The best sourdough zucchini bread is deliciously spiced, moist and packed with shredded zucchini. It’s also one of the sweetest ways to use up all those summer zucchini you don’t know what to do with.
![A loaf of sourdough zucchini bread with the slices of bread to the left on a wire rack over a white towel](https://www.farmhouseonboone.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/sourdough-zuchinni-bread-15-1024x683.jpg)
Every summer I have the tendency to plant too many zucchini, clearly forgetting that at the peak of the summer zucchini produces ridiculous amounts.
Then you are stuck with mountains of zucchini and every person that comes over leaves with a sackful of zucchinis– and you still have too many. Also, please don’t tell me I’m the only one that finds hidden monster zucchinis among those massive leaves?
It tends to be the best kind of problem. I love being able to incorporate this tasty and versatile vegetable into our meals.
When you put it in a sweet sourdough quick bread, I promise there will be no complaints about eating vegetables.
How can anyone resist delightfully sweet zucchini bread with the warm flavor of cinnamon, and tanginess of the sourdough (especially if you long ferment it).
Bonus tip: Toast it a little on a cast iron skillet to carmelize the outside and put a generous pat of butter on top– you won’t regret it.
Tips:
- Turn these into muffins. Place in paper lined muffin tins and bake for 15-20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. These are great for breakfast or a portable snack. You can also find a chocolate version here.
- Sourdough discard or active sourdough starter can be used for this recipe. The rise doesn’t come from the starter, but rather chemical leaveners: baking soda and baking powder.
- This recipe is a basic zucchini bread recipe. You can easily mix it up by adding other delicious add-ins and variations, like dried or fresh fruit, nuts, or chocolate.
This post contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission at no extra cost to you. See my full disclosure here.
Tools you may need:
Stand mixer (this makes it way easier, especially if you are making the long-fermented version)
Measuring cups and spoons
Grater or food processor with a grater attachment
FAQ:
What is the point of zucchini in zucchini bread?
It is a wonderful way to use up all those garden zucchinis during the summer, add moisture to the bread, and is a great way to sneak in some veggies.
Should you squeeze water out of zucchini for bread?
This is purely dependent on the recipe. Some recipes may call for more moisture, whereas some may not need the extra moisture and require squeezing out the water. For this recipe, I like the extra moisture and don’t squeeze the zucchini.
Why is my zucchini bread gooey in the middle?
Most likely this is due to not being cooked all the way through the middle. Since this is a higher moisture bread recipe, it takes awhile for it to bake. If the outside is getting too dark and the inside isn’t cooked through yet, I suggest covering the bread with parchment paper or tin foil until the center is baked through.
How To Make Sourdough Zucchini Bread
Quick Version:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Lightly grease a 9×5 loaf pan with butter or line with parchment paper.
Combine flour, cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder, and salt well in a medium bowl.
In a stand mixer or bowl, mix melted butter (or melted coconut oil) and brown sugar for about five minutes or until light and fluffy.
Add in eggs, vanilla, sourdough starter, and grated zucchini. For this recipe, I don’t squeeze out the extra moisture from the zucchinis.
Fold dry ingredients into the wet ingredients a little bit at a time until just incorporated. It is important not to over-mix. The bread will be tough and flat if over-mixed.
Gently fold in any other add-ins you would like. Pecans, walnuts, and chocolate chips for example.
Pour into a greased pan. You could also line your loaf pan with parchment paper.
Bake for 50-60 minutes. Test bread at 50 minutes with a toothpick or cake tester. If the bread starts to get too dark before it is done baking, cover it with parchment paper (my preference) or tin foil.
Allow to cool in the pan for one hour.
How To Make Long Fermented Sourdough Zucchini Bread
Start batter 12-24 hours before you plan to make zucchini bread. This gives the sourdough starter time to ferment the flour to make it more digestible and the nutrients more bioavailable.
Combine sourdough starter, melted butter, eggs, and flour well.
Cover with a towel or plastic wrap and allow to ferment at room temperature for 6 hours.
Place the batter in the fridge and allow it to ferment for another 6-18 hours.
The next day, preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Using a stand mixer with the paddle attachment (you could also use a hand mixer), add shredded zucchini, brown sugar, vanilla, baking powder, cinnamon, and baking soda to the stand mixer bowl. You can also mix in any add ins at this time.
Set on low to medium speed until completely combined.
Pour into loaf pan and bake for 50-60 minutes.
Allow to cool in the pan for one hour.
How to store:
Store in an air-tight container for up to 4-5 days. You can also freeze in slices or the whole loaf in a freezer bag for up to 3 months (for best results).
Variations:
- Chocolate chips
- Coconut
- Sourdough Zucchini Muffins
- Nuts – pecans, walnuts, or sliced almonds would be delicious.
Find More Of My Favorite Sourdough Recipe:
- Sourdough Cranberry Bread
- Sourdough Banana Bread
- Blueberry Sourdough Muffins
- Sourdough Strawberry Shortcake
- Lemon Sourdough Pound Cake
- Sourdough Coffee Cake
If you try this recipe and love it, I would love if you could come back and give it 5 stars! Tag me on Instagram @farmhouseonboone
Sourdough Zucchini Bread
Ingredients
Wet Ingredients
- 1/2 cup melted butter or coconut oil
- 1 1/4 cups brown sugar
- 2 cups shredded zucchini
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 cup sourdough starter
Dry ingredients
- 2 cups flour
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Lightly grease a 9×5 loaf pan with butter.
