Chocolate Chip Almond Zucchini Bread

Every now and then I like to treat myself in the afternoons with a nice fresh brewed cup of coffee accompanied by something sweet and comforting, without packing on too many calories. To satisfy this kind of cravings I have this Vegan Chocolate Chip Almond Zucchini Bread recipe I want to share with you, so you can have a cheeky snack without the guilt trip. 

Last week, a good friend of mine came to visit and brought with her a gigantic bag full of zucchinis she had just harvested from her own veggie patch. They were so perfect and they came to me at the perfect time, I had been thinking of making this recipe for a few days, so I was quite happy with my gift.

To make sure this zucchini bread landed on the healthy end of the spectrum in the world of treats I swapped some of the ingredients used. For instance, there isn't any processed sugar in this recipe aside from what's already in the chocolate chips which in the general scheme is not that much, but if you are after a sugar-free treat you can even buy sugar free chocolate chips.

To make our bread slightly sweet we are using dates. Recently, I've been relying on this dry fruit whenever I want to add a touch of sweetness to any dish, I just can’t get enough of the amount of benefits they have and the fact that they are just sweet enough, not too much and not to little. 

Another ingredient we'll be using to keep this loaf of bread on the healthy side is whole grain wheat flour. Whole grain wheat flour is made with grains that haven't been heavily refined nor processed, for this reason it holds a lot more benefits than regular wheat flour. 

Last but not least, the star of this recipe. It's always good to include vegetables when making any kind of treat and in this case zucchini not just adds a ton of benefits, it also gives the bread a very particular and delicious flavour and since it has a high content of water it adds a lot of moisture to the bread. 

Zucchini, which is technically a fruit, has a very low amount of calories, and it's a great source of fiber, folate, potassium and vitamins A and C. It helps to maintain optimal health, protects the body against infections, is good for your heart, helps prevent cardiovascular diseases and it is widely use in loss-weight diets since it makes you feel satiated without packing on calories. 

Making some small changes and opting for recipes that include fresh fruits, veggies, and nuts, make a big difference when we're after a nice comforting treat that's healthy but also absolutely delicious. 

Treat yourself over coffee, have a slice with fresh fruit on the side or even pack some slices to have on the go. It's also great to share with family and friends at your next reunion our outing.