Description
Ree Drummond’s pioneer woman zucchini bread blends garden-fresh ingredients with classic home baking charm. Moist crumb and warm spices create a delightful treat you can savor with morning coffee or afternoon tea.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 ½ cups zucchini (packed and shredded)
- 2 large eggs
- ⅓ cup (80 ml) vegetable oil
- 2 tsps vanilla extract
- 1 ¾ cups (219 g) all-purpose flour
- ⅔ cup (133 g) granulated sugar
- ½ cup (110 g) light brown sugar
- ¾ tsp baking powder
- ¾ tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp kosher salt
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- ¾ cup (128 g) dark or semi-sweet chocolate chips (optional)
- 2 tbsps coarse sugar (for topping)
Instructions
- Preheat Preparation: Set oven to 350°F (175°C) and thoroughly grease a 9-by-5-inch loaf pan with butter or non-stick cooking spray to ensure easy release.
- Dry Ingredient Assembly: In a medium bowl, whisk together all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and ground cinnamon. Gently fold in chocolate chips, ensuring even distribution throughout the dry mixture.
- Wet Ingredient Fusion: In a large bowl, vigorously whisk eggs, vegetable oil, brown sugar, granulated sugar, and pure vanilla extract until the mixture becomes smooth and slightly aerated.
- Zucchini Integration: Fold freshly grated zucchini into the wet ingredients, creating a uniform texture and ensuring even moisture throughout the batter.
- Batter Combination: Delicately merge dry and wet ingredients, using minimal strokes to prevent overworking the mixture. Stop mixing immediately once ingredients are just incorporated to maintain the bread’s tender crumb.
- Baking Preparation: Pour batter into the prepared pan, smoothing the surface with a spatula. Sprinkle coarse sugar across the top for a crisp, caramelized finish.
- Baking and Cooling Process: Bake for 55-60 minutes, verifying doneness with a toothpick test. Allow bread to rest in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before slicing and serving.
Notes
- Grate Zucchini Wisely: Pat the grated zucchini with paper towels to remove excess moisture, preventing soggy bread and ensuring a perfect texture.
- Fold Gently: Mix dry and wet ingredients with a light hand to avoid overdeveloping gluten, which can make the bread tough and dense.
- Sugar Sprinkle Technique: Use coarse or raw sugar on top for a delightful crunch and golden-brown caramelized finish that adds visual and textural appeal.
- Storage Secret: Wrap the cooled bread tightly in plastic wrap or store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, or freeze for longer preservation.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Breakfast, Snacks, Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 200
- Sugar: 18 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg