This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
Another baked good to try this summer and an easy breakfast to keep on hand for your family and potential guests, Paleo Zucchini Bread!
Zucchini season is here! From June through late August, zucchinis are at their absolute prime so I love to find various ways to enjoy them. One of my favorite ways is zucchini bread! Not only is it wonderful toasted up fresh for breakfast or for a snack, but the slices also freeze beautifully to make ahead for an easy grab-and-go breakfast option. It is both kid and adult approved, and you could even add some chocolate chips to the batter to make it even more exciting.
If you’ve never made zucchini bread, here are a few notes for you before you being baking this recipe:
- Zucchini bread does have a tendency to be a bit soggy because the zucchini generally releases water while it bakes. This can make your loaf dense and gummy. To combat that, we suggest really squeezing out as much of the liquid from the zucchini shreds prior to adding them to the batter.
- Since the loaf is grain-free, you have to beat the eggs for the full 3 minutes as instructed. Otherwise, your loaf won’t rise and will begin to sink in the middle.
- If walnuts or dates aren’t your things, you can swap with the nut or dried fruit of your choice. Shelled pistachios would be great here! Just don’t skimp on the lemon and orange zest — that’s what makes this recipe sing.
One last tip! As hard as it is to wait to dig in, the Paleo Zucchini Bread really needs a full hour of cooling before slicing. It will continue to cook a bit on the counter and if you slice into it too soon it will totally fall apart. So, after it cools a bit you can serve immediately, or store it in an airtight container in the fridge and toast up the next morning alongside a delicious cup of coffee — a perfect pairing!
Paleo Zucchini Bread
Ingredients
- 2 packed cups shredded, unpeeled zucchini, 370 grams, shredded on the large holes of a grater
- 3 large eggs, room temperature
- ¼ cup unsweetened almond milk or non-dairy milk of choice
- 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- ½ cup extra-virgin olive oil or avocado oil
- ¾ cup coconut sugar
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 ½ cups superfine almond flour
- ½ cup arrowroot starch
- 2 tbsp flaxseed meal
- 1 ½ tsp baking soda
- ¼ tsp kosher salt
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp ground nutmeg, optional
- 1 heaping tbsp lemon zest, zest of one lemon
- 2 heaping tbsp orange zest, zest of one small orange
- 4 Medjool dates, pitted and finely chopped
- ½ cup walnuts, finely chopped
- 2 tbsp turbinado sugar, optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375F. Grease a loaf pan with cooking oil spray and line with parchment paper. Set aside.
- Place a colander over a bowl, and cover with a kitchen towel. Add the zucchini to the kitchen towel and wring out the excess moisture. Keep the grated zucchini in the kitchen towel over the colander while you prepare the rest.
- In a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, or in a medium mixing bowl using electric beaters, beat the eggs for 2-3 minutes until very frothy and pale yellow. It’s important you beat the eggs for the full time so that they take on air, which will help the loaf rise.
- Whisk in the almond milk, fresh lemon juice, olive oil, coconut sugar and vanilla. Mix until well combined.
- In a separate mixing bowl, whisk together the almond flour, arrowroot starch, flaxseed meal, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
- Working in batches if needed, add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, and mix on low until the mixture is evenly combined, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.
- Transfer the grated zucchini from the kitchen towel to the batter. Add the lemon zest, orange zest, dates, and walnuts and using a rubber spatula, fold in the add-ins until the batter is just combined.
- Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and top with turbinado sugar if using. Transfer the loaf to the middle rack of the oven, and bake for 55-60 minutes, or until a knife can be inserted into the center of the loaf and it comes out clean. If the top of your loaf starts to become overly browned, tent with foil and continue cooking until the bread is cooked through.
- Remove the loaf from the oven and let stand for at least 1 hour until trying to slice it. To serve, slice into 1” thick slices.