- Combine flour, cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder, and salt well in a medium bowl.
- In a stand mixer or bowl, mix melted butter (or melted coconut oil) and brown sugar for about five minutes or until light and fluffy.
- Add in eggs, vanilla, sourdough starter, and grated zucchini.
- Fold dry ingredients into the wet ingredients a little bit at a time until just incorporated.
- Gently fold in any other add-ins you would like. Pecans, walnuts, and chocolate chips for example.
- Pour into a greased pan. You could also line your loaf pan with parchment paper.
- Bake for 50-60 minutes. Test bread at 50 minutes with a toothpick or cake tester.
- Allow to cool in the pan for one hour before slicing.
Notes
Long Fermented Version:
- Start batter 12-24 hours before you plan to make zucchini bread. This gives the sourdough starter time to ferment the flour to make it more digestible and the nutrients more bioavailable.
- Combine sourdough starter, melted butter, eggs, and flour well.
- Cover with a towel or plastic wrap and allow to ferment at room temperature for 6 hours.
- Place the batter in the fridge and allow it to ferment for another 6-18 hours.
- The next day, preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Using a stand mixer with the paddle attachment (you could also use a hand mixer), add shredded zucchini, brown sugar, vanilla, baking powder, cinnamon, and baking soda to the stand mixer bowl. You can also mix in any add ins at this time.
- Set on low to medium speed until completely combined.
- Pour into loaf pan and bake for 50-60 minutes.
- Allow to cool in the pan for one hour.
Laura says
I’ve made this recipe several times with mixed results. Twice it’s come out perfectly and now twice the batter has bubbled over the pan and made a huge mess in the oven. I have the right pan and mixed it exactly the same. The batter looked so perfect… I’m real confused. Any ideas?
Arlene says
I made the quick bread and it was delicious! I added walnuts, finished a bag of mini chocolate chips, and added Kit Kat bits. I also made the fermented version, but some of the coconut oil separated and then solidified in the refrigerator. Waiting now for it to warm up. I also didn’t see salt added to the fermented version. Before or after fermenting?
Lisa Bass says
Before!
Arlene says
I made the quick bread and it was delicious! I added walnuts, finished a bag of mini chocolate chips, and added Kit Kat bits. I also made the fermented version, but some of the coconut oil separated and then solidified in the refrigerator. Waiting now for it to warm up.
Lillian says
I followed the long fermented version except I forgot the eggs until the second day. We did muffins and they turned out delicious and moist!
Cate says
This came out SO amazing, I instantly bookmarked to make again when I harvest more zucchini! I can’t wait to try the long ferment version next time.
kelly shadwick says
Hi! if i am using muffin tins, how long do i bake at 350 degrees for?
Lisa Bass says
Around 25 minutes.
Cheryl says
I would love to try the long fermentation method but a little hesitant because of the eggs being set out for 6 hours at room temp. Is this safe?
Lisa Bass says
I have no issue leaving my dough out at room temperature because I use farm fresh eggs. This is my personal opinion based on my own experiences. Please use your own judgment for your specific circumstance when deciding if any food is safe to consume.
Emma says
These turned out really delicious! I used the recipe for muffins and did the long fermented version. However, I noticed in the instructions for the long fermented version, you forgot to say when to add the salt. So I waited and added it with the other spices the second day. Also, the dough was thick before fermenting and then it was rock solid after being in the frig overnight (the butter hardened). I had to let it sit out for a little bit to let the dough soften enough to mix. This was no problem but it would’ve been nice to know to expect that because at first I thought I’d done something wrong!
Katie says
Thank you for commenting with this….I am running into that issue right now. My dough is rock solid. I had made cookies right before and ran out of butter so I used the coconut oil so was not sure if that was the reason. I guessI will let it sit out.
Lindsay says
I’m here with rock solid dough too. I’ll try leaving it longer but I don’t see this “pouring” into a loaf pan.
Bekah says
I’ve noticed that when long fermenting the dough ends up getting super solid too. Even when I leave it out longer in the morning to heat up, it will stay as clumps when I mix it in with the rest of the ingredients. My banana bread does that too.. still tastes delicious though! Just not sure if there’s a way to get it to fully blend together.
Mimzy says
I am trying to do the long fermentation, I added the 1/2 cup starter, 2eggs, 1/2 cup meltd coconut oil and the 2 cups of flour and I got a thick dough. Is this how it is supposed to be. I mean it is thick enough to kneed. did I do something wrong?
Lisa Bass says
Did you fold in the dry and wet ingredients slowly, stopping when they are just barely incorporated? That could have been the issue!
Julia Morin says
Mine didn’t same thing – real solid dough – I thought that was normal … it turned into normal bread batter when I completed it and baked it and it’s super crumbly! Awesome flavor but you have to eat it like granola lol I don’t know what I did! It also sank in the middle real low 😂🤷🏻♀️
Emma says
The same thing happened to me! I was afraid I did something wrong but I’m wondering if maybe it’s because my active starter is quite thick.
Anonymous says
Same thing happened to me as well. Once I mixed the ingredients in after a long ferment, it turned to more of a batter. The dough was still chunky though. I poured and baked, the taste isn’t bad but the dough just didn’t mix in all the way. Took a long time to bake too and definitely a crumbly bread.
Richard Wirz says
I really enjoy your recipes. Im actually the executive chef at Giuseppe’s cucina rustica, in San Luis Obispo, ca. , but I just started in the last year getting into fermentation, homemade yogurt, and sourdough everything. Thank you so much for the inspiration.