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4.88 from 8 votes

You are in for a special treat if you love quick bread. This old-fashioned Gluten Free Zucchini Bread recipe is one of the best because it is fluffy and full of flavor. It makes a delicious addition to breakfast or brunch. A special bonus, this moist zucchini bread is also dairy-free with refined sugar-free and nut-free options!!

A slice of zucchini bread on a plate next to a mug of coffee.

You are going to love my recipe for gluten free zucchini bread. This gluten free quick bread is fluffy and sweet! I have made and tested this recipe multiple times with perfect results.

My zucchini bread is easy to make from scratch, and it is my favorite way to hide veggies…Mr. Fearless Dining and my kids are not fans of zucchini.  Mr.  Fearless Dining will put on a brave face at the dinner table, but the kids…nope.

If you love zucchini as much as I do (but need to hide it in recipes to get your hubby to eat it.) Check out these delicious gluten free muffins recipes, too.

Why I love this gluten free zucchini bread recipe:

  1. Wait until you take a bite of this gf zucchini bread; you will love the cinnamon and sweetness. It tastes like you bought a loaf at a bakery!
  2. Nobody will know this recipe is both gluten free and dairy-free! It is that good!
  3. This zucchini bread with almond flour has no refined sugars but still tastes good.
  4. I include several flavor options and recipe variations.

If you love bakery-quality sweet quickbread, try this easy Gluten Free Banana Strawberry Bread recipe.

This is SO good! My hubs (who hates gf food) loved this recipe! *tip- make sure to really squeeze all the moisture out of the zucchini, though.”

Rachel, blog comment.
A stack of zucchini bread slices.

Allergen Information:

This homemade zucchini bread is gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free, and oat-free.

Photos of the zucchini bread ingredients.

Ingredient Notes:

For the full list of ingredients and amounts, please go to the recipe card below.

  • Zucchini – I prefer to use green zucchini, but you can also use yellow crane neck squash.
  • Gluten Free Flour Blend – I tested this recipe using Bob’s Red Mill 1 to 1 Gluten Free Flour Blend and King Arthur’s Measure for Measure Gluten Free Blend. That doesn’t mean others will not work; I have not tested other flours.
  • Xanthan Gum – If your gluten free flour blend doesnโ€™t contain xanthan gum or guar gum, please add 1 teaspoon. See the substitutions section for a gum-free flour blend option.
  • Almond Flour – I highly suggest using almond flour and not almond meal. Almond meal is coarser and will make your gluten free zucchini bread grainy. I like Anthony’s Almond Flour because they test to ensure it is gluten-free. See the substitutions for a nut-free option.
  • Coconut Sugar – I use this to eliminate refined sugar, but you can also use brown sugar.
  • Flaxseed Meal – For best results, make sure to use the ground meal and NOT the whole seeds!
  • Baking Powder/Baking Soda – Use aluminum-free baking powder.
  • Oil – Use coconut oil or another light oil. When I tested them in this recipe, Canola and avocado oil also worked well. I don’t recommend olive oil because it adds too much olive flavor.
  • Almond Milk – I used almond milk, but other dairy-free milk will work. I do not recommend canned coconut milk. You can also use regular milk if you are not dairy-free.
  • Eggs – Use size large.
  • Vanilla Extract – Use pure vanilla extract if possible.

Substitutions and Flavor Variations:

There are many ways to change this delicious gluten free zucchini bread recipe. Here are some of my favorite ideas:

  • Chocolate Chips – Add chips! Use Enjoy Life brand chocolate chips if you are dairy-free.)
  • Raisins add even more fruit sweetness.
  • Make it nut-free. Omit the almond flour and add 1/2 cup of additional gluten free flour blend. Do not use nut-based plant milk.
  • Make it gum-free. If you can’t eat xanthan or guar gum, use my DIY Gluten Free Flour Blend to make this gluten free zucchini bread recipe.

How to shred zucchini:

  1. Put a grater over a bowl and shred the zucchini straight into a bowl.
  2. Use a food processor.
  3. You can use a vegetable mandolin. (Make sure your mandolin has a handle to protect your fingers.)

