Easy & Moist Zucchini Bread Recipe - Butter with a Side of Bread (2024)

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Our Best Ever Zucchini Bread recipe is a MUST TRY! This popular zucchini quick bread recipe is easy to make andhas the perfect blend of delicious spices.

Easy & Moist Zucchini Bread Recipe - Butter with a Side of Bread (1)

This moist zucchini bread recipe is a great way to use up all those zucchini from your garden. This delicious zucchini bread is packed with so many delicious ingredients and it tastes amazing!

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Easy Zucchini Bread

Zucchini Bread is the perfect way to use up all that zucchini in the garden! My squash plants have not been as fruitful this year, but even so, I suddenly find myself with a lot of zucchini! As a matter of fact, I look forward to it each year so that I can fill my freezer with loaves of this delicious zucchini bread.I can’t remember where the original recipe came from, but I have changed it over the years. This produces the Best Ever Zucchini Bread. Try it- you will love it.

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Moist Zucchini Bread Ingredients

  • Sugar: You will need 1 cup white sugar and 1 cup brown sugar to add a bit of sweetness to this bread.
  • Eggs: Use 3 eggs to help bind the dough together well for this recipe.
  • Vegetable oil: Using 1 cup vegetable oil (you can substitute applesauce for ½ the oil) will help give great moisture to this treat.
  • Vanilla extract: You need 3 teaspoons vanilla extract to help enhance all the wonderful flavors.
  • Flour: Use 3 cups all-purpose flour for the base of this bread recipe.
  • Seasonings: You will need 1 tsp nutmeg, 3 teaspoons ground cinnamon and 1 teaspoon salt for a perfect combination of flavors in this delicious bread.
  • Leavening agents: Using 1 teaspoon baking powder and 1 teaspoon baking soda will help the bread to rise properly.
  • Zucchini: You need 2 cups grated zucchini for an amazing blend of sweet and savory flavors (you can add a little more, I always do!)
  • Nuts: Use 1 cup chopped walnuts for a wonderful balance of crunchy texture in this recipe.
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How to Make Zucchini Bread

Prep

Grease two 8 x 4 inch bread pans or 6 mini loaf plans, set aside.

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.

Bread dough

In a large bowl, mix together the flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, nutmeg and cinnamon.

Next, in a separate small bowl, beat the eggs, oil, vanilla extract, and sugars together.

Then, add the wet ingredients to the large bowl of dry ingredients and stir until combined.

After that, grate the zucchini using a box grater.

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Add to the dough mixture, along with the nuts, until well combined.

Proceed to pour the batter into the prepared pans.

Bake

Place bread into the oven and bake for 40 to 60 minutes, or until tester inserted in the center comes out clean. My mini-loaf pans take about 35-40 minutes. Large sized loaves take about 55 minutes.

When done cooking, cool in the pan on rack a for 20 minutes. Remove bread from pan, and completely cool.

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Slice, serve & enjoy! Remember: quick bread is generally EVEN BETTER TASTING the next day! So make a loaf in the evening, then enjoy it for breakfast the next day!

How to know if the bread is done

Your bread should register about 200 degrees F on an instant-read thermometer to ensure that it has been cooked fully. Not only that but the top should appear to be a nice golden brown color and as the bread cools, it shouldn’t sink, but should instead remain well-shaped with a rounded top.

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BEST BREAD PAN?

I bake a lot of bread and the pans I prefer are eitherceramic, glass or cast iron. These pans will bake bread more evenly and release the bread more easily after baking. I don’t like using dark or nonstick pans because the bread cooks unevenly. It darkens on the outside before the bread is cooked on the inside, so the coloring is uneven. Read more aboutwhich bread pan is the best here!

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Easy Zucchini Bread

Best Ever Zucchini Bread recipe that really lives up to the name! This zucchini quick bread recipe is easy to make and is the perfect blend of delicious spices.

4.82 from 322 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Quick Bread

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Best Ever Zucchini Bread recipe

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 50 minutes minutes

Total Time: 1 hour hour 5 minutes minutes

Servings: 20

Calories: 298kcal

Author:

Ingredients

  • 1 cup white sugar
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 cup vegetable oil you can substitute applesauce for 1/2 the oil
  • 3 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp nutmeg
  • 3 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 2 cups grated zucchini you can add a little more, I always do!
  • 1 cup chopped walnuts

Instructions

  • Grease two 8 x 4 inch pans or 6 mini loaf plans. Preheat oven to 325°F.

