Banana Bread With Zucchini
Hey there! Ready to bake? This banana bread is moist, flavorful, and secretly healthy.
Hey there! Ready to bake the most delicious, moist, and healthy treat ever? This Banana Bread With Zucchini and chocolate recipe is exactly what you need. It’s packed with rich chocolate flavor, naturally sweet bananas, and a hidden veggie twist that adds moisture and a health boost. Whether for breakfast, a snack, or dessert, this zucchini bread will have everyone coming back for seconds. Let’s get started!
How to Make Healthy Banana Bread With Zucchini
Ingredients
- All-purpose flour: You can substitute half with whole wheat flour for a healthier option. I discuss how to use different flours in this article.
- Baking powder: A blend of baking soda, cream of tartar, and cornstarch. Most baking powders are double-acting, meaning they release gas during mixing and again in the oven for a reliable rise.
- Spices:
- Cinnamon: Adds warmth and a bit of sweetness.
- Nutmeg: Offers a subtle, nutty spice.
- Cloves: Adds a bold, aromatic kick.
- Eggs: Help bind the ingredients, add moisture, and provide structure, while also helping the bread rise.
- Sugar: Sweetens and tenderizes by absorbing moisture. It also aids in creating a light, airy texture and a golden crust.
- Brown sugar: Contributes a rich, caramel-like flavor thanks to the molasses content, and retains moisture, making the bread soft and chewy.
- Butter: Adds a creamy richness and depth to the flavor, making the texture soft yet slightly crisp on the outside.
- Vanilla extract: Enhances the overall flavor by adding a sweet, aromatic depth.
- Semi-sweet chocolate chips: These are optional, but chocolate lovers won’t want to miss out on adding them to this banana chocolate bread. If you’re not a fan of chocolate, feel free to omit them.
How to Prepare the Zucchini:
I’m all about keeping things simple. Sure, the quick method might result in an imperfect loaf, but it’s still packed with flavor. You can shred your zucchini any way you prefer, as long as it’s finely minced. Some use a fine grater, but I use a food processor to speed up the process. It even has a mince setting, which I’ll be using.
Step-by-Step Instructions For the Easiest Banana Bread
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and prepare a loaf pan by greasing it or lining it with parchment paper.
- Mix dry ingredients: In a large bowl, combine flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. Set aside.
- Mix wet ingredients: In another bowl, combine grated zucchini, mashed bananas, eggs, sugars, melted butter, and vanilla extract.
- Combine wet and dry ingredients: Gently fold the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients using a rubber spatula. Be careful not to overmix, as this can make the bread denser than desired.
- Add chocolate chips: Stir in semi-sweet chocolate chips just until incorporated.
- Bake: Pour the batter into your prepared loaf pan. Bake for about an hour and 15 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Cool: Allow the bread to cool in the pan for about 10 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack to cool completely.
Freezing Banan Bread
To freeze your baked banana bread, let it cool completely. Wrap the loaf in plastic wrap, then place it in a freezer-safe bag. This method will keep it fresh for up to 6 months.
Recipe Substitutions And Notes
- If your garden is overflowing with zucchini like mine, here’s a tip: shred it all at once, then portion it into 2-cup servings and freeze it in Ziploc bags. That way, you’ll have fresh zucchini ready for baking throughout the year.
Georgie’s Tips
Frequently Asked Questions About Banana Bread
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Banana Bread With Zucchini
Ingredients
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 4½ tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp nutmeg
- ¼ tsp ground cloves
- 1½ cup finely grated zucchini
- 3 overripe bananas (mashed)
- 3 large eggs
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup Light Brown Sugar
- ½ cup melted butter
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350℉. Lightly coat loaf pan with butter.
- Combine dry ingredients in a large bowl: 3 cups all-purpose flour, 4½ tsp baking powder, 1 tsp kosher salt, 1 tsp ground cinnamon, ½ tsp nutmeg¼ tsp ground clovesand ¼ tsp ground cloves.
- In a separate bowl combine 1½ cup finely grated zucchini, 3 overripe bananas, 3 large eggs, 1 cup granulated sugar, ½ cup Light Brown Sugar, ½ cup melted butter and 1 tsp vanilla extract.
- Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and combine gently with a rubber spatula. Be careful not to overmix or the bread will become more dense than you will want.
- Add 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips and gently stir just until combined.
- Pour contents into your prepared loaf pan and bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- To freeze your baked Chocolate Banana Zucchini Bread, first let it cool completely. Then, wrap the loaf (sliced or unsliced) in a couple of layers of plastic wrap. To keep it fresh, put the wrapped loaf in a freezer food storage bag. You can freeze baked zucchini bread for up to 6 months.
Bread turned out so good
Okay okay. So my husband didn’t like the chocolate chips, but everyone else did. That is 4 to 1, so I think he is wrong, lol.