Banana Zucchini Bread (Easy Recipe) - Olives + Thyme (2024)

I usually keep a bunch of bananas on my counter just for baking. There is something so cozy and inviting about banana bread (or any variation for that matter). I especially love my Banana Mini Muffins,Banana Donuts, Almond Flour Banana Muffins, Banana Coffee Cake Muffins and Roasted Banana Cake recipes. This banana zucchini bread is no exception. If you’re a fan of wonderfully moist and perfectly spiced banana bread, this recipe is for you. Here are a few reasons I know you’ll reach for this zucchini and banana bread recipe over and over again.

• Layers of flavors and textures: From the moist and perfectly spiced banana bread, to the flecks of green from the mildly sweet shredded zucchini, this healthy recipe will delight your senses.
• Easy to make, bake and eat: This moist zucchini and banana bread is super simple to make with two bowls, a whisk and loaf pan. The result is a beautiful and wonderfully cozy homemade zucchini banana bread.

Dry Ingredients: Gather all purpose flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, ground cinnamon and ground ginger or nutmeg spices.

Wet Ingredients: Gather canola oil, granulated sugar, eggs, vanilla extract and shredded zucchini.

Here are my recommended substitutions to make this moist zucchini banana bread if you need them.

• All purpose flour: To make this recipe gluten free, use a good 1-1 gluten free flour. I recommend using the one from Bob’s Red Mill.
• Baking Soda and Baking Powder: These act as leaveners in this banana zucchini bread.
• Ground Spices: This easy banana bread with zucchini bread has a healthy dash of ground cinnamon and a pinch of ginger or nutmeg. Feel free to use any blend of baking spices you have on hand. Pumpkin spice, chai spice or apple pie spice blends would all work well in this recipe. Use 2-3 teaspoons of spices in this recipe.
• Shredded Zucchini: I personally love to use the green zucchinis to make this banana bread. However, feel free to use the yellow ones if you like. Make sure to remove as much excess water from the shredded zucchini before using in the recipe.
• Mashed Banana: Make sure the bananas are fully ripened with some brown spots.
• Oil: Any neutral tasting oil such as canola oil, coconut oil or olive oil will work well. You can also use ½ cup (113 g) melted and slightly cooled butter if you like!
• Granulated Sugar: This recipe hasn’t been tested with alternative sugars. However, maple sugar would be a good substitute to make this easy banana zucchini bread refined sugar free.
• Eggs: This recipe hasn’t been tested without eggs.
• Vanilla Extract: This provides a lovely background flavor for the banana and zucchini bread.

Zucchini Banana Chocolate Chip Bread: Add 1 cup (170 g) semi sweet chocolate chips into the bread right after folding in the shredded zucchini.

Banana Zucchini Nut Bread: Mix in ½ - 1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts into the bread right after folding in the shredded zucchini.

Chocolate Banana Zucchini Bread: Make these changes to the written recipe-

• Decrease the amount of all purpose flour to 1 ½ cups (180 g)
• Add ½ cup (40 g) unsweetened cocoa powder
• Decrease the granulated sugar to ½ cup (100 g)
• Add ½ cup light brown sugar (100 g)

1. Preheat the oven to 350 F (170 C). Line a 9x5 loaf pan with parchment paper, leaving a bit of overhang on two sides. Place a layer of paper towels or a clean dish towel across the bottom of a shallow bowl. Transfer the shredded zucchini onto the towel. Allow 15 minutes for the water to strain out of the zucchini. Before using the shredded zucchini squeeze as out much of the excess water as possible.
2. In a large bowl, whisk the flour, baking soda, baking powder, ground cinnamon and ginger or nutmeg and salt together until well combined.
3. In another large mixing bowl, mash the bananas until smooth with a few lumps. Whisk in the oil, granulated sugar, eggs and vanilla extract until smooth and well combined.

4. Stir the dry ingredients into the wet until just combined. Fold in the shredded zucchini. If you would like to add in chocolate chips, walnuts or pecans, fold those in at this time as well.
5. Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan. Bake the bread for 55-65 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the zucchini bread comes out with a few moist (not wet or gummy) crumbs. Cool the banana bread in the loaf pan for 15 minutes. Use the parchment sling to lift the bread out of the pan, slice and enjoy!

Serve: Make this the best banana zucchini bread by topping it with a brown butter cream cheese frosting.

Store: Place leftover bread in an airtight container or wrapped tightly in plastic wrap, at room temperature for up to 3 days. Then transfer the zucchini bread to the fridge for up to another 2 days.

Freeze: Slice and individually wrap each slice of bread in wax or parchment paper and transfer each wrapped slice into a ziplock bag. Store in the freezer for up to 2 months.

Thaw: The easiest and best way to thaw the zucchini filled banana bread is to let it slowly thaw in the fridge overnight. Then pop a slice or two into the toaster or into the microwave for that “fresh from the oven” taste.

Can I make this banana zucchini bread recipe in a different sized pan?

Yes! You can bake this bread in a circular 8 or 9 -inch pan for about 30 - 35 minutes. You can also bake this zucchini bread recipe as muffins in a muffin tin for about 18 - 20 minutes.

Do you leave the skin on the zucchini when you grate it for zucchini bread?

There is no need to peel the skin off before grating the zucchini for this zucchini bread recipe.

Which side of the box grater should I use for zucchini bread?

I prefer to use the smaller holes when grating veggies for baking in breads. Use the larger holes for thicker shredded zucchini and the smaller holes for more flecks of zucchini in this bread recipe.

How many cups of grated zucchini does 1 zucchini make?

One small - medium zucchini makes about 1 cup grated zucchini.

Other Loaf Cakes and Bread Recipes to Try

• Pumpkin Bread with Cream Cheese Frosting
• Spiced Pumpkin Apple Bread
• Cranberry Bread
• Maple Apple Loaf Cake

If you try this Banana Zucchini Bread recipe please rate the recipe and leave a comment below. Doing so helps other readers decide if this is a great recipe to bake. Don’t forget to tag me on Instagram using @olivesnthyme so I can see what you’re baking! Happy Baking! -M

Banana Zucchini Bread Recipe

Megan

Banana zucchini bread is a sweet and cozy, cinnamon spiced banana bread filled with shredded zucchini. This zucchini banana bread recipe is quick and easy to make and is the perfect breakfast or snack everyone will love.

did you make this recipe?tag @olivesnthyme on Instagram