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This easy old fashioned zucchini bread tastes like Grandma’s recipe! It’s moist and full of the comforting flavors we love in our favorite summertime loaf.
WANT TO SAVE THIS RECIPE?
Bake this old fashioned zucchini bread, and you’ll be transported to Grandma’s kitchen!
This super easy recipe will give you the most delicious, perfectly moist loaf of the summertime favorite every single time.
Enjoy the familiar sweet, warm, cozy flavor of a classic zucchini loaf made with basic pantry ingredients.
Trust me; this is a quick bread that will be eaten very quickly. ?
What Is Zucchini Bread?
Zucchini bread is, well, a loaf of bread made from zucchini. It reminds me of one of my favorite snacks growing up: squash bread (which, by the way, tastes exquisite with condensed milk!)
I know it sounds weird if you haven’t tried squash bread before.
We are more familiar with banana bread and pumpkin bread, and we typically eat zucchini in salads and wraps.
However, this old fashioned zucchini bread recipe is your sign to get grating and bake with the summer harvest!
In this zucchini bread recipe, you can expect that your loaf will come out incredibly moist and delicious. The secret ingredient? Of course, it’s zucchini!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- No-Fail Quick Bread: This old fashioned zucchini bread is easy to make using simple ingredients. Just mix the dry and wet ingredients separately, combine the two, stir in the zucchini and walnuts, and your batter is good to go!
- Timeless Favorite: It’s hard to refuse a slice of zucchini bread because it’s just so moist and deliciously comforting! You can serve it as a breakfast, snack, or even dessert!
- Healthy Sweet Loaf: Compared to your usual sweet loaf bread, we get to sneak in the healthy goodness of the summer squash in zucchini loaf. You can even make this classic recipe healthier by swapping some ingredients!
What Does Zucchini Bread Taste Like?
Zucchini loaf is a good old fashioned comfort food for a reason.
It’s sweet, but not in a dessert kind of way (although I’ve shared a quick streusel topping recipe below for those with a sweet tooth!?).
The warm flavor and inviting aroma of cinnamon also just make this summertime classic special but also comforting and familiar.
And while it’s a zucchini bread, the loaf has no weird veggie flavor. It just makes every slice wonderfully moist, teasing you to get a cup of coffee to savor with the rich, cakey treat.
You can also add various ingredients to the batter! This loaf already has a yummy crunch from walnuts, but a few scrolls below, and you’ll get more delicious ideas.
Get creative, and you might find your loved ones often requesting this quick bread every zucchini season.
Is This Zucchini Bread Recipe Healthy?
Zucchini is a fantastic source of fiber, vitamins, and minerals that are good for digestion, eye health, and prevention of diseases like diabetes.
However, zucchini bread is still a bread.
It’s made of flour and sugar, which means it can be high in calories. So, to make the loaf healthier, you can replace all-purpose flour with whole wheat flour and sugar with honey.
It’s even possible to cut the amount of oil in the recipe and replace half of it with applesauce!
What Are The Benefits Of Old Fashioned Zucchini Bread?
This old fashioned zucchini bread recipe will not only make you feel nostalgic and happy. It’s also a quick bread, so it’s easy and fuss-free to make.
It’s a tasty way to use zucchini and sneak in the wholesome veggie in your breakfast, snack, or dessert.
While this isn’t as decadent as other sweet loaf breads, you can always add mix-ins and rich toppings to make your zucchini loaf everything your sweet tooth is craving.
It also freezes well, so it’s a fantastic make-ahead treat! Continue reading below to learn how to keep your homemade zucchini bread moist and tasty.
Ingredients For Old Fashioned Zucchini Bread
- Eggs – The combination of zucchini, oil, and eggs guarantees a perfectly moist loaf every single time!
- Vegetable oil – You can use any vegetable oil for this old fashioned zucchini bread recipe.
- Granulated sugar – Gives a simple sweet taste to the zucchini bread that also complements cinnamon really well.
- Vanilla extract – This summer squash bread has no hint of veggie flavor! Vanilla brings out the wonderful sweetness of the quick bread.
- All-purpose flour – The main ingredient for the structure of the zucchini loaf.
- Baking powder – This is a quick bread recipe, so it relies on baking powder and baking soda instead of yeast.
- Baking soda – Thanks to leaveners, we don’t need an additional rise time to bake this summer treat.
- Salt – Don’t worry; this won’t make your bread weirdly salty. It just enhances the overall flavor of the zucchini bread.
