Quick & Tasty: Ina Garten’s Nutty Zucchini Bread Recipe

Summer’s bounty overflows with fresh zucchini, making this Ina Garten zucchini bread recipe a delightful way to savor the season’s harvest.

Moist, tender, and subtly sweet, the bread captures the essence of home baking with remarkable simplicity.

Garten’s recipe turns ordinary vegetables into an extraordinary treat that surprises and delights.

Dense yet light, each slice promises a perfect balance of flavors that dance across your palate.

The aroma of warm spices and rich zucchini will fill your kitchen with comfort and joy.

Grab your mixing bowl and a few simple ingredients to craft a bread that celebrates fresh, seasonal produce with delicious elegance.

You’ll find this recipe becomes an instant favorite that transforms an abundance of zucchini into a memorable culinary experience.

How to Bake Zucchini Bread Like Ina Garten

Zucchini Comfort Bread

• Oven Warmup

Crank the oven to a cozy 350 degrees, creating the perfect baking environment for your delicious treat.

• Pan Preparation

Grab an 8-inch loaf pan and line it with parchment paper, giving your bread a smooth escape route after baking.

• Ingredient Fusion

In a big bowl, whisk eggs until they’re light and fluffy. Stir in grated zucchini, smooth vegetable oil, and a splash of vanilla for that irresistible aroma.

• Dry and Wet Dance

Gently fold dry ingredients into the zucchini mixture, sprinkling in crunchy walnuts for an extra layer of deliciousness.

• Baking Magic

Pour the batter into your prepared pan and slide it into the center of the oven. Let it bake for about an hour, watching for that perfect golden-brown color.

• Cooling and Serving

After baking, let the bread rest for a few minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack. Once completely cool, slice and enjoy your homemade zucchini paradise.

Ina Garten Zucchini Bread: Ideas to Make It Yours

• Elevate this classic recipe with these delightful tips and twists!
• Replace walnuts with pecans, almonds, or sunflower seeds for a unique crunch and flavor profile.
• Squeeze excess liquid from zucchini using a clean kitchen towel to prevent soggy bread and ensure perfect texture.
• Experiment with adding ground nutmeg, cardamom, or ginger to complement the cinnamon and create a more complex taste experience.
• Substitute half the all-purpose flour with whole wheat flour or add a handful of ground flaxseed for extra nutrition and nutty undertones.
• Fold in dark chocolate chips, dried cranberries, or coconut flakes to transform the bread into an unexpected treat that'll wow your taste buds.

Serving Tips for Warm Ina Garten Zucchini Bread

• Serve with Creamy Delight: Top each slice with a generous spread of cream cheese or mascarpone for a rich, velvety texture that complements the bread's warmth.
• Pair with Morning Brew: Enjoy a slice alongside a steaming cup of coffee or tea, creating a cozy breakfast or afternoon snack experience that tingles your taste buds.
• Elevate with Fresh Toppings: Sprinkle some powdered sugar, add a drizzle of honey, or garnish with toasted nuts to enhance the zucchini bread's natural flavors and add a delightful crunch.
• Transform into Dessert Base: Use the bread as a foundation for a decadent dessert by adding a scoop of vanilla ice cream or creating a bread pudding with extra cinnamon and caramel sauce.

Storing Leftovers of Ina Garten’s Zucchini Bread

• Maximize Freshness: Store the zucchini bread in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, keeping its delightful moisture and flavor intact.
• Refrigerate for Extended Enjoyment: Wrap the bread tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil, then store in the refrigerator for up to 1 week, maintaining its delectable texture.
• Freeze for Future Cravings: Slice the bread before freezing, then place individual portions in freezer-safe bags or wrap securely in plastic wrap and aluminum foil. Frozen zucchini bread stays fresh for 2-3 months.
• Revive and Serve: Thaw frozen slices at room temperature or warm briefly in a toaster oven to restore the bread's original softness and bring back its just-baked warmth.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 50 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes

Calories: 322 kcal

Servings: 8

What You’ll Need to Make Ina Garten’s Zucchini Bread

• All-Purpose Flour: The foundation that provides structure and helps bind the bread together, choose unbleached flour for a richer texture.
• Granulated Sugar: Adds sweetness and helps create a golden-brown crust, opt for fine-grain sugar for smooth mixing.
• Baking Soda: Crucial leavening agent that helps the bread rise and achieve a light, airy texture.
• Salt: Enhances overall flavor and balances the sweetness, use fine sea salt for even distribution.
• Ground Cinnamon: Brings warm, aromatic notes and adds depth to the bread's flavor profile.

