The Best Healthy Zucchini Bread

Move over, banana bread. It’s time to let someone else enjoy the spotlight!

This Healthy Zucchini Bread is seriously the best. It checks off so many boxes! Not only is it low in calories and made with healthy, whole ingredients, but it has a good amount of fiber, is protein packed, and tastes so good that you’d never guess it’s healthy. (Or contains a vegetable!) It’s thick, moist, and perfectly spiced to be a great treat to enjoy as fall comes around! And, it’s only 100 calories per slice. So enjoy to your heart’s content! 🥰️

I think this zucchini bread tastes even better the next day after chilling in the fridge overnight. The flavors come out even more and it’s just to die for.

This is for sure a recipe to have in your recipe box when you have some extra zucchini lying around. There are so many ways to switch it up depending on what you’re in the mood for. Add chocolate chips, nuts, enjoy with nut butter or cream cheese…I give more suggestions below! Check them out!

WHY YOU’LL LOVE THIS HEALTHY ZUCCHINI BREAD

• It’s healthy and delish! A win-win, amiright?
• Has the most perfect texture. Moist, bouncy, and dense. (But not mushy!)
• The perfect balance between sweet and spice.
• Less than 100 calories per slice!
• Low fat and protein packed. Just 1g of fat per slice with 6g of protein!
• High in fiber to keep you feeling full and satisfied for hours.
• Really short list of ingredients with things you likely already have on hand.
• Awesome for meal prep! Prep in advance and eat for breakfast or snack all week.
• So versatile! Switch up the toppings and add-ins for a different bread each time!

HEALTHY ZUCCHINI BREAD INGREDIENTS

• Zucchini – Tastes sooooo delicious! Nothing at all like a vegetable.
• Whole wheat flour – I used whole wheat flour for this recipe. I haven’t tried it with other flours yet, so I can’t vouch for how they will turn out. But I would expect normal all-purpose, 1:1 gluten-free flour, or oat flour to all work well. If you try another flour, please let me know how it works in the comments!
• Protein powder – I used PEScience Snickerdoodle. A vanilla or peanut butter flavor would also work here. If you want to use another brand, just make sure it is also a whey + casein blend that bakes well. Not all protein powders respond the same. For all PEScience products, you can use my affiliate code Laurenfitfoodie to save 10% off your purchase.
• Unsweetened applesauce – You can use mashed banana or pumpkin as substitutes.
• Sugar-free pancake syrup – Any sticky syrup like agave, honey, maple syrup will also work.
• Egg
• Baking essentials – Cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, pure vanilla extract, and salt.

HOW TO MAKE HEALTHY ZUCCHINI BREAD

Pre-baking set up: Preheat oven to 350°F and line a 9×5 loaf pan with parchment paper and/or spray with nonstick cooking spray.

Combine ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, add egg, applesauce, pancake syrup, vanilla, cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Whisk until combined. Then, add the zucchini, flour, and protein powder. Mix gently with a spatula just until the flour is incorporated.

Bake: Pour the batter into the prepared baking dish. Bake for 45-50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Remove and place the pan on a wire cooling rack to cool for 10 minutes before slicing.

TIPS FOR BEST RESULTS

• Don’t over-mix the batter. Mixing the batter too much or too vigorously can result in dense, flat bread.
• Use fresh baking powder and baking soda. It’s best to use containers that you’ve opened in the last 3 months. Using older baking powder and soda can prevent the bread from rising and result in dense, flat bread as well.
• Don’t over-bake! Watch carefully around the 40 minute mark and test by inserting a toothpick in the center of the bread. Since there is protein powder in this recipe, over-baking can lead to a drier bread.
• Follow the instructions. I know, I know. But baking is a science y’all, and even changing the tiniest thing can result in failure. Read the full instructions before starting so you know what’s coming and don’t miss a step.

OPTIONAL ADD-INS AND VARIATIONS

• Chocolate chips – ALWAYS a good idea! You could also add whit chocolate, toffee, peanut butter, or butterscotch chips to switch it up!
• Shredded coconut – I love how fresh it tastes!
• Nuts – Chopped walnuts, pecans, pistachios, etc! Whatever you enjoy.
• Dried or fresh fruit – Blueberries, strawberries, or raspberries would taste scrumptious!

HOW TO STORE AND FREEZE YOUR ZUCCHINI BREAD

Store: Quick bread dries out fast if you leave it in the open. I like to place zucchini bread in a resealable Ziploc bag and store in the fridge for up to a week or at room temperature, somewhere away from direct sunlight, for up to 3 days.

Freeze: Bake the zucchini bread and let cool completely. I recommend you do not slice bread before freezing. It retains its moisture better this way. Place in a gallon-size Ziploc bag, let out as much air as possible, and seal. Freeze for up to 3 months.

Thaw: Defrost on a counter. Takes about 3-4 hours. Zucchini bread will taste just like freshly baked. Pop it in a toaster for a minute for that freshly baked bread warmth and aromas.