This easy zucchini bread recipe is the best I've tried! Packed with zucchini and cinnamon, it's super moist and flavorful. Plan on having a second slice.
This easy zucchini bread recipe is the best I’ve tried.
- It’s super moist,
- warmly spiced,
- studded with crunchy walnuts,
- and PACKED with shredded zucchini, so you can use up a good portion of your summer squash haul in one go.
If there’s something else you look for in a zucchini bread recipe, let me know, but to me, this one is perfection. I love that all the ingredients are pantry basics, that the batter is a breeze to stir together, and that the recipe yields two loaves. Freeze one for later or share it with a friend…and then, if you’re me, make this zucchini bread recipe again. I mean, it’s zucchini season! The more zucchini bread, the merrier, right?
How to Make Zucchini Bread
The great thing about this zucchini bread recipe is that, like other quick bread recipes (i.e., banana bread or pumpkin bread), it’s super easy to make! You don’t need any special equipment here—just a box grater, a couple of mixing bowls, and two loaf pans. The ingredients are simple too.
Zucchini Bread Recipe Ingredients
- Zucchini, of course! It makes this quick bread amazingly moist.
- All-purpose flour – Spoon and level it to avoid packing too much into your measuring cup.
- Baking powder, baking soda, and eggs – They help the loaves rise.
- Cinnamon and vanilla extract – For warm, cozy depth of flavor.
- Cane sugar – It sweetens the zucchini bread.
- Vegetable oil – It adds moisture and richness.
- Walnuts – For crunch.
- And sea salt – To make all the flavors pop!
Find the complete recipe with measurements below.
How to Prep Zucchini for Bread
To make this recipe, you’ll need 3 cups of shredded zucchini, from about 2 medium squash.
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!
Once you shred the zucchini, make the batter. Mix together the dry ingredients in one bowl and the wet ingredients in another. Add the zucchini to the wet ingredients and fold to combine.
Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until just combined. Careful not to overmix! If you do, the quick bread will be dense.
Fold in the nuts.
Next, pour the batter into two greased loaf pans. It’s ok if the two pans aren’t the same size or material, but keep in mind that the loaves might bake at different rates. I recommend checking them early to avoid over-baking.
Sprinkle more nuts over the tops of the loaves…
And bake at 325°F for 40 to 55 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean and the tops of the loaves spring back to the touch.
Find the complete recipe with measurements below.
Best Zucchini Bread Recipe Tips
- Don’t overmix. When you add the dry ingredients to the wet, stir just until they’re combined. Overmixing the batter will start to develop the gluten in the flour, which can make for dense loaves. We want them to be light and tender instead!
- Give it time to cool. If you’re anything like me, you’re going to want to slice into the bread as soon as it comes out of the oven (heads up: your kitchen will smell amazing). But if you can resist, let it cool for an hour instead. I promise that it will taste even better after it cools. It will have a moister texture, and the flavor from the spices and vanilla will have deepened.
- Use a different summer squash. Green zucchini isn’t the only type of squash that will work in this bread! Sub in yellow zucchini, striped zucchini, or yellow squash instead. They’ll all yield a moist, flavorful bread.
- Change up the mix-ins. Not feeling walnuts? Replace them with pecans, or swap in dried cherries, dried cranberries, or chocolate chips. A walnut/chocolate chip combo is fantastic too!
How to Store Zucchini Bread
Homemade zucchini bread keeps well for up to 4 days after baking. Store it at room temperature in an airtight container or tightly wrapped in aluminum foil or plastic wrap.
Can you freeze zucchini bread?
Yes, this easy zucchini bread also freezes well! Wrap up the entire loaf, or store individual slices in freezer bags or airtight containers. Freeze for up to 3 months.
I like to freeze individual slices so that I can thaw one at a time for breakfast or a snack. Let them sit at room temperature for an hour to thaw, or zap them in the microwave to quickly reheat.
More Favorite Zucchini Recipes
If you love this zucchini bread, try one of these easy zucchini recipes next:
- Chocolate Zucchini Bread
- Zucchini Muffins
- Zucchini Brownies
- Chocolate Zucchini Cake
- Zucchini Fritters
- Roasted ZucchiniÂ
- Grilled Zucchini
- Or any of these 30 Best Zucchini Recipes!