- Cinnamon – Gives our zucchini loaf bread that homemade goodness with its warm flavor and comforting aroma.
- Zucchini – Make use of summer’s bounty and shred some zucchini for an ultra moist bread!
- Walnuts – The crunch from walnuts in every bite of this classic zucchini bread just makes the overall experience more delectable. ?
- Non-stick cooking spray – To keep the batter from sticking into the loaf pans.
Tools Needed To Prepare Old Fashioned Zucchini Bread
- Box grater for grating the zucchini
- Bread loaf pans for baking the batter
- Mixing bowls for mixing the wet and dry ingredients
- Whisk for combing the ingredients together
- Stand mixer for mixing the batter (optional)
- Rubber spatula for stirring the zucchini and walnuts into the batter
- Wire rack for cooling the zucchini loaves
Ingredient Additions & Substitutions For Zucchini Bread
Chocolate chips
Zucchini bread may not be as sweet as banana bread, but it will also pair well with chocolate chips for that extra oomph. ?
Simply fold the chocolate chips into the batter for a loaf guaranteed to be loved by kids and adults alike.
Dried cranberries
Besides chocolate chips, zucchini bread is also perfect with dried fruits. Boost the antioxidants in every irresistible slice by adding dried cranberries to this old fashioned zucchini bread.
Easy streusel topping
Want to savor Grandma’s zucchini bread as a dessert? Spread a streusel topping on the batter before baking!
You only need to combine white sugar, brown sugar, flour, cinnamon, and melted butter!
How To Make Old Fashioned Zucchini Bread
Ingredients:
- 3 eggs
- 1 cup vegetable oil
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp salt
- 3 tsp cinnamon
- 2 cups zucchini, grated
- 1 cup walnuts, chopped
- Non-stick cooking spray
Tools you need:
Instructions:
STEP 1: Gather the ingredients for your zucchini bread.
STEP 2: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease two loaf pans.
STEP 3: Combine the eggs, vegetable oil, granulated sugar, and vanilla extract. Set aside.
STEP 4: In another bowl, mix the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. Then, pour the mixture into the wet ingredients.
STEP 5: Stir the batter until combined. Add the zucchini and walnuts and mix.
STEP 6: Pour the batter into the loaf pans and bake for an hour or until golden brown.
STEP 7: Let your zucchini loaves cool in their pans for 10 minutes before removing them. Then, transfer your zucchini bread to a wire rack to finish cooling before slicing.
What To Serve With Old Fashioned Zucchini Bread
Serve this old fashioned zucchini bread with a cup of coffee for a delightful breakfast that’s satisfying but not too heavy.
Since it’s not super sweet, you can also enjoy a slice of this zucchini loaf with some butter and maple syrup for a delicious snack.
And to turn it into a dessert, a quick cream cheese frosting on top should do the trick. ?
This zucchini bread is easy to bake, so it’s also perfect for hosting!
Delight your guests and arrange the slices of the moist, comforting bread in our charcuterie boards.
Zucchini bread will be perfect with the spreads in our breakfast charcuterie board or the sweet and savory treats in our brunch charcuterie board.
Tips About Making Zucchini Bread
Here are some helpful notes to help you bake the perfect zucchini bread just like Grandma’s:
- Make sure to only fill your pans three-quarters full with batter for a good rise. If you overfill the loaf pan, the batter can overflow, or your zucchini bread might collapse in the middle.
- Unsure if your zucchini bread is done? Just insert a toothpick in the center of the loaf, and if it comes out clean, your bread is ready to be taken out of the oven.
- Give delicious mini loaves of zucchini bread as gifts, and your friends and family will surely cherish you! This recipe works with mini loaf pans. Just reduce the baking time in half.
How To Store Zucchini Bread
This zucchini bread stores really well! Keep it fresh and yummy with these tips:
- Fridge: You can just store the zucchini loaf in an airtight container, and it should stay fresh on the counter for 3 days. If in the fridge, use it within a week.
- Freezer: Want to freeze your zucchini bread? Wrap it in plastic wrap and foil, and freeze for up to 3 months.
For the best experience, thaw your zucchini bread completely, then warm it up in the microwave for about 30 seconds.
Do I Need to Peel Zucchini For Zucchini Bread?
You don’t need to peel zucchini for zucchini bread since it’s soft and won’t leave a gritty texture on the batter. Now you have zero reasons not to make this incredibly easy old fashioned zucchini bread recipe!
