Classic Zucchini Bread
A quintessential quick bread, zucchini bread blurs the line between breakfast and cake, making it acceptable for both. This version is on the sweeter side, the vegetal flavors mellowed by brown sugar, cinnamon and a bit of browned butter. While not always necessary, squeezing excess water from the zucchini will prevent the batter from being too wet while keeping the end result moist. Since this recipe makes two loaves (if you’re going to grate all that zucchini, might as well make it count), know that one will freeze excellently for at least a month. The recipe can also be halved with great success.
- Total:
- Serves: 2 persons
Ingredients
- ½cup/113 grams unsalted butter, plus more for greasing the pan
- 3 ½cups/447 grams all-purpose flour
- 2teaspoons cinnamon
- 2teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 ¼teaspoons baking powder
- 1 ¼teaspoons baking soda
- ½teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg (or ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg)
- 4large eggs
- ¾cup/165 grams light brown sugar
- ¾cup/151 grams sugar
- ¾cup/180 milliliters canola oil
- 1 ½pounds zucchini, unpeeled and grated on a box grater (about 3 medium zucchini)
- 4tablespoons demerara or turbinado sugar (optional)
Instructions
Step 1
Heat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease 2 8-x4-inch loaf pans with softened butter and line with parchment paper.Step 2
Melt butter in a small pot over medium heat. Cook, swirling occasionally, until the butter starts to brown and smell like hazelnuts, 5 to 7 minutes. Use a whisk to scrape up any browned bits on the bottom of the pot; set aside.Step 3
Whisk together flour, cinnamon, salt, baking powder, baking soda and nutmeg in a large bowl.Step 4
Whisk together eggs, light brown sugar, sugar and canola oil in a medium bowl until no lumps remain and eggs are well blended.Step 5
Using your hands, squeeze out as much water as possible from the zucchini. Add zucchini and browned butter to the egg mixture, whisking to blend.Step 6
Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and add the wet ingredients. Use a spatula to slowly incorporate until no dry spots remain.Step 7
Divide batter among prepared pans, smoothing the top. Sprinkle both with demerara sugar, if using, and place in oven. Bake, rotating once, until bread is golden brown on top, pulls away from the sides and springs back lightly when pressed at the top, 50 to 60 minutes.Step 8
Let cool completely on a wire rack before removing from the loaf pan.