  • In a large bowl, mix together the flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, nutmeg and cinnamon.

  • Next, in a separate small bowl, beat the eggs, oil, vanilla extract, and sugars together.

  • Then, add the wet ingredients to the large bowl of dry ingredients and stir until combined.

  • After that, grate the zucchini using a box grater. Add to the bread batter, along with the nuts, until well combined. Let batter sit 5-10 minutes.

  • Proceed to pour the batter into the prepared pans.

  • Place bread into the oven and bake for 40 to 60 minutes, or until tester inserted in the center comes out clean. My mini-loaf pans take about 35-40 minutes. Large sized loaves take about 55 minutes. (See below for my method on making sure loaves are completely cooked!)

  • When done cooking, cool in the pan on rack a for 20 minutes. Remove bread from pan, and completely cool. Slice, serve and enjoy!

Video

Notes

Recipe yields 2 loaves.

How to make sure your bread is completely cooked: I use a cooking thermometer! Your bread should register 200 degrees F on an instant-read thermometer to ensure that it has been cooked fully. Not only that but the top should appear to be a nice golden brown color and as the bread cools, it shouldn’t sink, but should instead remain well-shaped with a rounded top.

Nutrition

Calories: 298kcal | Carbohydrates: 37g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 9g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 25mg | Sodium: 185mg | Potassium: 125mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 21g | Vitamin A: 63IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 35mg | Iron: 1mg


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Easy Zucchini Bread Recipe FAQ

How many zucchini is in a cup?

I plan on 1 zucchini for each cup of grated zucchini needed in a recipe. Of course, this varies being as zucchini come in all sizes. Zucchini in the grocery store range from small to medium sized.

Do you peel the zucchini for zucchini bread?

There’s no need to peel the zucchini prior to grating it for zucchini bread. The dark green peel is very soft so it bakes well and adds vitamins, nutrients and even a bit of color to the bread.

Do you shred or grate zucchini for bread?

I prefer to grate the zucchini as opposed to shredding it so that bits of green peel remain in tact. They contribute toward the popular look of zucchini bread! Shredding the zucchini causes the zucchini to nearly disappear once the bread is baked. Both will work though! I know when my kids were young, I hid vegetables in baked goods often, so having them disappear was preferable!

Should I squeeze excess water out of my zucchini before making zucchini bread?

Yes, you can squeeze out excess water from grated zucchini before adding it to your batter. Zucchini naturally has a lot of water in it. That becomes quite clear after grating it, if you simply leave it to rest for 5-10 minutes, the water will begin accumulating in the bowl! If I’m using garden zucchini, especially large ones, I like to squeeze as much out as possible before making it into zucchini bread. Store bought zucchini rarely has excess water.

Can zucchini bread be made with yellow squash?

Yes, you can make zucchini bread with yellow squash! You do need to scrape the seeds out since the seeds in yellow squash are much larger. Also, I find the skin to be more tough on yellow squash, so you can either peel the outside to remove the skin, or you can just grate it with a finer cheese grater.

How do you keep zucchini bread from drying out?

Zucchini Bread should be stored on the counter top in an airtight container or ziplock bag. Keeping it in the fridge can dry it out over time.

How do you make zucchini bread rise?

Zucchini bread rises as a result of leavening ingredients in the bread recipe being exposed to two things, moisture and heat. We use eggs, baking soda and baking powder as leavening agents. Make sure your ingredients are not past their expiration date as stale ingredients can affect how much the bread rises.

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Storing this Moist Zucchini Bread Recipe

After the bread has cooled, store it in a gallon size ziplock bag or similarly sized airtight container. We bake bread often, so I purchased bread bags and love them!

Can this recipe for zucchini bread be frozen?

