Description
Scrumptious zucchini bread delights home bakers with its moist, tender crumb and balanced sweetness. Garden-fresh ingredients combine in this classic quick bread that delivers comfort and nostalgia in each delectable slice.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 ½ cups zucchini (shredded, about 1 medium, do not squeeze out moisture)
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ½ cup vegetable oil (or melted coconut oil)
- 2 large eggs
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- ½ tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp nutmeg (optional)
- ½ cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)
- ½ cup chocolate chips or raisins (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat Setup: Warm the oven to 350F (175C) and position the rack centrally. Prepare a 9×5-inch loaf pan by coating with cooking spray or lining with parchment paper.
- Dry Ingredient Composition: Blend flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, ground cinnamon, and nutmeg in a medium bowl. Whisk vigorously to ensure uniform distribution of spices and leavening agents.
- Wet Ingredient Fusion: Whisk eggs, granulated sugar, brown sugar, vegetable oil, and vanilla extract in a large bowl until smooth and slightly frothy. Integrate grated zucchini, maintaining its natural moisture and adding subtle green texture.
- Batter Integration: Delicately fold dry ingredients into wet mixture using a rubber spatula, mixing until just combined. Optional: gently incorporate walnuts or chocolate chips for enhanced flavor complexity.
- Baking Process: Pour batter into prepared pan, smoothing the surface to create an even top. Bake for 50-60 minutes, checking doneness with a toothpick that should emerge clean with minimal moist crumbs.
- Cooling Stage: Allow bread to rest in the pan for 10 minutes to stabilize structure. Transfer to a wire cooling rack and let cool completely before slicing to preserve optimal texture and moisture.
Notes
- Squeeze Moisture Out: Grate zucchini and pat dry with paper towels to prevent soggy bread, ensuring a perfectly tender texture.
- Prevent Sinking Mix-Ins: Lightly coat nuts or chocolate chips in flour before adding to batter, helping them distribute evenly and stay suspended throughout the bread.
- Control Mixing Technique: Fold ingredients gently and minimally to maintain a light, soft crumb, avoiding tough or dense results from overmixing.
- Customize for Dietary Needs: Substitute vegetable oil with applesauce for lower-fat version, use gluten-free flour blend for celiac-friendly option, or replace sugar with coconut sugar for lower glycemic index.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 55 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Snacks, Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 9
- Calories: 248
- Sugar: 18 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 11 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 35 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 37 mg