That’s it. No coconut sugar, honey, refined sugar, or maple syrup. Not even in the chocolate chips. Only the natural sugar that comes in unsweetened applesauce (I was very picky about my applesauce). Coconut flakes also add a little natural sweetness to the mix, balancing out the richness of the 100% cacao chocolate chips and the walnuts.
I’ve been trying to stick with the 100% cacao chocolate chips (found in my Obscure Pantry Staples post) because they’re literally made from just one ingredient: cacao mass. No added sugars or binding agents! They’re obviously a little more bitter than your semi-sweet chips, but if you like dark chocolate, you’ll LOVE these. Especially with the coconut. Walnuts are also included in this recipe because they’re kind of a staple around my household. We live on a couple acres with around 57 producing walnut trees, so we put them in everything! Plus, they taste great, add a fun crunch, and are a good source of omega-3 fatty acids.
So if you’re looking for a hearty, sweet, chocolatey way to get in some extra greens, give these Loaded Zucchini Cookies a try! They’re perfect for breakfast, dessert, or any time in between! Enjoy!
| Servings |
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- 1 cup shredded zucchini approximately 1 medium-sized zucchini
- 1 cup natural applesauce
- 1 flax egg
- 2 tbsp coconut oil softened but not liquid
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 1/4 cup almond flour
- 1/4 cup coconut flour
- 1/3 cup gluten-free oats
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup chocolate chips 100% cacao chocolate chips for no added sugar
- 1/2 cup shredded coconut unsweetened
- 1/3 cup chopped walnuts
Ingredients
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- Preheat oven to 350F and line baking sheet(s) with parchment paper.
- Fully combine shredded zucchini, applesauce, flax egg, coconut oil, and vanilla extract together in a large bowl.
- In a separate bowl, fully combine almond flour, coconut flour, gluten-free oats, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt.
- Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and mix until fully combined.
- Fold in chocolate chips, shredded coconut, and chopped walnuts.
- Roll dough into balls, then flatten out into patties and space out evenly on baking sheet.
- Bake for 27-30 minutes.
- Allow to cool on cooling rack and enjoy!
Omg this looks delicious! Reading this just made me so hungry haha! I’m always looking for new interesting and healthy recipes! I might just have to try this one next 🙂
Thank you! I made a batch Sunday and they’re already gone! So obviously I had to make another batch today!
These look amazing! I love healthy sweets! I am making these this week!
Thank you so much! Me too! If you make them, please let me know what you think! Feel free to tag me on instagram or facebook as well @simplyshannonagins! Thanks!
Oh my stars, those look so gooey and delicious! I even have zucchini in my fridge and a majority of these ingredients. I’ll have to make these soon!
Thank you so much!! I hope you enjoy them!
What a healthy alternative! And the fact that it still has sugar and chocolate 😍😍 I would love to try these!!
They’re super simple to make! I think you’ll love them!
Those look really good! I love zucchini in anything. I’m definitely going to attempt to make these!
I hope you like them! They’re a fun, healthy treat!
Oh my!! I have tried many recipes with zucchini, but never cookies. These sound and look so delicious!
If you like zucchini bread, you’ll love these!
These look really good. I’m not a vegan or anything but I’m going to give these a go for sure.
I’m not vegan or gf either, but I like making recipes that are accessible to lots of people! I’d love to hear how you like them when you do make them!
I can’t wait to try these! We will have lots of zucchini in the garden this summer and I’m always looking for new zucchini recipes.
We just planted zucchini for the summer too! I’m so excited to use it! I think this recipe would be perfect for your abundant home-grown zucchini!
I’m not a big fan of zucchinis, but these cookies look amazing. I don’t think I’ve ever seen or though of zucchinis this appetizing before!
If you’ve ever had zucchini bread, it’s pretty similar to that! It certainly doesn’t taste like just plain zucchini! Thanks for checking it out 🙂
Zucchini cookies?! I have never heard of such of thing but you really make them look so delicious! I wish I could try these but I have an allergy to tree nuts and that wouldn’t turn out well. Nevertheless, they look great.
Thanks for sharing! x
Michelle
dressingwithstyle-s.com
Oh no! I’m sorry! I need to try some nut-free recipes too. I’ll definitely put it on the list. If you’ve ever had zucchini bread, these are kind of like that!
Shannon, did you create this recipe yourself? It looks great.i might have to make it. I live chocolate, so the chocolate hips are calling my name. I also love zucchini. I think I will pin this. Great post.
Hi Sheena! Yes I did! I had created a banana bread cookie recipe (also on the blog) and LOVED it, but my mom doesn’t like bananas, so I wanted to make her a healthy cookie recipe too, and came up with this! They’re sweet, but not too sweet, and are great any time of day! Thank you so much for checking out this recipe and saving it!
These are absolutely delicious! I made them over the weekend to use up my zucchini. Thank you again for sharing this
Yay! I’m SO glad you enjoyed them! Such a great way to use up your zucchini!
You’re so talented! I LOVE your catchy title, super cute! I really want to start eating healthier again and this time I’ve been leaning to going vegetarian. I’m excited to try this and many more of your healthy options!
Thank you so much! I try to eat healthy as much as I can too because I just feel better when I do, but I definitely don’t want to deprive myself of things I love, like chocolate chip cookies! That’s why I make recipes like this! My theory is, eat in whatever way makes you feel your best!
Amen to that!
we are trying to eat healthier and this is perfect. I have got to try it out, I am pinning to my recipe book board.
It’s definitely something that helps satisfy the sweet tooth in a healthier way! Enjoy!
Those sound so good! Im going to have to make them!
Thank you! I hope you like them!