Zucchini Bread
Equipment
- Loaf Pan (you'll need 2 for this recipe)
Ingredients
- 3 cups all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1½ cups cane sugar
- 1 cup vegetable oil, plus more for the pans
- 3 large eggs
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 3 cups grated zucchini, about 2 medium, don’t press or squeeze
- 1 cup chopped walnuts, plus more for topping
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325°F and grease two 8x4 or 9x5-inch loaf pans.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
- In another large bowl, whisk together the sugar, vegetable oil, eggs, and vanilla. Add the grated zucchini and fold to combine.
- Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until just combined. Fold in the walnuts.
- Divide the batter between the prepared pans and sprinkle with walnuts. Bake for 40 to 55 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean and the tops of the loaves spring back to the touch.
Delicious! Used 1/2 cup walnuts and 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips.
I’m glad you enjoyed it!
Loved this recipe and my son really enjoyed it as a muffin 🙂
I’m so happy to hear!
So good! Moist and full of flavor. And the house smelled great while the loaves were baking.
I’m so glad you enjoyed!
Yum! This is the most moist bread I’ve ever made! Cooked it for the longest amount of time suggested and it was still incredibly soft and not dry.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
I really loved this recipe – and it was perfect for the summer season zucchini! I cut down the sugar and added an overripe banana and really loved the idea to shred the zucchini.
I’m so glad you loved it!
Loved this recipe! Replaced the sugar with maple and oil with applesauce – turned out to be one of my favorite quick breads!!
I’m happy you enjoyed it!
Made this today for a snack after dinner. Was so delicious! I used half regular sugar and half dark brown sugar because I was almost out of sugar. I also added chocolate chips and used macademian nuts instead of pecans.
Sounds so delicious, I’m glad you enjoyed!
Made a half recipe and it turned out great! Added chocolate chips too, yum! 🙂
I’m glad you enjoyed it!
Made 6 mini loaves… Turned out so moist and delicious. My 9 year old had fun shredding the zucchini. Great start to summer break and perfect breakfast before our garage sale.
Made the vegan version zucchini bread. Super moist and super delicious.
I love a good quick bread and I was excited to see this as a challenge and also have it with my morning coffee. It smelled delicious in the oven and after I took some photos I was able to bite into it. It was warm and super moist I added raisins and cranberries for that antioxdant punch along with the walnuts. So good. Thank you so much for sharing it with us. I’m going to try the zucchini brownies for game night.
I had some very brown bananas that needed used up, so I mashed one up and threw it in, in addition to 2 mixed flax ‘eggs’. I cut the oil in half and replaced it with 1/2 cup of unsweetened applesauce and used a little less than 1 cup of sugar and it was still plenty sweet bc of the banana and applesauce. And added walnuts and dried cranberries for texture. Other than that, I followed the recipe as written. Oh, and made it in muffin tins as I like the convenience of a muffin. The recipe as written and modified makes 24 muffins.
Made before my go to recipe it’s lovely.
I’m glad you enjoyed it!
Can it be made vegan? Like your healthy banana bread recipe
Yes, use flax egg or banana. I used both in mine.
Hi Tynanna, to make this recipe vegan, replace the eggs with 1/4 cup ground flaxseed + 10 tablespoons water. Mix them in a small bowl and let them thicken for 5 minutes before adding to the wet ingredients. Increase the baking powder measurement to 1 tablespoon.
I love this Zucchini bread! I made it for Father’s Day Brunch and my dad also gives it 5 stars! I loved not having to squeeze out the water from the shredded zucchini… it made this recipe so quick and easy! Thank you for sharing another fantastic recipe!
Hi Catie, I’m so glad you loved it!
Love this simple recipe! Great sliced and toasted with a little butter!
Great, simple, and easy recipe for a leisurely Saturday morning. I used olive oil instead of veg oil (I am not a fan of using veg oil) and grated the zucchini slightly thicker. The bread turned out great!
This is the most moist zucchini bread I ever had! Great flavor and very simple to put together! Definitely will be making this again. #loveandlemonscookingclub
I’m glad you enjoyed it!
So delicious! It’s not zucchini season in Massachusetts yet but I just had to try this recipe. I used 2 store bought zucchini and followed the recipe exactly as written. It was love at first bite! So moist and love the crunch of the walnuts. Can’t wait to make it again with my own zucchini from the garden.
Hi Tammy, I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
We love this versatile breakfast or snack bread. We topped with our homemade apple/pear butter and we’ve also spread some almond butter and sprinkled it with cinnamon for a different vibe. It’s very tasty and very easy to make