I love freezing loaves of zucchini bread! How you prepare zucchini bread for freezing really depends on how long you intent to keep it frozen. If you just want to freeze it for a week or two, I’d wrap it in plastic wrap or foil and place the loaf in a large freezer ziplock bag. Most often, when I bake zucchini bread to freeze it, I’ll bake mini loaves so that they fit in the ziplock bag easier. If you want to freeze it for 2-6 months, I’d wrap it more securely, making sure it’s airtight and wrapping it in a double layer of foil or plastic wrap, then place it in a ziplock bag.

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How do you make Healthy Zucchini Bread?

If you’d like to make a few changes to my recipe to make a healthier version of zucchini bread, I’ve got great news- this recipe is incredibly versatile! I suggest leaving out the 1 cup of white sugar, replacing half or all of the oil with apple sauce and using half whole wheat flour in place of all-purpose. Then you’ll have a traditional healthy zucchini bread recipe!

Can zucchini bread be made into muffins?

Zucchini bread muffins are our favorite muffins! Simply use my recipe above, then spoon 3 tablespoons of batter into each greased or lined muffin cup. Bake for 18-20 minutes. There are several benefits of making zucchini bread into muffins. First, I like that they cook faster! Where a full loaf of zucchini bread bakes for up to an hour, zucchini muffins bake for only 20 minutes, which is a fraction of the time. They’re also easy to freeze! I like to bake a batch of zucchini muffins and then freeze them just in a layer in a large ziplock freezer bag. I pull them out one or two at a time for breakfast. You can let them thaw on the countertop, or you can microwave them or toast them to heat them up. Yum!

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Why does my zucchini bread fall in the middle?

Here’s how to help your zucchini bread not sink in the middle after it’s baked. This happens to me occasionally too! Often it’s because I’ve over mixed the batter. Quick bread (referring to a bread recipe that doesn’t use yeast) does not like to be stirred too much, so try to just barely mix all the ingredients together. Another culprit could be overfilling the pan. The bread pan should be only half full each time. The recipe below makes 2 loaves of bread, or you can make 1 loaf of bread and 3 mini loaves… or 6 mini loaves. As always, make sure your baking soda isn’t too old- it should only be on your shelf for 6-9 months before purchasing new. Lastly, make sure your bread is fully cooked. Uncooked batter in the middle of the loaf will cause bread to sink.

Your bread should register about 200 degrees F on an instant-read thermometer to ensure that it has been cooked fully. Not only that but the top should appear to be a nice golden brown color and as the bread cools, it shouldn’t sink, but should instead remain well-shaped with a rounded top.

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More Zucchini Bread recipes:

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More amazing quick bread recipes that we love:

  • Easy Banana Bread
  • Sweet Coconut Quick Bread
  • Easy Lemon Quick Bread
  • Yogurt Banana Bread recipe
  • Dutch Apple Quick Bread
  • Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Quick Bread
  • Caramel Banana Nut Bread
  • Best Ever Pumpkin Bread
  • Lemon Buttermilk Quick Bread
  • Caramel Apple Quick Bread
  • Cinnamon Raisin Quick Bread
  • Peppermint Chocolate Quick Bread
  • Cranberry Orange Quick Bread
  • Cinnamon Roll Quick Bread

This recipe for easy zucchini bread has been in my family for years, it’s easy to make and you’ll love the blend of spices used. Read the reviews- it’s popular for a reason! It really is the perfect zucchini quick bread recipe.

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More favorites to try:

  • Crock Pot Pulled Pork
  • White Bread Recipe
  • Crock Pot Ham and Beans
  • Chicken Pasta Salad
  • Chicken Dip
  • Fresh Salsa Recipe
  • Pork Roast in Crock Pot
  • Homemade Chicken Strips
  • Fried Chicken without Buttermilk
  • White Chocolate Chex Mix
  • How long to Smoke Drumsticks
  • Maple Bars

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ABOUT US

I began Butter, with a Side of Bread to delve deeper into my fascination with food! I love cooking easy, delicious recipes and trying out new products. Welcome and I hope you stick around!

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Easy & Moist Zucchini Bread Recipe - Butter with a Side of Bread (2024)

FAQs

Should you peel zucchini for zucchini bread? ›

If you've never grated zucchini before, it's super easy—just shred it on the large holes of a box grater. There's no need to peel the zucchini or remove the seeds. You also shouldn't press or squeeze any of the excess moisture out of it. You want all that to go into the bread!