• Eggs: Provide moisture, richness, and help bind ingredients, select fresh, large eggs for best results.
• Vegetable Oil: Ensures a moist, tender crumb and prevents the bread from becoming dry, use a neutral-flavored oil.
• Vanilla Extract: Adds subtle sweetness and complex flavor, choose pure vanilla for the best taste.
• Shredded Zucchini: Brings moisture, nutrients, and a subtle green color, use fresh zucchini and squeeze out excess water.

• Walnuts: Introduces crunch and nutty flavor, toast briefly to enhance their natural richness and ensure even distribution.

Handy Tools for Ina Garten Zucchini Bread Success

• Loaf Pan (8-inch): Essential for baking the zucchini bread, ensuring the perfect shape and size.
• Parchment Paper: Prevents sticking and helps easy removal of the bread from the pan.
• Large Mixing Bowl: Needed for combining wet ingredients like eggs, zucchini, oil, and vanilla.
• Medium Bowl: Used for mixing dry ingredients such as flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.
• Whisk: Perfect for beating eggs and blending wet ingredients smoothly.
• Measuring Cups and Spoons: Crucial for accurate ingredient measurements.
• Wire Rack: Helps cool the bread evenly after baking, preventing soggy bottoms.
• Toothpick: Helps check if the bread is fully baked by testing the center.
• Grater: Useful for shredding fresh zucchini for the recipe.
• Wooden Spoon or Spatula: Helps mix ingredients and fold in walnuts gently.

Moist Ina Garten Zucchini Bread Recipe

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• Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
• Yield: 8 1x

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Description

Classic zucchini bread from Ina Garten combines garden-fresh ingredients with warm spices. Moist, tender slices offer comforting sweetness perfect for afternoon tea or breakfast companions.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 3–4 eggs
• 2 cups (480 ml / 16 fl oz) all-purpose flour
• 2 cups (470 ml / 16 fl oz) shredded zucchini
• 1 ½ cups (300 g / 10.5 oz) granulated white sugar
• ¾ cup (180 ml / 6 fl oz) vegetable oil
• 1 ½ cups (170 g / 6 oz) chopped walnuts
• 1 tbsp (15 ml / 0.5 fl oz) ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp (5 ml / 0.17 fl oz) salt
• 2 tsps (10 ml / 0.33 fl oz) bicarbonate of soda
• 1 tbsp (15 ml / 0.5 fl oz) vanilla extract

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Instructions

1. Preparation: Position the oven rack centrally and preheat to 350°F, ensuring an even temperature distribution for consistent baking.
2. Pan Setup: Line an 8-inch loaf pan with parchment paper, creating a complete coverage and lightly greasing to prevent sticking.
3. Dry Ingredient Fusion: Whisk flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon in a medium bowl, creating a homogeneous dry mixture that ensures balanced flavor throughout the bread.
4. Wet Ingredient Blend: In a large bowl, beat eggs until frothy, then fold in zucchini, vegetable oil, and vanilla extract, creating a moist and cohesive base for the bread.
5. Batter Integration: Gently combine dry and wet ingredients, folding in walnuts with minimal stirring to maintain a light, tender texture and prevent dense bread.
6. Baking Process: Transfer batter to prepared pan, smoothing the surface, and bake for 55-65 minutes until a toothpick inserted near the center reveals just a few moist crumbs.
7. Cooling Technique: Allow bread to rest in the pan for 15 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack, letting it cool completely for optimal slicing and structural integrity.
8. Serving Suggestion: Slice with a serrated knife and serve at room temperature, optionally accompanying with butter or cream cheese for enhanced enjoyment.

Notes

• Moisture Management: Grate zucchini and gently squeeze out excess liquid to prevent soggy bread and ensure perfect texture.
• Mixing Technique: Fold dry ingredients into wet ingredients delicately to maintain a tender crumb and avoid tough, dense bread.
• Nut Optimization: Toast walnuts briefly before chopping to enhance their nutty flavor and provide extra crunch to the bread.
• Storage Strategy: Wrap cooled bread tightly in plastic wrap or store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, or freeze for extended freshness.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 50 minutes
• Category: Breakfast, Snacks, Desserts
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 8
• Calories: 322
• Sugar: 27 g
• Sodium: 170 mg
• Fat: 17 g
• Saturated Fat: 2 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 40 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 5 g
• Cholesterol: 30 mg