Easy Gluten-Free Zucchini Bread {Dairy-Free}

Published: Jul 30, 2020 · by Audrey

An easy recipe for gluten-free zucchini bread. Easily made in one bowl and no mixer is required for this super moist zucchini bread. The recipe is also dairy-free.

Recipe originally published in July 2019 and updated July 2020.

Gluten-Free Zucchini Bread

I really enjoy cooking and baking with zucchini. One of my favorite ways to use zucchini is to make gluten-free zucchini bread.

Summertime is prime zucchini season. My family eats a lot of zucchini, especially since we grew it in our garden.

Gluten-free zucchini bread is super easy to make. It is much like my Easy Gluten-Free Banana Bread recipe.

Can You Taste Zucchini In Zucchini Bread?

No, you can’t taste the zucchini in the zucchini bread. Zucchini is a really mild vegetable and helps bring moisture to baking. So it adds a lot of moisture to baked goods and quick bread without a vegetable flavor.

You can see just how easy it is to make this gluten-free zucchini bread in the recipe video.

How To Make Zucchini Bread

Preheat your oven to 350°F.
Spray a 4 x 8 loaf pan with gluten-free cooking spray. I like baking with a glass baking pan.
Shred one medium-sized zucchini with a shredder to equal 1 cup of shredded zucchini.
In a large mixing bowl, whisk the eggs together with the oil, sugar, brown sugar, and pure vanilla extract. (photo 1)
Stir in the salt, baking soda, baking powder, dried lemon peel, cinnamon, gluten-free all-purpose flour, and xanthan gum leave out if your flour already has it in it). (photo 2)
Stir in the shredded zucchini. (photo 3)
Pour the zucchini bread batter into a greased loaf pan. (photo 4)
Bake on the center rack for 45-55 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Please watch your zucchini bread because all ovens are different.
Cool completely before slicing. Enjoy!
Store leftovers in an air-tight container for 1-2 days at room temperature or 1 week refrigerated.

Do You Keep Skin On Zucchini Bread?

Yes, I always keep on the skin on the zucchini before I grate it. I really like seeing the green flecks of the zucchini in the bread.

How Do You Grate Zucchini For Bread?

Leave the skin on the zucchini. Do not peel the zucchini before grating.
The easiest way to grate a zucchini is to use a box grater. I really like the OXO Good Grips Box Grater.
One medium-sized zucchini makes 1 cup of grated zucchini.
Do not salt, pat or squeeze out any of the liquid from the zucchini.

Can I Freeze Zucchini Bread?

Zucchini bread can be easily frozen. Wrap the bread in plastic wrap or aluminum foil and then place in a plastic freezer bag.

The zucchini bread can be frozen for up to six months. Defrost the zucchini bread overnight in the refrigerator.

Gluten-Free Flour

This gluten-free zucchini bread is made with an all-purpose rice flour cup for cup blend. A cup for cup all-purpose gluten-free flour blend is one that already has xanthan gum it.

I like Pillsbury gluten-free flour. Not all gluten-free flours are created equal. You may experience different baking results depending on the gluten-free flour blend you choose.

Most gluten-free all-purpose flour blends have xanthan gum already in them. The xanthan gum helps replace the elasticity and texture of gluten.

Make sure to check to see if the brand of gluten-free flour you are using has xanthan gum in it. If it already has xanthan gum in the blend, do not add any extra xanthan gum to the recipe or you will get gummy baked goods!

I have not tried this recipe with either almond or coconut flour.

Tip For Measuring Gluten-Free Flour

Gluten-free flour is different than traditional wheat flour. I feel that the best way to measure gluten-free flour is the easy “spoon & level” method.

I use a large spoon to scoop the flour out of the bag and into the measuring cup. Then I use the back of a knife to level off the top of the measuring cup.

Please do not scoop the flour out of the bag with your measuring cup. If you do, you may end up with more flour than is called for in the recipe.

Sugar

Baking with granulated sugar and brown sugar not only sweetens your baked goods but also helps them to be soft. I have not tested this recipe using honey or pure maple syrup.

I have also not tried this recipe with sugar-free replacements, such as Stevia, Splenda, or Monk Fruit. So I cannot tell you whether they would work with the recipe. If you try it, please let me know how it turns out.

Can I add chocolate chips, nuts, or dried fruit to the zucchini bread?

Sure you can! I know a lot of people like to add chocolate chips, nuts, or raisins to their zucchini bread. I would add 1 cup of your favorite mix-in to the batter.

Gluten-Free And Dairy-Free Zucchini Bread

This gluten-free zucchini bread is also naturally dairy-free because I used vegetable oil in the recipe. Most of my family is also dairy-free, so I always try and have a dairy-free option for my recipes.

Some of my favorite dairy-free alternatives that I like to bake with are unsweetened almond, cashew, or coconut milk. I also like baking with Smart Balance butter.