My Granny's easy zucchini bread recipe - the only zucchini bread I will ever make! Crunchy on the outside with a super tender crumb and flavour that is out of this world, you won't ever need another zucchini bread recipe!
Sometimes I get super freaked out about how conversations I have in my mind seem to occur at almost the exact same moment with my sisters. Over the last couple of months I've started collecting the recipes from my Granny that I love, thinking that it would be a great idea to get them all up on the blog so that our family has them all in one place. Then the other day, my youngest sister (hey, Claire!) who is at university in Dunedin messaged me asking if I had a recipe for one of Granny's desserts that she used to make for our birthdays. I didn't have that one, so Claire then suggested that maybe we should get all of her recipes, plus my other Grandma's and make a collection of them. Ding!
We've decided that it will be our summer project when she is home but until then, I just HAD to share this one for Granny's zucchini bread. Mostly because we are still working our way through an outrageous amount of zucchini this year. I've frozen some too, so that I can make this zucchini bread all year!
It's important to note here that I'm typically a tinkerer when it comes to recipes...I can't help it! I'm always playing around, changing this or that and trying to improve them. But this recipe is exactly as it came to me, because all the tinkering in the world can't mess with Granny's zucchini bread recipe! Sometimes there is no room for improvement, and this is definitely one of those times.
The first time I made it, as soon as it was in the oven I knew that it was right - that smell took me right back to my childhood! And it tasted just as good as I remember. The coolest thing though was that in exchange for the recipe, my Granny said I had to take her some...it was so fun to be taking her baking instead of the other way around which is how it has always been. Granny even used to make this for me when I was at university! Some kids never grow up 🙂
The only thing I did alter slightly was the method. Granny makes hers in the food processor, but I can never be bothered lugging it out. I flagged all mixers for this recipe, and used good old fashioned mixing bowls and whisks. Who would have thought! And it's so simple. Whisk together the dry ingredients in one bowl, whisk the wet ingredients in another bowl, add them together and fold in the walnuts. Then bake!
I seriously considered adding a streusel topping because there is not much that a streusel topping doesn't improve, but I just couldn't bring myself to do it. Maybe next time!
From the crunchy outside to the tender and delicious sweet zucchini crumb inside there is nothing about this zucchini bread you won't love. And on top of that, there are little surprise walnut crunches in every bite!
The smell of it baking is enough to make you want to pull it out of the oven early (don't!!) and once you slice the bread you will be hard pressed not to eat the entire loaf in one sitting.
Granny always spreads her slice with butter, but I love it just as it is.
Made this? Tag me on Instagram @thekiwicountrygirl and hashtag it #thekiwicountrygirl.
Granny's Zucchini Bread Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 ¾ cups (245g) flour
- 2 teaspoon baking powder
- 2 teaspoon cinnamon
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- 2 eggs
- 1 ⅓ cups (280g) sugar
- 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ⅓ cup oil (canola, vegetable, coconut)
- 1 ½ cups (250g/about 1 large zucchini) grated zucchini
- ½ cup chopped walnuts
Instructions
- Pre-heat the oven to 180°C/350°F and spray a loaf tin with non-stick spray or line it with baking paper.
- In a large mixing bowl whisk together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon & salt and set aside.
- In a medium sized bowl whisk the eggs. Add the sugar, vanilla, oil and zucchini and combine.
- Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix until just combined. Fold through the chopped walnuts.
- Pour the mixture into the prepared loaf tin and bake for 45-50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the centre of the loaf comes out clean.
- Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely in the loaf tin before removing and slicing.
- Store the loaf in an airtight container at room temperature for 5 days.
- This bread also freezes well. You can either freeze the loaf whole, or slice the loaf, lay the slices out on a baking tray and freeze. Once the slices are frozen, transfer them to a freezer proof container or snaplock bag. This way you can simply pull one slice out at a time and defrost it in the microwave or on the bench.
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If you tried and loved this recipe, please leave a comment and a rating below!
Kelda says
OMG yum.
