Spiced Zucchini Bread

A summer without zucchini bread is no summer to me. As a kid, my mom made a lot of zucchini centered foods—casseroles, jams, salsas, fried patties. You name it and she has probably put zucchini in it.

One of my favorites was always zucchini bread. It’s so unassumingly delicious—like banana bread’s quiet, well-read cousin. It might not say a whole lot but you always miss it when it’s gone.

This zucchini bread is a pretty simple recipe. It’s a spiced batter (think of spiced cake) and used applesauce instead of oil. The results are wonderfully perfect. It’s spicy and moist with hints of caramel from the brown sugar.

I think you’ll like it.

Spiced Zucchini Bread

Ingredients:
1 3/4 cups grated zucchini (use the large side of the grater)
1 cup packed brown sugar
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
2/3 cup applesauce
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 large eggs
1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
3/4 teaspoon salt

Directions:
In a large bowl, combine the sugars, applesauce, vanilla and eggs. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour baking powder, baking soda, spices and salt.

Add the dry ingredients to the sugar mixture and stir until combined. Stir in the grated zucchini. Add the batter to an oiled bread pan

Bake at 350 for 55 minutes or until cooked through.

Recipe adapted from Everyday Food.