Soft and chewy vegan chocolate chip zucchini oatmeal cookies that are perfect for a healthier dessert. Easy to make in one bowl with just 8 ingredients!

Stack of 4 chocolate chip zucchini cookies. One on the top has a bite out of it.

Introduction

We love adding zucchini to sweet recipes like these easy zucchini cookies. Whole Wheat Vegan Zucchini Bread, Healthy Zucchini Brownies Recipe and Chocolate Zucchini Bread are all delicious too.

Zucchini has the perfect mild taste and soft texture for adding to baking. Carrot works well for this use too, you can try it in Vegan Carrot Zucchini Muffins or Carrot Cake Banana Bread or even add some to this recipe.

These cookies feature wholesome ingredients like rolled oats and oat flour, they have no added oil and are made with less sugar than a classic oatmeal cookies. These Peanut Butter Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies are similar but contain banana and are made with maple syrup.

You could also add shredded zucchini to these Flourless Peanut Butter Banana Oatmeal Cookies, which are made with just banana, oats and nut butter with no added sugar, or these 3-Ingredient Oatmeal Cookies made with maple syrup, oats and nut butter.

Ingredients

Visual list of ingredients for making chocolate chip zucchini cookies.
  • Zucchini: Use fresh zucchini. Do no need to strain it to remove excess moisture. Just finely grate and add right to the cookie dough.
  • Peanut Butter: If you need a peanut-free recipe, swap this for almond butter or any other nut or seed butter. If you need a nut-free recipe, you can use sunflower seed butter or tahini. Note that sunflower seed butter will react with the baking soda and may turn the cookies green!
  • Sweetener: Coconut sugar, cane sugar, white sugar or dark brown sugar or light brown sugar all work here.
  • Oat Flour: Use store-bought or make your own by blending oats into a fine consistency. You can use quick oats, instant oats or rolled oats to make oat flour. You can substitute all purpose flour or whole wheat flour.
  • Oats: Rolled oats or large-flake oats are best for texture.
  • Plant-Based Milk: Almond or cashew milk work well for their neutral flavour but any kind of plant-based milk works, such as soy milk, oat milk, etc.
  • Chocolate Chips: For a vegan recipe, use dairy-free chocolate chips like Enjoy Life or Camino brands. Dark chocolate chunks or morsels would also work well. If you prefer, for a healthier option you swap the chocolate chips for raisins or walnuts.

This list is not complete. Please see the recipe card at the end of the post for the complete ingredient list with measurements and detailed instructions.

Step-by-Step with Photos

Before You Start: Preheat the oven to 350 F and line a large cookie sheet with parchment paper.

Step 1: Stir together the oat flour, oats, baking soda and sugar in a large mixing bowl.

Dry baking ingredients mixed together in a mixing bowl with a wooden spoon.

Step 2: Add the wet ingredients: grated zucchini, nut butter, milk, vanilla and chocolate chips. Fold everything together until it forms a thick dough. It might seem dry at first but keep mixing until everything is moist.

Place the batter in the fridge for 10-15 minutes. This will make it easier to roll into balls.

Raw chocolate chip zucchini cookie batter in a glass mixing bowl.

Step 4: Use a cookie scoop or roll the batter into 12 equal-sized balls and place on the sheet pan. Press each ball down a little with your palm.

Raw chocolate chip zucchini cookies on a baking tray.

Bake for 10-15 minutes until light golden brown around the edges. Cool and enjoy!

Chocolate chip cookies on a baking tray.

Recipe Notes

  • For a lower-sugar, healthier alternative to chocolate chips (and to make them oil-free), try different add-ins like cacao nibs, walnuts, raisins or pecans.
  • Be sure to let them cool before handling so the cookies can firm up.
  • Nut-Free Option: Use sunflower seed butter or tahini instead of peanut butter.
  • Gluten-Free Option: The cookies are gluten-free but be sure to use certified gluten-free oats if needed.
Hand dipping a zucchini chocolate chip cooking into a glass of milk.

Storing

  • Let cool completely before storing.
  • Store at room temperature in a sealed container for up to 3 days.
  • Fridge: Up to 1 week in a sealed container.
  • Freezer: Up to 3 months in an airtight freezer-safe bag or container

Did you try this recipe? I’d love to hear about it! Scroll down to the comment section to leave a star rating and review.
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Print
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Chocolate chip zucchini cookie with a bite taken out of it.

Zucchini Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 5 from 6 reviews
  • Author: Deryn
  • Prep Time: 20 mins
  • Cook Time: 10 mins
  • Total Time: 30 minutes
  • Yield: 12
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Vegan
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Description

Soft and chewy chocolate chip zucchini oatmeal cookies with a hint of cinnamon for the perfect treat any time of day.


Ingredients


Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 F (170 C) and line a large baking tray with parchment paper. 
  2. In a large bowl, stir together the oat flour, rolled oats, baking soda, cinnamon and brown sugar.
  3. Finely grate zucchini with a box grater then add the shredded zucchini, peanut butter, milk, vanilla and chocolate chips. Fold together until a dough forms. It might appear dry at first but keep stirring until all the dry ingredients are wetted.
  4. Place the dough in the refrigerator for 10-15 minutes. This will make it easier to form the cookies. 
  5. Roll the dough into tablespoon sized balls and place on the baking sheet. 
  6. Bake for 10-15 minutes, until light golden brown around the edges. 
  7. Cool at room temperature before handling to allow them to firm up. 

Notes

  • For a lower-sugar, healthier alternative to chocolate chips, try different add-ins like walnuts, raisins or pecans.
  • Let cool completely then store in an airtight container at room temperature for 3 days, in the fridge for up to 1 week or freeze in a freezer-safe container or bag for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 cookie
  • Calories: 101
  • Sugar: 11 g
  • Sodium: 82 mg
  • Fat: 6 g
  • Carbohydrates: 20 g
  • Fiber: 2 g
  • Protein: 4 g