I used frozen zucchini, should have let it defrost a little more but such a yummy bread.
Susie C says
Ray left a giant zuc on the bench at work, a google search found me this deliciousness.
I doubled it to make two loaves that have just gone down a treat for work morning tea! Also used coconut sugar which worked (all I had). All my teamies asking for the recipe. Link shared.
Thank you for sharing! Now on the favorites page.
S
Sonja says
Awesome, turned out perfect first time. I put little extra cinnamon as I love its flavour. Great way to use the zucchini up. Definitely making it again.
Lynne says
Hi, i cant eat nuts, can i just leave out, or add choc chips instead, would that work? Looks delish
Laura says
Yes definitely!
Tracey says
Looking forward to making this, do you squeeze the liquid out of the zucchini's before adding them to the mixture?
Laura says
If they are quite big zucchini I do squeeze the liquid out, or if I'm using zucchini that has been frozen but if they're small/medium sized I don't bother!
Rachael says
Ohh sooo delicious and easy to make. Good way to use zucchini.
Sandra says
Yummy, just as you described it
Judy says
Love the cinnamon. I added just a 1/2 teaspoon more and it is wonderful
granny biggest fan says
well what can i say YUM YUM YUM!!!!! I have made this 14 times overt this week. CAN NOT STOP EATING THIS. Absolutely gorgeous. the flavours are melting in my mouth. The only way to describe this bread is if you took ALL of your favourite foods smutched them together popped them in the oven and BAM you have a beautiful loaf ready to shovel down your throat. Highly recommend. Happy Baking!!!
Lynn Odgers says
Delicious
My family are so sick of eating zucchini so when I made this bread they were a bit cautious. Needless to say it only lasted 1 day so here I am making another.
Thank you
Kiri says
Yum! Delicious recipe that I will definitely make again!
Odele says
Made this today after our neighbour gifted us fresh zucchini straight from their garden. Turned out amazing and was a real hit with both adults and children alike. I used silvered almonds instead of walnuts. Will definitely use again!
Katherine says
3rd go of this 2 freeze sum. Yumm. I have made now a more herb one Less sugar. No ess. Added grated carrot, herbs, chillie, cheese on top. 2days one is herb version with a cream cheese middle in the batter. Going 2 be eaten with tom soup. Actually just thought do i have tom pesto in the fridge 2 be added 2 the loaf.... hmmm
Jeannette. Early says
Wonderful Loaf
Debra Yearsley says
Awesome recipe. Loved it. I doubled the mix and made 2 loaves with gluten free flour which came out perfect. It is so yummy toasted too with lashings of butter. Thanks for sharing. Will definitely make this again.
Jared Williams says
Over made this at least 30 times already, I change it up with what I have, Almonds, nutmeg and ginger, mixed spice. Awesome recipe.
Laurelei says
Delicious. It was very moist but still crispy on outside. 2 yr old granddaughter says " I love this Grammy"
Christy Johnson says
Ok I've made this now 4 times it is delicious! I even added chocolate chips to one loaf for my daughter. Thank you for this recipe! I can't keep it in the house, no way am I able to freeze it, disappears to quickly!
Tiffany says
I used my pampered chef brownie pan, they turned out great!!
Christy Johnson says
I tried the recipe since I have an abudance of zuchini. I did one stupid thing, I doubled all the ingredients in order to fill two pans and failed to put in the correct amount of oil. It came out a little dry but overall the bread was great! Next time I will make sure I put in the correct amount of oil and instead of finely chopped walnuts I think I will use halfs. I like that crunch!
Thank you!
Rochelle says
Yum, thanks for sharing Laura! Made two of these tonight, one to take for morning tea to playgroup tomorrow - it's sure to be a hit! Really loving the crunch factor the walnuts give it. Look forward to you sharing more of your Granny's gems 🙂
Laura says
Hi Rochelle, thanks so much for the lovely comment. I'm so glad you like it, I'll be sure to pass that on to my Granny 🙂 I'm excited to be sharing her recipes too!