Why is my zucchini bread so dry? ›

Why does my zucchini bread come out dry? This is usually due to either not measuring ingredients carefully or over-baking the bread. Be sure to bake until toothpick inserted in center of bread comes out with just a few tiny, tender crumbs attached.

Do you squeeze out the liquid from zucchini for bread? ›

But unless your zucchini is excessively juicy, squeezing the squash could be removing some of the moisture you really do want in the bread. It's up to you, though. Squeeze for lighter, drier bread. Leave it as is for denser, moister bread.

How many zucchinis does it take to make 2 cups grated? ›

You need 2 cups of grated zucchini for the recipe, so you will need about 3 small zucchini, 2 medium zucchini, or 1 large zucchini.

How do you reduce moisture in zucchini? ›

By sprinkling the cut vegetable with salt and letting it stand in a colander over the sink, water will drip out, leaving behind a firmer vegetable. The zucchini can then be more easily sauteed or roasted to bring out its natural sugars and, hence, flavor.

What happens if you put too much baking powder in zucchini bread? ›

Using too much baking soda or baking powder can really mess up a recipe, causing it to rise uncontrollably and taste terrible.

Why does my zucchini bread fall apart when I cut it? ›

The most common reason for zucchini breadand other quick breads (and cakes) to collapse as they cool is the ingredients are too vigorously or quickly mixed, which incorporates lots of less stable air bubbles into the batter.

What can I use instead of baking soda in zucchini bread? ›

If you don't have baking soda, you can use baking powder, at three times what the recipe calls for. So if a recipe calls for one teaspoon of baking soda, you can use three teaspoons of baking powder. Baking powder also contains a little bit of salt, so it's also a good idea to halve the salt the recipe calls for.

Why is my zucchini bread mushy in the middle? ›

Why does zucchini bread sink in the middle. One of the most frustrating issues with zucchini bread is when it sinks in the center as it cools. It can look perfect coming out of the oven, but soon starts to deflate… The main issue here is that the bread just isn't cooked through.

Should you salt and drain zucchini before cooking? ›

Salt causes zucchini rounds to release excess water. This important extra step helps the zucchini to sauté rather than stew in its own juices. I found quarter-inch slices the perfect thickness. Thinner slices fall apart during cooking; thicker slices require a longer salting time.

How can I enhance the flavor of zucchini? ›

You can season the oil before you add the zucchini with garlic, shallots, spices, or red pepper flakes, it's totally up to you. Once the oil, butter, or combination thereof is heated, add all of the zucchini. If the pan seems crowded at first, don't worry. Season with salt and toss to begin drawing out the moisture.

Should zucchini bread be cool before removing from pan? ›

Don't leave the loaf in the pan too long – Once you remove the bread from the oven, let it sit for 10 to15 minutes. But after that, it should be turned out onto a cooling rack to finish cooling. Otherwise, the edges can get a little too done in the still-hot pan.

Should zucchini be drained before baking? ›

If you've ever wondered if you should try and squeeze out some of the water from your shredded zucchini before adding it to batter or dough, the answer (happily) is no!

Does zucchini need to be peeled for baking? ›

Nope! There's no need to peel zucchini. In fact, the skin is a big source of zucchini nutrition (the deep green color is a dead giveaway) so you definitely want to leave the skin on.

Why doesn't my zucchini bread rise? ›

But a common problem bakers face is flat zucchini bread. Food chemist Shirley Corriher suggests making sure the baking powder is fresh -- and using less leavening. There are few things more confounding or vexing in the kitchen than a dish gone wrong.

Do you peel zucchini before grating for baking? ›

Rinse the zucchini under water and wipe dry with paper towels. No need to peel the zucchini beforehand-the skin is mild in flavor and will soften when cooked. Plus, much of zucchini's fiber content is in its skin, so you don't want to throw that away.

Why is my zucchini bread falling apart? ›

The most common reason for zucchini breadand other quick breads (and cakes) to collapse as they cool is the ingredients are too vigorously or quickly mixed, which incorporates lots of less stable air bubbles into the batter.

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