Zucchini Bread- A Healthy Version!

Last weekend when my mom visited us in Des Moines, she brought with her some loot for the garden. Sweet corn, tomatoes, onions, cucumbers, and zucchinis! I knew right away I'd be making some zucchini bread.

I've used a few different recipes through years but nothing that was that great. I wanted to find a new one to try out this year. A quick Google search turned up a bunch of recipes to sift through. I chose the right one, though, cuz this certain recipe was a winner! I did make a couple small changes but it turned out great!

The original recipe called for canola or peanut oil, I used coconut oil; it also called for using some all-purpose flour, instead I used whole wheat white flour and whole wheat flour. These slight changes made the bread even healthier!

Whole Wheat Zucchini Bread

Adapted from Simple Bites

Ingredients

Dry ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups whole-wheat flour
• 1 1/2 cups whole wheat white flour
• 2 teaspoons freshly ground cinnamon (or 1 Tablespoon pre-ground)
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg (or pre-ground)
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

Wet ingredients:

• 2 eggs, room temperature
• 1/3 cup coconut oil
• 3/4 cup plain Greek yogurt  (or homemade plain yogurt)
• 1/3 cup buttermilk (or regular milk with a splash of vinegar)
• 1 cup organic Turbinado sugar (or brown sugar, firmly packed)
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 2 1/2 cups finely grated zucchini
• 4 oz dark chocolate, chunked

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Oil a loaf pan, muffin pan, or mini loaf pans.
2. In a bowl, sift together dry ingredients and set aside.
3. In a large bowl, beat eggs until foamy; beat in yogurt, buttermilk, oil, sugar, and vanilla. Combine well. Stir in grated zucchini and chopped chocolate.
4. Fold flour mixture into the wet ingredients and stir until combined.
5. Spoon batter into pan. Bake for approximately 50 minutes.

What's your favorite recipe for zucchini?

I once made some savory zucchini patties. Those were petty good, but bread is definitely my favorite way to use them.  Well- besides sliced and grilled with seasonings :)