Chocolate Zucchini Bread Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why does my zucchini bread fall apart when I cut it? ›

The most common reason for zucchini breadand other quick breads (and cakes) to collapse as they cool is the ingredients are too vigorously or quickly mixed, which incorporates lots of less stable air bubbles into the batter.

If the pan is overfilled, it can cause the bread to fall when it rises and has no more pan to “grab” onto. If your oven is too hot, it can cause the bread to rise too quickly initially, causing it to fall later. Altitude can cause problems, so I've outlined my high altitude changes below.

Cooling the bread on its side on a cooling rack gives the bread's structure an opportunity to stabilize, making it less likely to fall. Oh, and while you're at it — leave your loaf of bread on its side to slice it, which will also help prevent you from smushing the dome.

But unless your zucchini is excessively juicy, squeezing the squash could be removing some of the moisture you really do want in the bread. It's up to you, though. Squeeze for lighter, drier bread. Leave it as is for denser, moister bread.

Don't leave the loaf in the pan too long – Once you remove the bread from the oven, let it sit for 10 to15 minutes. But after that, it should be turned out onto a cooling rack to finish cooling. Otherwise, the edges can get a little too done in the still-hot pan.

Do I need to peel the zucchini before making zucchini bread? This is always a question that comes up when making zucchini bread. I never peel my zucchini! Just wash, and then use a box grater.

Using too much baking soda or baking powder can really mess up a recipe, causing it to rise uncontrollably and taste terrible.

Skin on may be more appealing

If you're looking to squeeze the most nutrients out of your zucchini, you'll want to keep your veggies unpeeled. Most of the nutrients (including fiber and vitamin C) are found in the zucchini's skin (via Livestrong). This translates to health benefits in every bite of your zucchini bread.

Add more yeast, blend in the starter, or knead in more flour to help initiate rising. Dough that has expired yeast, too much salt, all-purpose or cake flour, or antifungal spices like cinnamon might have trouble rising.

We'll go over this in more detail below, but in short - If you're looking for the safest way to store zucchini bread - just refrigerate it. Seal your bread in a plastic storage container or plastic bag and store it in the refrigerator.

Why does zucchini bread sink in the middle? ›

Expired or ineffective baking powder and baking soda will not leaven your quick bread. Adding too much or insufficient leavening agents: Adding too much leaveners will cause your quick bread to sink in the middle.

If it is too thick, add another egg. Add nuts, if desired. Lightly grease and flour your bread pans, or spray them with nonstick cooking spray. Carefully spoon the mixture into bread pans, stopping when the mixture is about 3/4 of the way to the top.

You need 2 cups of grated zucchini for the recipe, so you will need about 3 small zucchini, 2 medium zucchini, or 1 large zucchini.

When sliced, 1 medium zucchiniyielded about 1 to 1.25 cups and if grated, you end up with about 2/3 cup of tamped down zucchini.

Too much flour and not enough water can cause crumbly bread – people often do this if the dough is too sticky and they add more flour rather than kneading through it. Other culprits can be overproving or not kneading enough – the things you need to do to get a good structure.

Usually, bread crumbles in the middle either because the gluten wasn't developed enough (ie, the dough needed more kneading), or because the shaped loaves underproofed and the quick poofing rise in the oven weakens the gluten strands in the middle of the loaf.

Using too much baking soda or baking powder can really mess up a recipe, causing it to rise uncontrollably and taste terrible.