Zucchini Bread
When you have a shit tonne of zucchini from your cousin-in-law’s garden, you have to get creative in the kitchen. It’s not like the sweet tomatoes that I’ve been eating with my hands like a savage (a savage with access to Italian sea salt, mind you). No, with zucchini I much prefer them cooked.
There are lots of things I could have made with my zucchini.
I could have made a raw zucchini and carrot slaw with cashew dressing like I did when I was cleansing.
I could have made zucchini latkes like these ones that I saw on Smitten Kitchen:
I could have made Pasta with Creamy Zucchini Sauce like this beauty from Pink of Perfection:
… or actually not, because dairy gives me acne. Although this dish looks like it would be worth applying copious amounts of concealer for.
I could have made more zucchini focaccia which was a huge hit at my Birthday Beach Party.
But I didn’t do any of those things. Instead I made the least creative, most obvious thing that you make with zucchini: Zucchini Bread
In my defense, it was my contribution to a Tupperware party so I figured Zucchini Bread would be a safe bet. Since I’ve never been to one of these things before I figured I’d play it safe. Anyone who knows me well knows that I’m not the Tupperware party type. In fact, most of my friends were shocked when I said that I’d be late coming to the bar because I had a Tupperware party to attend. But I went for the party portion of the evening. I arrived early after walking an hour to get there, toting my hot zucchini bread in my backpack, and hoping it wouldn’t be smushed in transit (I guess that would be one reason to own Tupperware). The party basically involved me stuffing my face with munchies, flipping aimlessly through the catalogue, and contemplating the purpose of a $60 “Hot Dog Keeper” (wtf?) . I had a brief argument with the saleslady about plastic. Now, I’m no polymer expert but I’m pretty sure plastic is made out of chemicals, chemicals that degrade when exposed to too much heat. (I’m pretty cautious when it comes to microwaving plastic). Here’s how the conversation went down.
Lady (super happy and smiley): “There’s no chemicals in it”
Me (jaded and condescending): “It’s Plastic, what do you think it’s made of?”
Lady: “It’s made of the same stuff as airplane window glass!” (apparently this is something to get excited about)
Me: “I don’t eat off of airplane windows.”
Me (jaded and condescending): “It’s Plastic, what do you think it’s made of?”
Lady: “It’s made of the same stuff as airplane window glass!” (apparently this is something to get excited about)
Me: “I don’t eat off of airplane windows.”
She proceeded to make a cake in the microwave with a box of Betty Crocker, some eggs, and an airplane windshield. It might have taken only 12 minutes, but it wasn’t as good as this zucchini bread.
This recipe makes one 9×5 loaf. I used an 8×4 loaf and I had extra batter so I made two mini loaves. I put some chocolate chips in the mini loaves and reserved them for my husband. He gets as excited as a five year old when I mention that I’m making zucchini bread. He’s also willing to go to the grocery store at 10pm to buy chocolate chips to bake into it.
Spiced Zucchini Bread
Ingredients
- 3 c all-purpose flour
- 2 tsp. ground cinnamon
- 1.5 tsp. baking powder
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1/2 tsp. cloves
- 1/2 tsp. cardamom
- 2 c sugar
- 2 c shredded zucchini
- 1/2 c cooking oil
- 2 eggs
- 1 pkg chocolate chips (optional – I prefer it without)
Directions
Combine flour, cinnamon, baking powder, salt, cloves and cardamom. Set aside.
In another bowl, combine sugar, zucchini, cooking oil, and egg. Add dry mixture to wet mixture & stir until just moistened.
Leave the batter to rest in the fridge overnight. (optional)
Grease bottom and sides of 9×5 inch loaf pan. Preheat oven to 350*F
Spoon into pan and bake for 55-60 minutes until a toothpick comes out of the center clean. Cool on a wire rack.
18 Comments
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Mmm, zucchini. I especially like zucchini boats, baked with sausage and brown rice.
…I want a backyard so I can grow produce. Sad face.
You are a zucchini genius. I never would have thought of those different ways to use it. I’ve been wanting to make quinoa stuffed zucchini for a while.
SO glad I found your blog on this day with this post! I have been wondering about more things to do with zucchini! Thanks and I look forward to reading!
i love all the food porn–especially your bread!
wtf was she thinking? making a cake in a microwave is a LOWWW move. i boycott microwaves whenever possible.
Thanks for the shout-out! Your bread looks amazing. I may have to out-zucchini myself by baking it!
Oh my God, I can’t believe you ever did a cleanse. I think I’d die. I’ll take those latkes, please.
I don’t know what’s wrong with me, i still haven’t made any zucchini bread this summer! That must change, before it’s too late! Your bread looks great =)
Ah! You’re making me want to get in the kitchen and turn veggies in to sweetness!
So, the carrot and zucchini slaw have me drooling! Looks so scrumptious! Nothing beats a basic zucchini bread though!
Yea, tupperware should not be cooked with! I definitely have before but I try to use glass containers as much as I can for hot dishes!
Zuchinni bread is amazing – I don’t care if it’s not as creative as some of the above! I would totally go that route too
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That zucchini bread looks great! I absolutely love zucchini but have yet to ever try a piece of zucchini bread. I may just have to bake up that recipe
I love zucchini bread with chocolate chips. Chocolate zucchini bread is also pretty amazing and on my to-do list for tomorrow. It might not be the most creative thing ever, but I love making muffins and freezing them so I can enjoy a taste of summer all year.
That bread looks so good
I must admit I have never tried zucchini bread but I really want to!
Oh my gosh, I’m drooling. And not just because it’s almost time for me to make dinner either.
I love, love, love zucchini bread and this one looks amazing. 
My mom used to make zucchini bread all the time, but she would always lie to my brother and I and tell us it was something else. I actually think she called it banana bread. We clearly were far too trusting.
Haha – I laughed when I saw the $60 hot dog keeper comment but I laughed even more when I recognized it from my friend Mike’s house and we had a similar conversation…Me: “wtf would you use this for?” Him: “My grandmother says ‘it’s for your wieners’” (can’t you just picture a grandma saying something like that??)
Edwin grew THE biggest zucchini you’ve ever seen in your life. I’ll have to try out your recipe with it!
That conversation between you and “Lady” is priceless – sharp and witty, just how I would imagine it. After making so many creative zucchini dishes, I think you’ve earned the right to make zucchini bread, especially with chocolate chips. We have to go for basic once in a while, right?
Yum! I’ve never made zucchini bread but your recipe looks simple enough.