I read with great interest a recent Cook's Illustrated article on "reinventing" zucchini bread. I was intrigued by their idea of dramatically increasing the amount of zucchini in the recipe. Unfortunately, I didn't actually love the result and I determined to adapt my own favorite recipe using some of their ideas. Accordingly, I took my traditional zucchini bread recipe (origin forgotten) and decreased the oil and sugar and increased the zucchini. I made it into muffins rather than loaves for inclusion in lunchboxes or on-the-go snacks. No one missed the extra oil and sugar and this is my new go-to recipe.
INGREDIENTS
3 eggs
1/4 c. oil
1 1/4 c. (250g) sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/2 to 2 lb (24-32 oz) zucchini
3 c. whole wheat pastry flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 c. chopped walnuts toasted if desired (optional)
DIRECTIONS
INGREDIENTS
3 eggs
1/4 c. oil
1 1/4 c. (250g) sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/2 to 2 lb (24-32 oz) zucchini
3 c. whole wheat pastry flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 c. chopped walnuts toasted if desired (optional)
DIRECTIONS
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees and prepare one 12- and one 6-cup muffin tins by greasing or muffin liners (or one greased loaf pan)
- Wash and grate the zucchini (I use the grating attachment of my food processor) and then wring it out very well in a tea towel. You want the zucchini to be quite dry
- In a large bowl, whisk the eggs and then add the oil, sugar and vanilla. Mix well
- Stir in the zucchini
- In a medium bowl, combine the flour, leaveners and cinnamon
- Add the dry ingredients to the wet and stir gently
- Fold in nuts, if using
- Portion into the muffin cups (or pour into the loaf pan)
- For muffins, set timer for 30 minutes and then test for doneness. They might need a few more minutes. For a loaf, expect it to take about an hour
- These muffins freeze quite well and are very nice toasted
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