- Store in an airtight container, separating the slices with a sheet of parchment paper to keep them from sticking. The zucchini bread will last for 3-4 days in the fridge, or for weeks in the freezer. To toast, heat a slick of ghee in a hot griddle, and cook on each side for 2 minutes until golden brown and toasted.
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Photography by Eat Love Eats
I have had this loaf in the oven for over a hour and it’s still pretty raw in the middle? 😢 any suggestions?
Hi anne!
The only thing I can think of is that the zucchini didn’t get enough moisture out of it before adding it to the bread.It could have added more water/moisture to the bread, making it take longer to bake.
Simply outstanding! The recipe creates a beautiful, tasty, healthy bread. Question, can you substitute the zucchini for bananas or carrots to make a healthier version of those breads?
I have a fantastic banana nut bread recipe here:
https://thedefineddish.com/easy-paleo-banana-nut-muffins/
I’ll have to work on a carrot cake style bread next, as I won’t translate the same to sub it in for the zucchini here.
This is my new favorite zucchini bread recipe!! I followed the directions as written but subbed pecans for walnuts, because that’s what I had on hand, and it was delicious!! The flavors are on point with the citrus zest and spice combination. I love that the bread itself is not super sweet, but the turbinado sugar on top adds the perfect crunch with the extra touch of sweetness. The dates deliver with texture and a decadent molasses flavor. Thanks for another favorite recipe for the rotation in the Parker household, Alex!!
Thanks for leaving the review, Ashley!
My bread turned out a little wet – it tastes wonderful but when you cut a slice, the slice looks like it’s sweating. Did I underbake? I made sure to squeeze out my zucchini really well!
Overall, it is still so good and I will definitely make again!! Amazing flavor and doesn’t taste paleo at all.
Hi Kelsey!!
I am so glad you like the flavor: like you said– it’s either slightly under-baked or I would think its the zucchini still had too much water in it– zucchini retains so much moisture + the batter will have too much moisture and won’t cook through if you don’t really get the water out!
Alex, you knocked this recipe out of the park! I can’t believe this Zucchini Bread is actually paleo with how moist it is! Between the walnuts, orange & lemon zest, nutmeg, & cinnamon, this recipe is bursting with flavor. I also love the sweetness the medjool dates add and the crunchy topping the turbinado sugar gives it. Keep the baking recipes coming!!
Thank you so much, Rosemary!! Glad it was a hit!
Alex, you knocked this recipe out of the park! I can’t believe this Zucchini Bread is actually paleo with how moist it is! Between the walnuts, orange & lemon zest, nutmeg, & cinnamon, this recipe is bursting with flavor. I also love the sweetness the medjool dates add and the crunchy topping the turbinado sugar gives it. Keep the baking recipes coming!!
Beautiful, rich, moist and delicious! I made it exactly like the recipe and baked it 55 minutes. The recipe doesn’t specify a loaf pan size but I used a 9 X 5 bread pan. It was a bit too moist in the center and probably could have baked another 2-4 minutes. The top was nice and crisp with the turbinado sugar topping and it sliced perfectly with a bread knife. I sliced it after an hour of cooling – couldn’t wait any longer – to enjoy with a cup of coffee!
I love your first book and have pre-ordered the second. Thank you for the delicious but uncomplicated gourmet dishes.
Thank you so much, Debbie! glad it was a hit!!! 🙂 and thank you for your helpful notes.
This was so good. The orange zest is such a nice touch, and beating the eggs really makes a difference with overall texture. So light and fluffy. Definitely has more ingredients than the typical “quick bread”, but it’s totally worth it. I ate it warm with some grass fed butter.
wow, thanks Emily!!
What would be the bake time/instructions if we wanted to make muffins instead?
I’d love to know this too!!
We have an almond allergy, what can I substitute for the almond flour?
I am sorry to see no reply to your question, I had the same one! Guess I have to move on to another recipe;
Hi Denise,
I am sorry I don’t have a good sub for you in this particular recipe! Grain flours don’t swap out super well in baking and I worry it won’t come out right for you!