Description
Ina Garten’s lemon zucchini bread combines tangy citrus with garden-fresh zucchini for a moist, delightful treat. Bakers enjoy this simple quick bread that balances sweet and zesty flavors, perfect for afternoon snacking or sharing with friends.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups (480 ml) grated zucchini
- 3 large eggs
- 1 cup (240 ml) light olive oil, not extra-virgin
- 3 cups (375 g) all-purpose flour
- 2 cups (400 g) granulated sugar
- 2 zest of 2 large lemons
- 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 1 ½ tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 2 cups (240 g) powdered sugar
- 3 tbsps fresh lemon juice
Instructions
- Preparation: Calibrate oven to 325°F. Thoroughly coat two 8×4 inch loaf pans with grease and flour to prevent potential sticking.
- Dry Ingredient Fusion: Whisk flour, salt, baking soda, and baking powder together in a spacious mixing bowl, creating a uniform dry mixture.
- Aromatic Base Creation: Massage lemon zest into granulated sugar, releasing intense citrus oils and developing a fragrant foundation.
- Wet Ingredient Integration: Combine eggs, olive oil, lemon juice, and vanilla extract, whisking until achieving a smooth, cohesive emulsion.
- Batter Development: Delicately fold dry ingredients into wet mixture, minimizing stirring to maintain a tender, light texture. Gently incorporate grated zucchini, ensuring even distribution throughout the batter.
- Pan Filling and Baking: Evenly distribute batter between prepared pans, smoothing surfaces for consistent baking. Bake 60-65 minutes until a clean toothpick test confirms doneness, with a golden-brown exterior that springs back when touched.
- Cooling Process: Allow loaves to rest in pans for 15 minutes, facilitating initial stabilization. Carefully extract from pans and transfer to a wire rack for complete cooling.
- Glaze Finishing: Whisk powdered sugar with lemon juice until achieving a silky, pourable glaze. Drizzle generously over cooled loaves, allowing the liquid to cascade elegantly down the sides.
Notes
- Zest with Purpose: Massage lemon zest and sugar together to release maximum citrusy oils and enhance overall flavor profile.
- Gentle Mixing Matters: Stir batter minimally to maintain a light, tender texture and prevent tough, dense bread.
- Moisture Management: Grated zucchini adds natural moisture, so avoid overmixing to prevent soggy or wet-textured bread.
- Cooling Technique: Allow bread to rest in pan for 15 minutes before transferring to wire rack to preserve structural integrity and prevent crumbling.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Snacks, Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 300
- Sugar: 34g
- Sodium: 200mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 48g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 70mg