Why you should make this recipe

Whether you struggle with including extra veggies in your or your kids’ diets, you’ll find this brownie recipe (UK version) checks all the boxes. These brownies offer an easy way to include more veggies for picky eaters as they’re packed with nutrient-dense courgette. The best part is you won’t even taste the courgette!

These easy chocolate brownies are fudgy, moist and ready in less than an hour. Plus, they store well on the counter. So, you can make them ahead of time and have a tasty, sweet treat ready for the whole week.

This chocolate brownie recipe also freezes well, making it easy to create double or triple batches at a time. Then, you can defrost a brownie or two whenever you have a sweet craving. This is perhaps my absolute favourite brownie recipe because of the rich consistency, flavour, and addition of veggies!

Ingredients

Courgette

Courgettes are the secret ingredient in this easy brownie recipe. They help add moisture and nutrients to the brownies.

Dark chocolate

Using dark chocolate helps boost the nutrients in this brownies recipe.

Milk Chocolate

You’re adding a delightful richness to these chocolate brownies by including milk chocolate. Milk chocolate chunks and chocolate chips also work well in this recipe.

Unsalted Butter

As there is already salt in the chocolate, you can avoid a high sodium intake by using unsalted butter.

Eggs

Eggs help bind the ingredients together in this simple brownies recipe.

Caster Sugar

I prefer using caster sugar in this easy brownie recipe (and other baked goods) as it is more finely ground so that you won’t encounter any grittiness.

Flour

All-purpose flour is best for this chocolate brownies recipe, which you likely already have in your pantry! Alternatively, you can use gluten-free flour if you can’t eat regular flour. However, you may need to play with the ratio of flour when using this swap.

Baking Powder

Baking powder is essential for this simple brownie recipe, as it helps the brownies rise while baking.

Vanilla Extract

Vanilla extract helps bring out the taste of the other flavours in this version of easy brownies.

Why do you add courgette?

Including courgette in this easy chocolate brownie recipe is great for a few reasons. For one, courgette make the brownies moist and fudgy. This way, you can avoid other calorie-dense ingredients, such as buttermilk.

Secondly, it will help you use any leftover courgettes. It also boosts the nutrients in brownies, so you can feel good about indulging in fudgy brownies. Plus, if you have picky eaters in the family who don’t enjoy eating veggies, you can sneak in some extra veg in their diets.
Is courgette the same as zucchini?

In short, yes! Courgette is the name for this vegetable in the UK and France. The word zucchini is used in the US and Australia for the same veg.

How to make these easy brownies

Add the butter & chocolate into a microwavable bowl and pop in the microwave for 30 seconds. Stir and continue to microwave for 15 second intervals, stirring each time. Repeat until fully melted.

Adaptations

This brownie recipe is already vegetarian-friendly, so you won’t need to make any swaps for this adaptation.

Vegan:
Turning these brownies into a vegan version requires a few ingredient swaps. For one, you’ll want to ensure that your dark and milk chocolate is dairy-free. You’ll also need to use a vegan version of butter. You can swap the above ingredients in a 1:1 ratio.

Remove the egg and substitute with flax egg using 1 tbsp of ground flaxseed to replace each egg and 3 tbsp of water per egg (3 tbsp flaxseed and 9 tbsp water). Mix together with water and refrigerate for 10 minutes to allow it to thicken to egg-like consistency. Use maple syrup.

Storage

Can I refrigerate this recipe?

Yes, you can refrigerate this brownie recipe once the brownies have cooled. However, keeping them in the fridge can dry them out. It’s best to keep these sweet treats on the counter in an air-tight container.

Can I freeze this recipe?

If you find you’ve made too many brownies, you can freeze them without drying them out. Portion them out into air-tight containers before placing them in the freezer. This way, you can defrost 1-2 brownies at a time. You’ll find the defrosting process quicker when using this freezing method.

FAQ

Should I cut the brownies when they’re warm?

It’s always best to cut brownies once they’ve cooled. Otherwise, you’ll tear the brownies, and they won’t cut as easily. Letting these tasty treats cool first may be challenging, but the end result will be worth it!

Can I use another veggie instead of courgette?
Yes! Many veggies work well in brownies if you don’t enjoy courgettes. Instead, try adding pureed beets that are cooked. These will provide additional nutrients and help create a rich brownie consistency.

Other sweet recipes you may also love…

Kinder Bueno Chocolate Mug Cake

Chocolate Rice Cakes with Peanut Butter (Viral Tiktok Recipe)

Mini Pancakes with Biscoff