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This is a lemon zucchini bread recipe that everyone’s going to love. It’s a classic zucchini bread but with a burst of citrus flavor that tastes incredible. With the lemon glaze it’s one of our favorite zucchini recipes and you’re going to love it too.

sliced lemon bread coated with icing on top.


Zucchini bread with Lemon

If you’re in the mood for zucchini bread and lemon bread, why not marry the flavors?Quick bread is so easy to make and this zucchini lemon bread is no exception. And who doesn’t love a fresh homemade quick bread recipe? This one is soft and moist and bursting with lemon flavor – you’ll love it to use up al the zucchini you have in your garden (or from the grocery store, like me).

ingredients in lemon zucchini bread.

Ingredients needed

  • Zucchini: I’m using freshly grated zucchini. You don’t need to wring out excess water unless you notice it’s super wet.
  • Lemon: fresh lemon juice and lemon zest give that lemon flavor to this bread.
  • Oil: use a neutral oil like vegetable oil to keep the bread nice and moist.
  • Baking soda and Baking powder: since we’re making bread and want it to be fluffy and airy, we’re using both baking powder and baking soda
  • Powdered Sugar: this is to get that frosting-like texture to glaze over our lemon zucchini loaf

How to make lemon zucchini bread

  1. Add oil, granulated sugar, packed brown sugar, large eggs, lemon juice, lemon zest, and vanilla extract to a large bowl and stir until smooth.
  2. Whisk dry ingredients: baking soda, baking powder, and salt, and then stir them into the wet ingredients.
  3. Fold in shredded zucchini.
  4. Pbatter into an 8×4-inch baking pan. (You can use a 9×5-inch but it will be flatter.)
  5. Bake zucchini bread for about 50-60 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean from the center of the loaf. Cool the zucchini loaf before adding the lemon glaze.
  6. Whisk powdered sugar and 1 tablespoon of lemon juice, adding more as needed for desired consistency. Drizzle over bread.
sliced lemon bread coated with icing on top.

Expert Tips

  • The lemon glaze is optional but packs a huge lemon flavor boost.
  • If you’re using thawed frozen zucchini you might want to wring it out.
  • If you’re baking this in a 9×5-inch loaf pan it will be flatter than when it’s baked in an 8×4-inch loaf pan.
  • Want an even stronger lemon flavor? Add a few drops of lemon extract. 
  • You can turn these into zucchini muffins by baking in a muffin pan with liners for about 15-20 minutes.

Storage

Store zucchini bread in an airtight container or wrapped well with plastic wrap – you can store on the counter (it will last a few days extra in the fridge). Or place in freezer for a few months (whole loaves or slices).

FAQs

How do you prepare zucchini for zucchini bread?

I like to wash and shred my zucchini. No need to peel the skin off from the zucchini because the skin will melt away during the baking process. 

Why is my quick bread soggy in the middle?

Your bread is probably soggy because it either had too much liquid or not enough baking soda or powder. 

sliced lemon bread coated with icing on top.

Lemon Zucchini Bread Recipe

4.89 from 18 votes
This recipe has the best combination of citrus-y lemon and savory zucchini, put into bread form. It is topped with a sweet lemon glaze that everyone will love!
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Yield 10 servings
Serving Size 1 serving

Ingredients
 

  • ½ cup 119ml vegetable oil
  • ¾ cup 150g granulated sugar
  • ¼ cup 50g brown sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • Zest of 1 lemon
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 ½ cups 186g all-purpose flour
  • 1 ½ cups approximately 152g shredded zucchini

For the glaze:

  • ½ cup 57g Powdered Sugar
  • 1-2 tablespoons Lemon Juice
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Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease an 8×4-inch or 9×5-inch loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray or butter.
  • Add oil, both sugars, eggs, lemon juice, lemon zest, and vanilla extract to a large bowl. Stir until smooth.
  • Mix in baking soda, baking powder and salt.
  • Stir in flour, mixture will be thick. Add zucchini and stir until combined – mixture will get looser and more pourable after stirring in zucchini.
  • Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake 50-60 minutes (9×5-inch pan) or 55-65 minutes (8×4-inch) pan, or until a toothpick comes out clean from the center of the loaf.
  • Cool before adding glaze.
  • To make glaze: whisk powdered sugar and 1 tablespoon lemon juice, adding more as needed for desired consistency. Drizzle over bread.
  • Store covered for up to 2 days or freeze for up to 3 months.

Recipe Video

Recipe Notes

  • Be sure to shred your own zucchini using the large holes of a box grater. Do not drain or squeeze liquid out of the zucchini – you need the moisture to keep the bread moist.
  • Sugar: I like the mix of brown and granulated but you can omit the brown sugar and use 1 cup granulated if you prefer.
  • The 8×4-inch loaf will bake more domed, while the 9×5-inch pan will be flatter.

Recipe Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 188kcal | Carbohydrates: 42g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 0.3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.3g | Trans Fat: 0.003g | Cholesterol: 33mg | Sodium: 187mg | Potassium: 112mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 27g | Vitamin A: 85IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 24mg | Iron: 1mg
Nutritional information not guaranteed to be accurate
Course Dessert
Cuisine American


Dorothy Kern

Welcome to Crazy for Crust, where I share recipes that are sometimes crazy, often with a crust, and always served with a slice of life.

4.89 from 18 votes (5 ratings without comment)

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21 Comments

  1. Definitely a 5 star quick bread!!! It was simple to make. The bread was delicious! Everyone loved it. I did change the drizzle on top from fresh lemon juice and 10x sugar to the 10x, lemon extract and a little water. Best recipe ever!!!

  2. This is divine – hands down the best loaf I have ever tasted, never mind baked myself. Light, fluffy, moist, gorgeous crumb, incredible flavour – I will be making this for friends and family again and again. I was so impressed, I baked up the chocolate zucchini version – equally perfect. I have just one request – please develop a pumpkin zucchini version – and please hurry!! Canadian Thanksgiving is in a couple of weeks!

  3. Hi, Im going to try your Lemon Zucchini Loaf but the fat grams, I think, should be 10 g per slice not 1g. Half a cup of veg oil is 110 g divide by 10 slices is 10g of fat, right? thanks