Zucchini Bread
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Turn your zucchini bounty into tender, sweet zucchini bread—so perfectly delicious, even kids will beg for seconds!
Looking for a delicious way to use up all that zucchini? I’ve got you covered with over a dozen zucchini recipes, from zucchini muffins and zucchini fritters to wholesome zucchini soup. But the recipe that truly takes the cake—quite literally—is this classic zucchini bread (and its decadent cousin, chocolate zucchini bread). Despite the generous portion of shredded zucchini in the batter, it magically disappears during baking, leaving you with a delicious bread that tastes more like a snack cake. It’s incredibly easy to prepare, and if you have little ones around, it’s a fantastic way to sneak some veggies into their diet. Swap the nuts and currants for chocolate chips, and they’ll be none the wiser while happily asking for seconds!
“I have made zucchini bread for 50 years, using one recipe. Thank goodness I tried this one—we loved it and will never go back!”
What You’ll Need To Make Zucchini Bread
- All-purpose flour: Provides structure and forms the base of the bread.
- Ground cinnamon and nutmeg: Warm, aromatic spice flavors that complement the zucchini.
- Baking soda and baking powder: Leavening agents that help the bread rise and become fluffy.
- Eggs: Bind the ingredients together and add moisture and richness.
- Sugar: Sweetens the bread and adds moisture.
- Zucchini: Adds moisture and texture (you’ll need two medium zucchinis; do not wring out the liquid).
- Butter: Adds richness and flavor (should be melted and slightly cooled).
- Vanilla extract: Enhances the overall flavor of the bread.
- Walnuts, currants (or raisins), chocolate chips (optional): Add-ins to customize the flavor of the bread. Whatever combination you use, total add-ins should not exceed 1½ cups.
- Jump to the printable recipe for precise measurements
Step-by-Step Instructions
In a large bowl, combine the flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Whisk to combine.
In another large bowl, whisk the eggs with the sugar until well combined.
Add the grated zucchini, melted butter and vanilla extract. Stir to combine.
Add the dry ingredients to liquid mixture and mix well.
Add the nuts, currants, and/or chocolate chips. Stir just until combined.
Divide the batter into two greased 8-1/2 x 4-1/2-in loaf pans.
Bake for about 1 hour, or until tester comes out clean. Set the pans on wire rack and let cool about 10 minutes, then turn loaves out onto rack to cool completely.
How To Freeze Zucchini Bread
Zucchini bread can be frozen for up to three months. After it is completely cooled, wrap it securely in aluminum foil, freezer wrap, or place in a freezer bag. Thaw the bread overnight in the refrigerator before serving. Lightly toast individual slices for best results.
Video Tutorial
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Zucchini Bread
Turn your zucchini bounty into tender, sweet zucchini bread—so perfectly delicious, even kids will beg for seconds!
Ingredients
- 3 cups all-purpose flour, spooned into measuring cup and leveled-off
- 2½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 3 large eggs
- 1¾ cup granulated sugar
- 2 cups grated zucchini (you'll need two medium zucchinis; do not wring out the liquid)
- 2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 cup chopped walnuts, lightly toasted if desired (optional; see note)
- ½ cup currants or raisins (optional; see note)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325°F and set rack in middle position. Generously grease two 8½ x 4½-inch loaf pans with nonstick cooking spray.
- In a medium bowl, combine the flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Use a whisk to mix well.
- In a large bowl, whisk the eggs with the sugar. Add the grated zucchini, melted butter, and vanilla extract; using a wooden spoon or rubber spatula, stir to combine.
- Add the dry ingredients to liquid ingredients and mix until just combined. Add the nuts and currants, then divide the batter evenly into the prepared pans. Bake for 60 to 65 minutes, or until a cake tester comes out clean. Set the pans on a wire rack and let cool for about 10 minutes, then turn the loaves out onto rack to cool completely.
- Note: You can also add chocolate chips to this bread. I typically use about 1 cup of chocolate chips instead of nuts and currants. Whatever combination you use, just be sure total add-ins (nuts, currants, chips) do not exceed 1½ cups.
- Freezer-Friendly Instructions: The bread can be frozen for up to 3 months. After it is completely cooled, wrap it securely in aluminum foil, freezer wrap or place in a freezer bag. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before serving.
Nutrition Information
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- Per serving (16 servings)
- Serving size: 1-inch slice
- Calories: 302
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated fat: 8g
- Carbohydrates: 41g
- Sugar: 23g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 4g
- Sodium: 65mg
- Cholesterol: 252mg
This website is written and produced for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and the nutritional data on this site has not been evaluated or approved by a nutritionist or the Food and Drug Administration. Nutritional information is offered as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. The data is calculated through an online nutritional calculator, Edamam.com. Although I do my best to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates only. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Furthermore, different online calculators provide different results depending on their own nutrition fact sources and algorithms. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator.
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Hi Jenn. Absolutely love your recipes and site 🙂 My husband gave me your cookbook for my birthday :)) Question- Can I substitute brown rice flour? for a gluten free recipe? My sister has celiac’s disease.
Hi Patricia, so glad you like the recipes and I hope you’re enjoying the cookbook as well! I’ve never baked with brown rice flour so I don’t know how it will impact the recipe. If you want to make a gluten-free option, for the best results I’d go with a gluten-free all-purpose flour like this one. Hope that helps and that you enjoy!
Made this today exactly as written. Added walnuts and chocolate chips to one of the loafs. Baked for 65 minutes and the crust turned a golden brown, perfectly cracked top, moist and just the right amt of spice, with a light flavor of zucchini. Very delicious. Wouldnt change a thing! Bravo, love it. Thank you
Turned out great. The recipe is super easy and it turned out great. This will be my default recipe for Zucchini Bread from now on.
A neighbor just gave me the biggest zucchini from her garden and I made your bread last evening. I had two 9X5 pans and per your suggestion on an earlier review I did 1.5 more of everything. It turned out great, Jenn, and tastes spectacular. I used the combo of coconut oil and butter instead of all butter and that worked out fine. I think I might try your zucchini soup I just saw on Instagram. Thanks for all the great recipes…
can I use salted butter and eliminate the salt?
Hi Carol, While it varies by brand, most salted butter has approximately 1/4 tsp. salt per stick, so you can use the salted butter and reduce the salt in the recipe as needed. Hope that helps and that you enjoy the zucchini bread!
Hi,
I made the recipe. It turned out so pretty! They look and taste great. I wanted to ask if you recommend storing it in the fridge once completely cooled.
Glad you like it! I store it on a plate on the counter covered with foil but you certainly can store it in the fridge if you’d prefer.
This was the best zucchini bread I’ve ever made. Love the spice and how moist the bread was! Will definitely make this again
Amazing zucchini bread! I made some the other day and it was delicious. I’m planning on making some more today as muffins.
Another delicious recipe! Thank you.
This zucchini bread is the beast! Thanks so much! My family enjoyed it so much and brought back childhood memories.
Awesome zucchini bread! This is my first attempt at any zucchini bread recipe. Instructions were easy to follow and really tasty result!
Super easy and delicious! I made these for gifts so I used 2×4 paper mini loaf pans. The recipe yielded 16 (filled about 3/4 full, which was more than I would normally do but had no spillage). I baked them for about 45 minutes.
I subbed pecans for walnuts because I am allergic. The only other tweak that I would make is to reduce the sugar. I’d try like 1.25 cups next time. The overall flavor was fantastic, kind of a more subtle carrot cake experience. Just a touch too sweet for me.