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Best Zucchini Bread with Cinnamon Streusel Topping

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This incredibly moist zucchini bread features a crunchy cinnamon streusel topping that stays put. It’s the perfect way to use up garden zucchini, and it comes together in under 15 minutes of active prep time.

Ingredients

Scale
  • For the Streusel Topping:
  • ½ cup (60g) all-purpose flour
  • ⅓ cup (70g) light brown sugar, packed
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • ¼ cup (57g) unsalted butter, cold and cubed
  • Pinch of salt
  • For the Zucchini Bread:
  • 2 cups (250g) all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg (optional)
  • 2 large eggs, at room temperature
  • ¾ cup (150g) granulated sugar
  • ¼ cup (50g) light brown sugar, packed
  • ½ cup (120ml) vegetable oil (canola or avocado oil work well)
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 2 cups (about 2 medium zucchini) grated zucchini, gently squeezed
  • ½ cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)
  • ½ cup chocolate chips (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Position the rack in the center of the oven. Grease a 9×5-inch loaf pan and line it with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the two long sides.
  2. Make the streusel topping first. In a small bowl, combine ½ cup flour, ⅓ cup packed brown sugar, 2 teaspoons cinnamon, and a pinch of salt. Add the cold, cubed butter. Use a pastry cutter or two forks to cut the butter into the flour mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs with some pea-sized pieces remaining. Don’t overwork it. Pop the bowl in the refrigerator while you prepare the batter.
  3. Prepare the zucchini. Wash your zucchini and trim off the ends. Grate it using the large holes of a box grater. You should have about 2 cups of grated zucchini. Place the grated zucchini in the center of a clean kitchen towel, gather the corners, and twist firmly to squeeze out the excess liquid. Set the squeezed zucchini aside.
  4. Mix the dry ingredients. In a medium bowl, whisk together 2 cups flour, 1 teaspoon baking soda, ½ teaspoon baking powder, ½ teaspoon salt, 1½ teaspoons cinnamon, and ¼ teaspoon nutmeg.
  5. Mix the wet ingredients. In a large bowl, whisk together 2 large eggs, ¾ cup granulated sugar, and ¼ cup packed brown sugar until smooth and slightly thickened, about 1 minute. Add ½ cup vegetable oil and 2 teaspoons vanilla extract, and whisk until well combined.
  6. Combine wet and dry. Pour the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients. Use a rubber spatula to fold everything together gently. Mix only until you see a few streaks of flour remaining—overmixing will make the bread tough.
  7. Fold in the zucchini. Add the squeezed zucchini to the batter. Fold gently until the zucchini is evenly distributed. If you’re adding nuts or chocolate chips, fold them in now.
  8. Assemble the loaf. Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and spread it into an even layer. Take the streusel out of the refrigerator. Sprinkle it evenly over the top of the batter, gently pressing it down so it adheres. Don’t press too hard.
  9. Bake. Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 55 to 65 minutes. The bread is done when a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with just a few moist crumbs. If the streusel is browning too quickly after about 40 minutes, tent the pan loosely with aluminum foil.
  10. Cool. Let the bread cool in the pan on a wire rack for 15 minutes. Then use the parchment paper overhang to lift the bread out of the pan and transfer it to the rack to cool completely. Resist the urge to slice it while it’s warm.

Notes

For the best texture, squeeze the grated zucchini thoroughly to remove excess moisture. Keep the streusel cold until ready to use to prevent it from sinking into the batter. The bread tastes even better on the second day as the flavors meld.

Nutrition

Keywords: zucchini bread, cinnamon streusel, quick bread, garden recipe, summer baking, easy zucchini bread

Find it online: https://siennaspoon.com/best-zucchini-bread-with-cinnamon-streusel-topping/