Description
This Mom’s Zucchini Bread is a classic, nostalgic recipe that yields two incredibly moist and flavorful loaves. It uses simple pantry staples and fresh zucchini to create a sweet, spiced bread that stays soft for days. You will love the tender crumb filled with crunchy walnuts and the warm aroma of cinnamon that fills your kitchen while it bakes.
Ingredients
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon (adjust to taste)
- 3 large eggs
- 1 cup vegetable oil
- 2 1/4 cups white sugar
- 3 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 cups shredded zucchini, unpeeled
- 1 cup chopped walnuts
Instructions
Step 1: Prep the Oven and Pans
Preheat your oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit (165 degrees Celsius). Grease and flour two 8×4-inch loaf pans generously to ensure the bread releases easily after baking.
Step 2: Sift Dry Ingredients
In a large mixing bowl, sift together the flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, and cinnamon. Sifting helps aerate the flour and ensures the spices and leavening agents are evenly distributed throughout the batter.
Step 3: Beat Wet Ingredients
In a separate large bowl, use an electric mixer to beat the eggs, vegetable oil, white sugar, and vanilla extract together until the mixture is fully combined and smooth.
Step 4: Combine Mixtures
Add the sifted flour mixture to the wet ingredients. Beat well until everything is fully incorporated and no streaks of flour remain.
Step 5: Fold in Mix-ins
Switch to a spoon or spatula and stir in the shredded zucchini and chopped walnuts by hand. Mix until they are well combined throughout the batter.
Step 6: Bake
Pour the batter evenly into the two prepared loaf pans. Bake in the preheated oven for 40 to 60 minutes.
Step 7: Check for Doneness
The bread is done when a toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean.
Step 8: Cool
Allow the loaves to cool in the pans on a wire rack for 20 minutes.
Step 9: Remove and Finish Cooling
Run a table knife gently around the edges of the pans to loosen the bread. Invert the loaves carefully onto the wire rack and let them cool completely before slicing.
Notes
Do Not Squeeze: Do not squeeze the liquid out of the zucchini for this recipe. The moisture from the shredded zucchini is essential for hydrating the batter; removing it will result in dry bread.
Freezer Friendly: This bread freezes beautifully. Wrap the completely cooled loaves tightly in plastic wrap and then foil. They can be frozen for up to 3 months and thawed at room temperature.
Prevent Over-Browning: Since you are baking two loaves at once, check them around the 40-minute mark. If the tops are browning too quickly but the center is still raw, tent them loosely with aluminum foil for the remainder of the baking time.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Bread
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (approx. 1/12 of a loaf)
- Calories: 256
- Sugar: 19g
- Sodium: 171mg
- Fat: 13g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 32g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 23mg
Keywords: mom's zucchini bread, moist zucchini bread recipe, homemade quick bread, walnut zucchini loaf, cinnamon spice bread