Print

A simple, reliable quick bread that transforms fresh grated zucchini into a soft, tender, lightly spiced loaf with a moist crumb, made using basic pantry staples and baked in about an hour.

Ingredients

Scale
  • ½ cup brown sugar, packed
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • ½ cup vegetable oil
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1½ cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 2 cups grated zucchini (about 2 medium zucchinis)
  • ½ cup chopped walnuts (optional)
  • ½ cup chocolate chips (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×5-inch loaf pan or line it with parchment, leaving a little overhang.
  2. Grate about 2 cups zucchini (≈2 medium); if very watery, gently squeeze to remove excess moisture, leaving it moist but not dripping.
  3. In a large bowl, whisk together 1 cup granulated sugar, ½ cup packed brown sugar, and ½ cup vegetable oil until smooth.
  4. Beat in 2 large eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition, then stir in 1 teaspoon vanilla extract.
  5. In a separate bowl, whisk 1½ cups all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon baking soda, ½ teaspoon baking powder, ½ teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, and ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg until combined.
  6. Slowly add dry ingredients to wet mixture, stirring gently just until combined; avoid overmixing.
  7. Fold in grated zucchini and optionally ½ cup chopped walnuts and/or ½ cup chocolate chips.
  8. Pour batter into prepared loaf pan and smooth the top.
  9. Bake 45–55 minutes at 350°F (175°C) on center oven rack, loosely covering with foil in last 10–15 minutes if top browns too quickly.
  10. Check doneness by inserting a toothpick into center; it should come out clean or with a few moist crumbs.
  11. Cool loaf in pan for about 10 minutes, then transfer to wire rack to cool completely before slicing.

Notes

Measure zucchini after grating to get correct moisture balance., Squeeze watery zucchini gently to avoid soggy bread., Avoid overmixing the batter to prevent toughness., Room-temperature eggs produce smoother batter but cold eggs are acceptable., Start checking doneness at 45 minutes as oven temps vary., Let bread cool 20–30 minutes before slicing to avoid gummy or crumbly texture., Avoid overfilling loaf pan to prevent cracking and ensure even baking., Optional mix-ins include nuts, chocolate chips, or dried fruits., Can substitute half the oil with unsweetened applesauce for a lighter version., Whole wheat flour can replace up to half the all-purpose flour with less mixing., Gluten-free baking flour blend can be substituted; xanthan gum may be needed., To make muffins, bake at 350°F (175°C) for 18–22 minutes in a lined muffin tin., Store cooled bread airtight at room temperature up to 3 days or refrigerate up to 1 week., Freeze wrapped loaf or slices up to 3 months; thaw overnight in fridge or at room temperature., Reheat slices at 350°F (175°C) for 8–12 minutes or microwave 15–25 seconds.

Nutrition