How To Make Zucchini Bread

I tried Zucchini bread at my parents-in-law's house for the first time. My Father-in-law made his awesome zucchini bread when they invited us over for dinner.

Rating
(1)
Total time
1 hr 25 min
Yield
12 servings
Updated
Updated

By Mari & Jacob Petrosky
Cooked, filmed, and tested in our Arizona kitchen

Zucchini Bread in glassware with cream cheese frosting

I tried Zucchini bread at my parents-in-law’s house for the first time. My Father-in-law made his awesome zucchini bread when they invited us over for dinner. I have been wanting to make it since. Now, this is my take on Zucchini Bread and I topped it off with some Cream Cheese Frosting. I used less sugar as I know frosting will complete the sweetness of this moist and delicious dessert/any-time-of-the-day-snack! Use the real fatty cream cheese to get that real goodness and stiffness of the frosting. Join me in learning how to make Zucchini Bread with Cream Cheese Frosting!


Play video: How To Make Zucchini Bread

Ingredients

Zucchini Bread Batter

  • 2-3 cups shredded zucchini, excess water removed
  • 6 tbsp unsalted butter, melted and cooled down
  • 1/3 cup sugar (I used light brown sugar. Adjust to taste)
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • ½ cup buttermilk or buttermilk substitute (I used buttermilk substitute which uses is ½ cup of milk + ½ tbsp of lemon juice or vinegar. Let it sit for 10 minutes until milk curds are formed)
  • 1 ½ cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • ½ tsp salt

Mix-Ins

Cream Cheese Frosting

  • 8 oz cream cheese, softened (I used Philadelphia cream cheese)
  • 1 stick (½ cup) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 cup powdered sugar

Instructions

Make the Batter

Sugar being added to zucchini bread batter

In a medium-sized or large mixing bowl, shred 2 medium-sized zucchini. Using a clean kitchen cloth, put the shredded zucchini and squeeze out the excess water (make sure to squeeze tight). Then put the shredded zucchini back into the mixing bowl. Pour the melted unsalted butter, sugar, and egg. Mix until well blended. Add the vanilla extract and mix. Then add the buttermilk substitute (you may use buttermilk if available). Mix well. Sieve the flour, baking soda, and salt into the mixture. Mix until well combined. Mix in the chopped walnuts and chocolate chips but reserve some for toppings. Transfer the batter into baking glassware or pan. I used Parchments paper-lined (optional) glassware for ease of cleaning but it is up to you if you want to do the same. If you don’t want to use parchment paper, make sure to grease the pan or glassware.

Bake the Zucchini Bread

zucchini bread batter being placed in oven

Preheat the oven to 350°F/176°C. When the batter is ready place it in the oven and bake for 1 hour and 10 minutes. After 1 hour and 10 minutes insert a toothpick and make sure it comes out clean if not, bake for an additional 5 minutes then remove it from the oven. Allow to cool down for 15 to 20 minutes on a cooling rack. If you used a parchment paper-lined baking glassware, put a large plate on top of the glassware once cooled down, then flip it over and slowly remove the parchment paper. Put the glassware on top of the zucchini bread facing down and immediately flip it back into the glassware again without the parchment paper this time.

Make the Cream Cheese Frosting

cream cheese frosting being mixed in a bowl

While waiting for the zucchini bread to completely cool down, Let’s make the cream cheese frosting. In a medium-sized mixing bowl or stand mixer bowl (if using a stand mixer), Put the softened cream cheese, unsalted butter, and vanilla extract. Cream them using a mixer at a medium speed (increase or decrease the speed as needed). Mix for 3 to 5 minutes or until well blended. Gradually add the powdered sugar and mix continuously for 5 to 10 minutes or until it’s lump-free and the texture becomes soft, fluffy, and smooth. Carefully scrape the side and the bottom of the bowl using a rubber or silicone spatula to make sure there are no lumps of sugar underneath. Then set aside for later use.

