Grandma’s Moist Old-Fashioned Zucchini Bread (Easy Recipe)
When summer garden veggies start overflowing, there is no better way to celebrate the harvest than with a warm, fragrant loaf of homemade zucchini bread. Growing up, Grandma always had a loaf of this old-fashioned zucchini bread cooling on the counter during the warmer months. It is incredibly moist, perfectly spiced with warm cinnamon, and has just the right amount of sweetness. It’s the kind of recipe that makes the whole house smell like a cozy bakery, and a thick slice slathered in butter always takes me right back to her kitchen table.
Why You’ll Love This Zucchini Bread
Ultra-Moist Texture: No dry, heavy quick-breads here! This recipe yields a perfectly tender crumb every single time.
The Perfect Use for Garden Gluts: A delicious, crowd-pleasing way to use up extra summer zucchini from your garden or the farmer’s market.
Freezes Beautifully: You can easily bake a double batch, wrap one loaf up, and freeze it to enjoy a taste of summer later in the year!
Grandma’s Secrets for Perfectly Moist Zucchini Bread
Quick breads are wonderfully simple to make, but because zucchini is naturally packed with water, it can sometimes make your baked goods soggy. Grandma had a few golden rules to ensure her loaves rose perfectly and stayed incredibly moist without getting heavy:
The 15-Minute Rule (Again!): You guessed it—Grandma’s classic rule applies here, too! Once your zucchini bread comes out of the oven, let it rest in the loaf pan on a cooling rack for exactly 15 minutes. This lets the structure set so the loaf doesn’t break apart when you turn it out of the pan.
To Squeeze or Not to Squeeze?: Unlike some recipes that demand you wring out every drop of moisture from your grated zucchini, Grandma’s recipe relies on that natural liquid to keep the bread tender! Just grate it using a standard box grater and stir it right into the batter—no painful squeezing or paper towels required.
Don’t Overmix the Batter: When it’s time to combine your wet and dry ingredients, put the electric mixer away. Grandma always stirred quick breads by hand with a wooden spoon just until the flour disappeared. Overmixing develops the gluten, which can make your zucchini bread tough instead of soft and cake-like.
Ingredients
Zucchini bread is the perfect combination of sweet, nutty, and savory. Bring this delicious bread to life, by using a few key ingredients. You will need to use eggs, sugar, vegetable oil, vanilla extract, zucchini, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.
eggs – I’m sure you’ve heard of zucchini bread, but have you ever tried putting eggs in it? This is really not as shocking as it may sound. I’ve been making this recipe for years with my grandmother, and the results are always delicious! The eggs add a nice texture to the bread, plus they keep it moist.
sugar – I’m all about that sugar! I want to share with you the sweet things I have learned in the kitchen. From making exquisite desserts to crafting delicious treats. Sugar is my secret ingredient for bringing any dish from drab to fabulous.
vegetable oil – This is a great way to make all kinds of dishes, from salads and soups to main courses. It’s an essential ingredient for many traditional family recipes and can add flavor, texture, and nutrition to any dish. It is also low in saturated fat and cholesterol-free, making it the ideal choice for anyone looking to eat healthier.
vanilla extract – One of my favorite ingredients is vanilla extract. It adds a unique flavor to desserts, smoothies, and even savory dishes. The way I make vanilla extract is by soaking vanilla beans in alcohol. This creates a dark liquid that packs a punch of flavor.
Vanilla extract is versatile enough to be used in countless recipes. It adds an unbeatable sweetness that can make your cooking stand out. Whether baking cookies or whipping up a special dish for dinner guests, it will make all the difference!
zucchini – Zucchini is a versatile vegetable that can be used in many dishes, from zucchini noodles to zucchini bread. There are endless possibilities when it comes to cooking with zucchini. Plus, it’s a great way to sneak some extra veggies into your family’s meals.
baking powder – Baking powder is the perfect ingredient to kick off any meal! From homemade pancakes to fluffy cakes, baking powder is an essential item in any pantry.
I love using baking powder for all my favorite recipes. It helps create a light and airy texture that I can’t get enough of.
baking soda – Baking soda is essential to the kitchen. I cannot imagine my pantry without it! It is not only a key ingredient for many recipes but also useful for cleaning and general household tasks.
Baking soda can be used to make fluffy pancakes, bread, biscuits, and cakes. It can be used to deodorize carpets or coolers, or as a natural cleaner for countertops or dishes. Since it has neutralizing properties, baking soda can help restore the pH balance and nutrients in your body. This makes it an ideal healthy lifestyle choice.
So don’t forget that little box of baking soda tucked away in your pantry. It has many uses and will always come in handy!
salt – Cooking is more than just a process of adding the right ingredients together. It is also about adding the right seasoning and spices too. Which is why I’m a big fan of salt!
Besides salt adding flavor to our dishes, it can also be used to enhance other flavors in recipes as well. I always make sure I have plenty of different types of salts on hand, from Himalayan pink to sea salt. This also can bring out all the natural flavors of whatever dish I am cooking.
cinnamon – This spice has become one of my favorite ingredients because It adds warmth and flavor to any dish. Cinnamon also has some powerful health benefits. It is full of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties that can help reduce inflammation in the body and improve cognitive function.
When baking a cake or making a savory dish, adding some cinnamon will take your meal to the next level! You’ll be able to craft something that looks as good as it tastes.
Grandma’s Moist Old-Fashioned Zucchini Bread (Easy Recipe)
Equipment
- 1 large bowl
- 2 9×5 loaf pans
- 1 mixer, or hand beater
- 1 large wooden spoon
Ingredients
- 2 cups sugar
- 1 cup oil
- 2 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 3 tsps cinnamon
- 2 tsps vanilla extract
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 cups zucchini unpeeled shredded and drained, Pack as much zucchini into the cup as you can. If your shredded zucchini is very wet, you can drain in a colander, too.
- 1 cup walnuts or pecans optional
Instructions
- In a large bowl mix sugar, eggs, and oil with mixer.
- Add remaining ingredients except nuts. and conitnue mixing
- Fold in nuts (optional step).
- Pour into 2 greased or sprayed 9×5 inch loaf pans.
- Cook in preheated 350 degrees oven for 50 to 55 minutes.
Nutrition
Let me warn you, it may be shocking to see the size of the Zucchini that came out of the garden fresh, but here goes, and no, it is not from my garden.
It was given to me by one of my younger cousins and was actually harvested from her younger sister’s garden. My cousins are just so talented. Well, I tried to warn you and they are whoppers. LOL!
There is nothing better than a slice of this bread for a quick breakfast or a sweet afternoon snack alongside a cold glass of milk. It’s a timeless classic that brings so much comfort to our family, and I know it will do the same for yours.
Do you like adding mix-ins to your zucchini bread? Grandma loved it plain, but a handful of chopped walnuts or semi-sweet chocolate chips can be a fun twist! Let me know your favorite way to eat it in the comments below, and please take a moment to leave a review and a star rating—it helps more home bakers find Grandma’s kitchen legacy!
P.S. If Jetpack shared this cozy recipe to your Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest feed today, don’t forget to save or pin it so you’re ready for your next summer baking day!