Baking Basics: Easy Homemade Zucchini Bread

zucchinibread_lightened What to do with too much zucchini? Break out the loaf pan and buttering knife! (Photo: Kris Lindenmu
Jess Kapadia•

If you have one super-simple baking recipe in your arsenal, make it banana bread. If you have two, make sure the second one is zucchini bread. While grating zucchini takes slightly longer than peeling overripe bananas, the resulting treat is well worth the effort. That's right, zucchini dresses sweet or savory, and if you've never had it sweet, this is the definitive recipe.

I like to drizzle my zucchini bread with maple syrup to give the walnuts on top something to adhere to, as well as add a little heft to that that wonderful sticky sweetness you see on top of quick breads like this one. This recipe makes two loaves, because when something freezes and gifts as well as zucchini bread, there's no point in just making one.

Baking Basics: Easy Homemade Zucchini Bread
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Prep Time
20
minutes
Cook Time
1
hour
Servings
6
to 8
zucchinibread_lightened
Total time: 1 hour, 20 minutes
Ingredients
  • softened unsalted butter
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 cup white sugar
  • 1 cup turbinado sugar
  • 1 cup canola oil
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 3 cups flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup walnuts
  • 2 cups zucchini
  • 2-3 tablespoons dark maple syrup
Directions
  1. Preheat the oven to 350° F.
  2. Using your fingers, generously butter the insides of two loaf pans.
  3. Beat eggs, sugar, oil and vanilla together in a large bowl until smooth.
  4. In a separate bowl, combine the cinnamon, nutmeg, baking soda, baking powder, flour and salt and stir with a fork until well mixed.
  5. Pour the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients gradually, then fold in 2/3 of the walnuts.
  6. Divide batter between loaf pans.
  7. Drizzle the tops of the loaves with maple syrup and sprinkle with nuts.
  8. Bake for one hour, then insert a toothpick in the center of one loaf to test for doneness. If it comes out clean, remove loaves and allow to cool for at least an hour before turning out and slicing. If not, return to the oven for ten more minutes.
  9. Serve with room temperature butter for easy spreading.
 
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