Start with a firm zucchini that is free of mushy spots. Leave the skin on as most of the nutrients are in the peel. In my first test recipe, I ran the zucchini through a food processor that was equipped with the grating disc. The resulting splinters protruded from the chocolate bites like porcupine spines. For smaller shreds (and maximum sneakiness), grate the zucchini by hand so it disappears into the batter.
DiscoverMore recipes for healthy cooking
For my second test recipe, I replaced all of the sugar found in typical brownie recipes with natural applesauce. Unfortunately, applesauce alone couldn’t reduce the spiciness of unsweetened cocoa powder. But the applesauce easily replaces half of the white sugar and all of the oil, which is considered a healthy cooking gain.