Got a lot of extra zucchini? Choose from these 25 zucchini baking recipes and savor zucchini boats, casseroles, muffins, and more in the comfort of your own home. ?
How To Shred Zucchini For Bread
Use a box grater to shred your zucchini for zucchini bread. Just run the squash up and down the grater, making sure you’re collecting the fruits (or squash, heh!) of your labor in a bowl.
You can also check out the best electric spiralizers to shred zucchini effortlessly.
The next step after shredding is very important: squeeze out your shredded zucchini to remove excess moisture, or the zucchini bread will be soggy! ?
You can press the shredded zucchini between paper towels to do this.
And what about the seeds? If they’re soft and small, you don’t really need to remove them when making zucchini bread since they’ll cook up well.
How Long to Bake Zucchini Bread In Mini Loaf Pans?
You can make this zucchini bread recipe in mini loaf pans. Just bake the batter for 30 minutes or check the loaves with a toothpick to know if they’re done.
If the tops of the loaves are browning too quickly, you can cover them loosely with aluminum foil.
This fun and easy zucchini bread reminds me of another foolproof quick bread recipe. Check out our dairy-free pumpkin bread, perfect for fall!
Can I Use Yellow Squash For Zucchini Bread?
No zucchini available? No problem!
Swap zucchini with sweet and nutty yellow squash! The only difference is that your faux zucchini bread will have a more vibrant yellow than when you use zucchini.
You might also notice that yellow squash bread tastes noticeably sweeter than zucchini bread, so it’s something to consider if you love sweet bread.
FAQ About Zucchini Bread Recipe
How do you make zucchini bread more moist?
Make your zucchini bread more moist by using a fine grater when shredding your zucchini! You’ll get more of their natural juices when you mix them into the batter!
Why does my zucchini bread sink in the middle?
Your zucchini bread may sink in the middle if it’s underbaked due to the batter being too wet from the grated zucchini. To fix undercooked zucchini bread, extend the baking time for a few minutes, then check the loaf with a toothpick.
How to tell if zucchini bread is done?
Your zucchini bread is done if no batter clings to the toothpick when you insert it in the center of the loaf.
How long does zucchini bread last?
Zucchini bread can last up to 3 months when frozen and wrapped properly.
Can I freeze zucchini bread?
Yep, zucchini bread freezes well. Simply wrap the entire loaf or individual slices in plastic and foil before storing them in a freezer-safe container.
Old Fashioned Zucchini Bread
This easy old fashioned zucchini bread tastes like Grandma's recipe! It's moist and full of the comforting flavors we love in our favorite summertime loaf.
Ingredients
Instructions
- Gather the ingredients for your zucchini bread.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease two loaf pans.
- Combine the eggs, vegetable oil, granulated sugar, and vanilla extract. Set aside.
- In another bowl, mix the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. Then, pour the mixture into the wet ingredients.
- Stir the batter until combined. Add the zucchini and walnuts and mix.
- Pour the batter into the loaf pans and bake for an hour or until golden brown.
- Let your zucchini loaves cool in their pans for 10 minutes before removing them. Then, transfer your zucchini bread to a wire rack to finish cooling before slicing.
Notes
- For a good rise, fill your loaf pans three-quarters full with batter.
- You can also make this old fashioned zucchini bread recipe in mini loaf pans! Just remember to reduce the baking time in half.
- To know if your zucchini bread is done, insert a toothpick in the center of the loaves. If batter still sticks to the toothpick, extend your baking time.
* Recipe adapted from Midwest Life and Style
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 2 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 422Total Fat: 35gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 30gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 36mgCarbohydrates: 22gFiber: 9gSugar: 6gProtein: 12g
* Please note that all nutrition information are just estimates. Values will vary among brands, so we encourage you to calculate these on your own for the most accurate results.
Conclusion
Now that is one bread you won’t dread baking at home!
This old fashioned zucchini bread will make you nostalgic for Grandma’s cooking. It’s super moist and full of the wonderful sweet flavor of the summertime loaf.
The warmth from cinnamon and crunch from walnuts really makes this classic quick bread a comforting treat.
You have no excuse not to bake this zucchini bread because you don’t even need to peel zucchini!
Want more doable and delicious bread recipes like this zucchini bread? These recipes should fill the bread-shaped hole in your heart year-round:
- Easy Dairy-Free Pumpkin Bread
- Super Moist Apple Cinnamon Bread
- Yummy Bananas Foster Croissant Bread Pudding
- The Only French Baguette Recipe You Need
- Ultimate Double Chocolate Banana Bread Recipe
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