Meet my new favorite muffin recipe that checks all the right boxes: veggies, chocolate, einkorn, and make-ahead friendly. What’s not to love? These einkorn chocolate zucchini muffins aren’t too sweet (made with honey and cinnamon), are healthy enough to serve for breakfast or a snack, and taste rich and decadent enough to be considered a dessert.
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Einkorn Flour Makes the Best Muffins, Here’s Why…
I’m a HUGE fan of einkorn flour as evidenced by the number of einkorn recipes that can found on the blog. Einkorn is my go-to flour for making muffins, cakes, pancakes, biscuits, cookies, and dumplings. It’s no surprise that today’s chocolate zucchini muffin recipe calls for einkorn flour.
Here’s what makes einkorn flour the best flour for making muffins (and other baked goods)…
- Einkorn is known as the oldest variety of wheat making it an ancient grain. The ancient grain is believed to have originated in the Tigris-Euphrates region and is possibly the main grain referenced in the earliest accounts of the Bible. Einkorn is said to be the wheat men were eating in the earliest days before modern day wheat varieties. While modern wheat has undergone hybridization, einkorn still holds true to its original properties.
- Einkorn is a sweet grain with a lighter texture and taste than modern day wheat.
- Einkorn is the only wheat that’s missing certain types of gluten proteins that some people are sensitive to. Einkorn is not gluten-free, but many people who have gluten sensitivities tolerate einkorn well (NOT Celiacs, do not consume einkorn if you have celiacs).
The flavor, texture, and nutritional aspects of einkorn make it a fantastic flour to use for baking, particularly lighter baked goods like muffins. I shared an einkorn 101 post here, it’s definitely worth a read and listen (there’s a podcast episode included at the bottom of that post) if you’re new to einkorn.
Where to Buy Einkorn Flour
Einkorn isn’t as common as wheat or all-purpose flour made from modern wheat, so it can be difficult to find in the average grocery store.
You can find einkorn at Whole Foods and health food stores, Earth Fare, Vitacost, and on Amazon. Definitely shop around as prices can vary based on the retailer. My favorite brand is Jovial Foods since finding their products is fairly easy, and I’ve come to respect this brand as a leader in the real food movement (check out my podcast episode with Carla, the founder, here). Another fantastic source for einkorn (flour and berries) is einkorn.com.
Tips for Making Chocolate Zucchini Muffins with Einkorn Flour
- Sift the einkorn flour: I know, it’s a extra step none of us want to take, but sifting the flour by placing it in a fine mesh sieve and then gently shaking it into a bowl means you won’t end up with flour clumps in the muffins. And trust me, no one wants flour clumps in a muffin. Einkorn, in particular, seems to get a bit clumpy so I find sifting the flour solves this issue. Sifting flour also helps to make a lighter baked good.
- Press the zucchini to remove water: Zucchini retains a ton of water that can make baked goods too moist. Shred the zucchini into a towel and then ball up the towel and squeeze out excess water from the zucchini. Then add the zucchini to the batter and stir in the sifted einkorn flour and other dry ingredients.
- Sub whole wheat einkorn: If you want to use whole wheat einkorn instead of the all purpose einkorn flour called for in this recipe, reduce the flour by about 1/4 cup. The batter should be thick once all the ingredients are incorporated. If you find the batter is too runny, add in additional flour until you reach a thicker consistency.
Prep Einkorn Muffins in Advance to Save Time
My kids are obsessed with these muffins and love them in their school lunch or for an afternoon snack or breakfast. (Okay, I’m just as guilty. I love the muffins, too, and will eat them at any meal.)
To be ready for their hungry appetites, I like to prep a batch of muffins on the weekend, particularly when zucchini is in season and available at the farmer’s market, to enjoy for breakfast and store extras in the fridge or in the freezer. I think you could also make a double batch of this recipe and freeze the extra for future enjoyment–saving a ton of time and your morning sanity well into the future. This is what I call “cooking once, eating twice.”
Love Einkorn? Try My Favorite Einkorn Muffin Recipes
This recipe is just one of many favorite einkorn muffin recipes that we make in our home. I like to have a variety of simple recipes like this to choose from and rotate. All of the recipes below are naturally sweetened with either honey or maple syrup (my preference for something we will consume on a regular basis) and call for einkorn flour.
- Master Einkorn Muffin Recipe: One Recipe, Multiple Possibilities
- Einkorn Banana-Maple Muffins
- Einkorn Sourdough Banana Muffins
- Einkorn Lemon Poppy Muffins
- Einkorn Mini Pancake Muffins
Einkorn Chocolate Zucchini Muffins
Equipment
- large bowl
- sieve
Ingredients
- 6 TB unsalted butter melted (82g)
- 1/2 cup honey (165g)
- 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt (130g)
- 2 eggs
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 cups finely shredded zucchini (200g), squeezed to remove excess water (this is about 1 medium zucchini)
- 1 1/2 cups all purpose einkorn flour (190g), sifted
- 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder (45g)
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp salt
Optional Add-In:
- 3/4 cup chocolate chips or chopped nuts (walnuts would be lovely)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350F. Line 12 muffin cups in a muffin tray.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the wet ingredients: melted butter, honey, Greek yogurt, eggs, and vanilla extract.
- Place the shredded zucchini in a kitchen towel (I grate the zucchini right into the towel using a cheese grater). Bring the edges of the towel together and squeeze the base of the towel (where the zucchini is located) to remove excess water/juices.
- Add the shredded zucchini to the batter and stir to combine.
