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Healthier Snickerdoodle Zucchini Bread

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This healthier Snickerdoodle zucchini bread recipe is the perfectly balanced, moist zucchini bread! With browned butter, healthy vegetable oil, whole grain flour, reduced sugar a crunchy, sweet sprinkle of cinnamon sugar on top that sinks creating a lovely ribbon of cinnamon goodness in the bread!

Looking for other ways to use bumper crop zucchini this summer and fall? These are some of our families favorite ways to use zucchini… Lemon Zucchini Bread or Italian Spaghetti Sauce, and even Chili!!

What is it about zucchini or banana quick bread? Why are they so darned delicious? The moisture that zucchini or bananas impart is amazing, they don’t really change the flavor and heck, don’t you just FEEL healthier eating things with zucchini and bananas in it? In fact, this Rhubarb Bread is the same way!

I have adapted this recipe from Southern Plate, probably because I love Snickerdoodles, I mean, what’s not to love; a buttery sugar cookie, rolled in crunchy cinnamon sugar and baked to chewy perfection. But I did want to make it a smidge healthier!

Loaf of Healthy Zucchini Bread wrapped in a strip of parchment paper tied with string and decorated with a cinnamon stick.

I changed up my favorite Snickerdoodle recipe slightly — give it a try! Cookie Butter Snickerdoodles.

I always try to add a bit more whole grains where I am able, maybe reduce sugar, if I can!

ingredients for snickerdoodle zucchini bread, left to right. Avocado Oil, grater with grated zucchini, ivory wheat flour, glass mixing bowl with flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt, cinnamon in a jar. front row browned butter in small glass bowl, jar of allspice, measuring cup with brown sugar, smaller measuring cup with cane sugar and glass bowl with eggs, cracked egg shells in front.

Snickerdoodle Zucchini Bread Ingredients

  • unsalted butter (the real deal)
  • avocado or grapeseed oil (try coconut oil orother vegetable oil)
  • eggs
  • light or dark brown sugar, dark brown will lend a bit more of a molasses flavor
  • pure cane sugar
  • pure vanilla extract
  • all purpose unbleached flour
  • light whole wheat flour (like a light whole wheat, whole wheat pastry flour or regular whole wheat)
  • oat flour
  • cinnamon
  • allspice
  • zucchini, grated

Do You Peel Zucchini for Bread?

Not at all, in fact, I love when I can keep the skins on veggies and fruit, it brings added nutrients and fiber to the recipe.

My first thought with this was to use all butter for this recipe in place of the oil, from what I have read using oil allows a little longer “shelf life” in baked goods, but butter imparts that amazing, buttery flavor and crumb.

I decided to compromise with the health benefits of avocado oil and the amazing nutty depth of browned butter. And was I happy I did!

Then instead of all granulated sugar, I subbed brown sugar, I used light because I had run out of dark brown sugar, but either would be delicious in this healthy zucchini bread recipe.

Substitutions for Healthy Zucchini Bread

  • use all butter, browning or melting it (you could try creaming softened butter with the sugar as well, giving you a lighter, “muffin-like” texture
  • use all vegetable or coconut oil in place of butter
  • omit brown sugar and use all granulated sugar
  • reduce the sugar by ½-¾ cup and add 1/2 applesauce or 1 mashed banana for sweetness
  • change up flours; try all whole wheat, all oat, all unbleached, a combination of almond, oat and whole wheat…you might even get away with using a good Gluten Free All-Purpose flour and some oat flour.
  • Quick breads are pretty forgiving! You can see how easy it is to change flours in my Gluten Free (or gluten full) “Ugly” Coffee Cake recipe.
Loaf of sugar and cinnamon topped healthy snickerdoodle zucchini bread wrapped with some string and a sprig of fresh thyme.

High Altitude Snickerdoodle Zucchini Bread

I bake at high altitude, Mile High actually, so I typically adjust my baked goods by increasing the temperature by 25 degrees and baking a little less time. But always, stick a toothpick or knife in to see if your quickbread is finished!

If baking at sea level, bake at 350 until a knife or toothpick inserted comes out clean, about 45-55 minutes.

Healthier Zucchini Bread sliced on a platter with cinnamon and sugar.

TWO LOAF HEALTHY ZUCCHINI BREAD RECIPE

This may seem like it has a lot of sugar, until you realize that you are getting two large loaves from the recipe. And see above under Substitutions for ideas to reduce the sugar.

I like quick bread recipes that yield two loaves so I can surprise a friend with a fresh baked loaf of quick bread, or freeze one for a chilly day when we need a little snack.

wrapped loaf of healthier snickerdoodle zucchini bread.

Make your healthy zucchini bread go further by slicing the loaf in half, wrap with a piece of parchment paper, tie with a string or ribbon and adorn with something from your garden or pantry.

Here I used cinnamon sticks, garland, fresh thyme and plain twine, be creative. A daisy, black-eyed Susan, rosemary, lavender, or colored ribbon would have been pretty too!

If you Like gifting food, check these out!

Great Homemade Food Gifts

If you like quick breads, check out even more delicious quick bread recipes! Or be sure to try my brand new Zucchini Corn Fritters recipe!

Like this recipe?
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Kathleen Pope, The Fresh Cooky.

About Kathleen Pope

Recipe Innovator | Food Photographer | Food Writer

Hi, I’m Kathleen Pope. Here at The Fresh Cooky you will find easy, mostly from-scratch, trusted recipes for all occasions. From speedy dinners to tasty desserts, with easy step-by-step instructions. I am here to help teach you how to make mouthwatering recipes without spending hours in the kitchen. Read more about Kathleen here.

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20 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    Not only did this smell amazing as I was baking it, but it tasted amazing. I was going to take it to a brunch today, but it was so good we ate both loaves that I made?!?!