Put the Cream Cheese Frosting

cream cheese frosting being spread on zucchini bread

When the zucchini bread has cooled down completely, carefully spread the cream cheese frosting on top until zucchini bread is fully covered. Serve warm or chilled with your favorite cold or warm beverages and enjoy!

Recipe card

How To Make Zucchini Bread

I tried Zucchini bread at my parents-in-law’s house for the first time. My Father-in-law made his awesome zucchini bread when they invited us over for dinner. I have been wanting to make it since. Now, this is my take on Zucchini Bread and I topped it off with some Cream Cheese Frosting. I used less… Read More »How To Make Zucchini Bread

1 review American Dessert
Prep time
15 min
Cook time
1 hr 10 min
Total time
1 hr 25 min
Yield
12 servings

Ingredients

Tap an ingredient to check it off.

Some ingredient links in the article point to Amazon so you can see the exact products we use. We earn nothing from them.

Instructions

  1. 1

    Make the Batter

    In a medium-sized or large mixing bowl, shred 2 medium-sized zucchini. Using a clean kitchen cloth, put the shredded zucchini and squeeze out the excess water (make sure to squeeze tight). Then put the shredded zucchini back into the mixing bowl. Pour the melted unsalted butter, sugar, and egg. Mix until well blended. Add the vanilla extract and mix. Then add the buttermilk substitute (you may use buttermilk if available). Mix well. Sieve the flour, baking soda, and salt into the mixture. Mix until well combined. Mix in the chopped walnuts and chocolate chips but reserve some for toppings. Transfer the batter into baking glassware or pan. I used Parchments paper-lined (optional) glassware for ease of cleaning but it is up to you if you want to do the same. If you don’t want to use parchment paper, make sure to grease the pan or glassware.

    Sugar being added to zucchini bread batter
  2. 2

    Bake the Zucchini Bread

    Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. When the batter is ready place it in the oven and bake for 1 hour and 10 minutes. After 1 hour and 10 minutes insert a toothpick and make sure it comes out clean if not, bake for an additional 5 minutes then remove it from the oven. Allow to cool down for 15 to 20 minutes on a cooling rack. If you used a parchment paper-lined baking glassware, put a large plate on top of the glassware once cooled down, then flip it over and slowly remove the parchment paper. Put the glassware on top of the zucchini bread facing down and immediately flip it back into the glassware again without the parchment paper this time.

    zucchini bread batter being placed in oven
  3. 3

    Make the Cream Cheese Frosting

    While waiting for the zucchini bread to completely cool down, Let’s make the cream cheese frosting. In a medium-sized mixing bowl or stand mixer bowl (if using a stand mixer), Put the softened cream cheese, unsalted butter, and vanilla extract. Cream them using a mixer at a medium speed (increase or decrease the speed as needed). Mix for 3 to 5 minutes or until well blended. Gradually add the powdered sugar and mix continuously for 5 to 10 minutes or until it’s lump-free and the texture becomes soft, fluffy, and smooth. Carefully scrape the side and the bottom of the bowl using a rubber or silicone spatula to make sure there are no lumps of sugar underneath. Then set aside for later use.

    cream cheese frosting being mixed in a bowl
  4. 4

    Put the Cream Cheese Frosting

    When the zucchini bread has cooled down completely, carefully spread the cream cheese frosting on top until zucchini bread is fully covered. Serve warm or chilled with your favorite cold or warm beverages and enjoy!

    cream cheese frosting being spread on zucchini bread
Nutrition facts 240 per 55g serving
Calories
240
Fat
2g
Saturated fat
0g
Unsaturated fat
0g
Trans fat
0g
Cholesterol
1mg
Sodium
99mg
Carbohydrates
46g
Fiber
1g
Sugar
27g
Protein
4g
Serving size
55g

Estimates calculated from the ingredients as written; actual values vary with brands and portions.

Reader reviews

1 cook rated this recipe

5.0out of 5

  • Joseph Petrosky

    Jul 14, 2021

    Way better than Starbucks! Thank you!

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