Zucchini Bread is a delicious treat that fills the chicken with a tasty aroma as it bakes. This comforting and cozy bread is the best summer bake and a perfect option for any occasion. You can make it for breakfast, as a side dish, or as an after-dinner treat to share with family and friends. Follow the recipe to make this delicious Zucchini Bread at home.
Zucchini Bread, a delightful creation that transforms humble zucchinis into a delectable treat, is the epitome of simple elegance. This recipe for Mom's Zucchini Bread not only fills your kitchen with a tantalizing aroma but also promises a moist and flavorful bread that's perfect for any occasion. Whether enjoyed for breakfast, as a side dish, or as a sweet treat after dinner, this zucchini bread is a versatile and heartwarming delight.
What is a Zucchini Bread?
Zucchini bread is a moist and tasty quick bread made from grated zucchini, flour, sugar, eggs, and spices like cinnamon and nutmeg. Despite its name, zucchini bread doesn’t taste like zucchini. Instead, it has a subtle vegetable sweetness and a tender crumb. The zucchini adds moisture to the bread and helps to keep it soft and tender.
Zucchini bread is thought to have originated in the United States, where home cooks began incorporating excess zucchini from their gardens into bread recipes in the mid-20th century. Today, during the summer months when the vegetable is abundant, it’s a popular way to use up excess zucchini. Often eaten for breakfast or as a snack with a cup of coffee or tea, zucchini bread has become a popular treat.
How to Make Zucchini Bread?
The zucchini bread recipe is easy to follow and will take a minimum of your time and effort. The ingredients you will need are also very basic, so you will be able to find them in a simple store. Step-by-step instructions will help you do it right and get the best zucchini bread from the first time.
Zucchini Bread Ingredients
- Flour: It provides basic bread structure and texture.
- Salt: Salt balances sweetness and other elements to enhance the overall flavor profile.
- Leaveners: Typical ingredients are baking powder and baking soda. These help the bread rise and create a light and fluffy texture.
- Cinnamon: It complements the sweetness and adds a hint of spice for a warm, aromatic flavor of the bread.
- Eggs: They act as a binder and contribute to the structure and moisture of the bread.
- Oil: Provides moisture for a tender and smooth texture of the bread.
- Sugar: It adds sweetness to the bread and provides a delightful contrast to the savory notes of the zucchini.
- Vanilla: Its rich and aromatic essence enhances the overall taste.
- Zucchini: The main ingredient, zucchini, adds moisture and a mild, subtle flavor to the bread. Grated zucchini also gives the bread a speckled appearance.
- Nuts: They are often included for added texture and nutty flavor.
How to Make Zucchini Bread?
Follow these simple 6 steps to make really good and moist zucchini bread.
- Sift the dry ingredients into the bowl.
- Then, whisk together the wet ingredients in another bowl.
- Beat the dry mixture into the wet mixture.
- Stir in the grated zucchini and nuts and mix well.
- Pour the dough into the prepared pans.
- Bake in a preheated oven at 325 degrees F (165 degrees C) until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Recipe Tips
- This recipe makes two loaves, so you can freeze one of them to save for a rainy day when you want a sweet treat but don’t feel like making it.
- You can also use coconut oil to replace regular oil in this recipe.
Best Zucchini Bread Recipe Tips
Don’t overmix the batter. When you add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, you want to stir just until the ingredients are combined. Overmixing the dough will cause the gluten in the flour to develop, which can lead to dense loaves. Instead, our goal is for them to be light and tender!
Give them time to cool. If you’re anything like me, you’ll want to cut into the bread the moment it comes out of the oven (warning: your kitchen will smell incredible). But if you can resist it, just let it sit and cool for about an hour. After it cools, I promise it will taste even better. It will have a more moist texture, and the flavor of the spices and vanilla will have deepened.
Choose another summer squash. Green isn’t the only type of squash that works in this bread! Try yellow zucchini, striped zucchini, or yellow squash instead. They’ll all make a moist, flavorful bread.
Zucchini bread Variations
- Add chopped walnuts or pecans to taste
- Swap out the cinnamon for other warm spices, such as pumpkin pie spice, or add a pinch of nutmeg.
- A great addition is dried cranberries or raisins.
- Try substituting chocolate chips or mini chocolate chips for the walnuts.
How to Store a Homemade Zucchini Bread?
You can store zucchini bread at room temperature for up to 2 days or in the refrigerator for up to a week. If you choose to refrigerate, make sure it’s wrapped tightly in store wrap to prevent it from drying out.
Can Zucchini Bread be Frozen?
Like most quick breads, you can freeze Zucchini Bread. Be sure to let it cool completely first. Freeze it sliced, wrapped in plastic, then wrapped in aluminum foil. Slicing and freezing make it easy to thaw and eat as much as you’d like.
Essentially, for me, this is a recipe for a cake that looks more like a dessert or the base for sweet toast for breakfast. Overall, it's a decent recipe, but I cannot call it the healthiest due to a significant amount of sugar in the ingredients, as well as white flour. If you want to prepare Mom's Zucchini Bread in a healthier version, I recommend replacing regular flour with whole wheat flour and sugar with any non-caloric sweetener of your choice (a blend of stevia and erythritol for baking would work perfectly).
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease and flour two 8×4-inch pans.
In a large bowl, sift together the flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, and cinnamon.
In a separate large bowl, beat eggs, oil, sugar, and vanilla with an electric mixer until combined. Add the flour mixture and mix well. Add the zucchini and walnuts and mix well. Pour the batter into the prepared baking pans.
Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, for about 40 to 60 minutes. Let the bread cool in the pan on a wire rack for about 20 minutes. Run a table knife around the edges to loosen them. Carefully invert onto a wire rack to cool completely.
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.
(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.
Powered by the ESHA Research Database © 2018, ESHA Research, Inc. All Rights Reserved
To enhance the nutty flavor and texture of your Zucchini Bread, consider toasting the nuts before incorporating them into the batter. Simply roast them in a dry pan over medium heat until they become fragrant. This extra step adds a delightful depth to the overall taste of the bread, elevating it to a new level of culinary excellence. Additionally, if you're feeling adventurous, try experimenting with different nuts or a combination of them. Pecans, walnuts, or even almonds can bring unique flavors and textures to your zucchini bread, creating a personalized twist that reflects your taste preferences. The versatility of this recipe extends to its storage options. If you decide to freeze one of the loaves for future enjoyment, ensure it's wrapped tightly in plastic wrap and then in aluminum foil. This way, you can savor the delightful goodness of your homemade zucchini bread even on the busiest of days. Zucchini Bread is more than just a recipe; it's a celebration of simplicity and flavor. May your kitchen be filled with the enticing fragrance of baking zucchinis as you embark on this delightful culinary journey. Happy baking!