- Sift the einkorn flour into the wet ingredients using a fine mesh sieve (add the flour to the sieve and gently tap to sprinkle the flour into the bowl--this removes clumps that can form in the batter).
- Add the remaining dry ingredients: cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt.
- Fold the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until combined.
- Stir in any mix-ins desired (optional): chocolate chips or nuts. I personally love the flavor of the muffins without chocolate chips or nuts, but if you want a sweeter muffin (the muffins aren't super sweet due to the honey), chocolate chips will add more sweetness.
- Let the batter rest for about 5-10 minutes to allow the flour to absorb the wet ingredients.
- Evenly divide the batter into 12 muffin cups (they will be full). If you don't want such large muffins, fill the liners just halfway and make about 16 muffins.
- Bake the muffins for 18-21 muffins, until firm on top.
- Let the muffins rest for 10 minutes before removing from the pan to cool completely.
Wondering if I could use organic sucanat sugar instead of honey or maple syrup (not a fan of either in baked goods). Would not draining the zucchini help with keeping these moist?
Hi Veronica,
Great questions! You can absolutely use organic sucanat sugar instead of honey or maple syrup in the einkorn chocolate zucchini muffins. Sucanat is a fantastic natural sweetener, and it should work well in this recipe. I’d recommend using about 3/4 cup of sucanat to replace the 1/2 cup of honey or maple syrup, as sucanat is less sweet. You may need to add a tablespoon or two of extra liquid (like milk or water) to balance the moisture since sucanat is dry compared to liquid sweeteners.
As for not draining the zucchini, you’re spot on, leaving the moisture in can help keep the muffins extra moist, especially since zucchini releases water during baking. Just be mindful that the batter might be a bit wetter, so check for doneness with a toothpick to avoid overbaking. Let me know how it turns out, and happy baking!
Morning, what and how much can you sub for yogurt, also can I use a light olive oil its for baking and or coconut.oil thanks
Hi Judy, good morning! For the yogurt in the einkorn chocolate zucchini muffin recipe, you can substitute with mashed banana, pumpkin puree, or applesauce in a 1:1 ratio (e.g., 1 cup yogurt = 1 cup substitute) to maintain moisture and texture. If you need a dairy-free option, coconut milk (full-fat) works well, but use slightly less (about ¾ cup per 1 cup yogurt) and adjust flour if the batter seems too wet. Both light olive oil and coconut oil are great for baking in this recipe; you can use either in a 1:1 swap for the oil called for. Light olive oil gives a milder flavor, while coconut oil adds a subtle sweetness.
This was my first ever einkorn flour recipe and it was so good! I added a small amount of mini chocolate chips (less than 1/4 cup because it’s what I had left) and thought the sweetness was perfect. I am sensitive to gluten recipes and I tried these and so far no adverse reaction. Thanks for the great recipe!
Hi Amanda,
I’m so thrilled this was your first einkorn flour recipe and that you loved the chocolate zucchini muffins! Adding mini chocolate chips (even less than 1/4 cup) sounds like a perfect touch of sweetness, great idea! I’m especially glad to hear you had no adverse reactions with your gluten sensitivity. Einkorn is often easier to digest for many folks, so it’s awesome it worked for you. Thanks for sharing your experience and trying the recipe!
These muffins were so delicious! Everyone loved them. I used avo oil, cacao powder and added dark choc chips!
Yum! So glad you enjoyed them, Gen!
I was wondering if I could just put this batter in a baking dishes and make like a bread out of it?
Yes Annel, You could use a bread pan, just bake it for 50 minutes until set.
These are so delicious! And I love that it’s made with healthier ingredients. I made them with chocolate chips and definitely wouldn’t leave them out. Thanks for this great recipe!
Yay, Jenn! So glad you enjoyed the muffins. Thank you for rating and sharing- means a lot!
I love your recipes!
Wondering if I could make these without the zucchini and sub vanilla yogurt for the plain. Trying to make these with what I have on hand for my picky eater.
Thanks so much!
Hey Kaelin, I haven’t tried not using zucchini, but it’s worth the try. Let me know if you try it and how it goes! The yogurt can definitely be subbed.
I just made these to take on a road trip so that I can have baked goods I can eat. I put walnuts and dried cranberries in them they are so good. The honey is perfect to sweeten them.
Yay, Elaine! So glad you like them. What a great road trip snack and great additions.
I have made these now 8 times this summer 🤩🤣 they are amazing. The whole family loves them. I do use maple syrup instead of honey, and I double the cocoa powder. They were not chocolatey enough for us.
Our favorite way to consume with with some whipped coconut cream, or raw cream, with blueberries. To die for. 🥰
Thanks for the amazing recipe!
Thank you for sharing, Sarah Jane! So glad you’ve enjoyed the muffins.
Yum! these are delicious!! thanks so much for the recipe 🙂
Yay, Jesse! Glad you enjoy the muffins.
I love your website but I’m struggling to pin anything to pinterest. I do follow you but I’d like to add some of your recipes to one of my boards. I have the ‘pin it’ button on my web browser but it’s not workign for your website (fine for others) Can you help?
Hey Fi, I’m sorry for the issue. There’s a large “pin” button at the top of every post. When you click on that, you can pin the recipe to any pinterest board on your account. Let me know if that helps.
I tried another recipe from you and it never disappoint me!! thank you!
I’m so glad you enjoyed the muffins, Nancy!
I made these this weekend and they are fantastic! Easy to make & delicious! Also, Kristin, thank you for formatting the recipes so they fit nicely when printing!
Yay, Pam! I’m so glad you enjoyed the muffins. You’re very welcome–I’m glad to hear the print format is working well for you.