Baking tips for perfect gluten-free zucchini bread:

  • Do not over-mix the bread batter. This will deflate the air bubbles from mixing and make your bread denser. For this reason, I do not recommend using a stand mixer.
  • Line your loaf pan with parchment paper so the zucchini bread lifts out easily.
  • Squeeze the water out of the shredded zucchini with a clean dishcloth or paper towel. This will prevent your bread from becoming soggy.
  • If your batter sits for 10-15 minutes before baking, your baked goods will not turn out gritty. Grittiness comes from the rice flour in gluten free flour blends. Letting the batter sit allows the rice flour time to soften.

For more tips, check out my Gluten Free Cake Troubleshooting Guide, which is applicable for all quick breads.

Step-By-Step Photos and Directions:

Step 1: Grate the zucchini, squeeze the moisture from the zucchini shreds, and add it to a medium-sized mixing bowl.

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Photos of the zucchini bread steps 2 and 3.

Step 2: Add the remaining wet ingredients to the zucchini shreds and whisk to blend. In a separate large bowl, add the dry ingredients to a large mixing bowl and whisk to blend.

Step 3: Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix gently. If you over-mix the batter, your cake will be denser.

Photos of making the zucchini bread steps 4 and 5.

Step 4: Here is the batter so you can see the consistency.

๐Ÿ“ข Sandi says: Every gluten-free flour blend has a different starch-to-grain ratio. The brand of gluten-free flour you use will affect the moisture of the batter. If your cake batter is too runny, add more flour, and if it is too thick, add more liquids.
Read Why Gluten-Free Flour Blends Vary to learn more about this.

Step 5: Spray coconut oil or this gluten free baking spray in a bread loaf pan and sprinkle coarse sugar on top. Bake at 350ยบ F.

This recipe will make two small loaves of zucchini bread or one big loaf and 6 muffins. If you love this recipe, try my easy Gluten Free Zucchini Muffins recipe.

How to store zucchini bread:

Wrap the leftovers in plastic wrap or store them in an airtight container. Gluten-free baked goods tend to spoil quickly due to the lack of preservatives, so I recommend storing them in the refrigerator. If you will not eat them in two days, I recommend freezing them. See the FAQ for directions for freezing this bread.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Do you have to peel the zucchini?

Many people wonder if they should peel the zucchini for this recipe. You definitely do not want to peel the zucchini. Those zucchini peels not only add fiber to this zucchini loaf.

How do you know when the bread is done baking?

I like to use the toothpick test. Grab a toothpick and insert it into the middle of your loaf. If the toothpick comes out clean, your gluten free zucchini bread is ready. If you see batter or crumbs, you must bake it a bit longer.

How do you freeze zucchini bread?

Yes, you can easily freeze this zucchini bread. When your loaf is fully cooled, wrap it in plastic wrap. Next, wrap it in aluminum foil. I then put it into a large ziplock freezer bag and freeze it. This zucchini bread will keep fresh in the freezer for 3-4 months. (It will keep longer, but you can risk it becoming freezer-burned.)

A slice of zucchini bread on a plate next to the loaf.

More Gluten-Free Quick Bread Recipes:

Love This Recipe?

If you made and enjoyed this recipe, I would be incredibly grateful if you could leave a comment below. Please include which flour blend you used. This will help others know this recipe is delicious. Thank you!

A slice of gluten free zucchini bread on a plate next to a mug of coffee.

Gluten Free Zucchini Bread

Sandi Gaertner
A quick and easy homemade gluten free zucchini bread recipe the whole family will love.
4.88 from 8 votes
dairy free allergen icon
gluten free allergy icon
soy free allergy icon
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Batter resting 15 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Course Gluten Free Bread Recipe, Gluten Free Breakfast Recipes
Cuisine American
Servings 12 slices
Calories 399 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups gluten free flour blend * see note
  • 1 cup almond flour * see note
  • ยผ teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder aluminum-free
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 1 ยฝ cups coconut sugar or brown sugar
  • 1 cup chopped pecans
  • 1 ยฝ cups almond milk * see note
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 ยฝ cups shredded zucchini
  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • ยพ cup coconut oil melted, or another light oil
  • 2 tablespoons flaxseed meal ground

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Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 425ยบ F.
  • Spray coconut oil in two loaf pans and set aside.
  • Shred your zucchini and use a paper towel to squeeze out the extra liquid.
  • In a large bowl, add dry ingredients and whisk to blend.
  • In a smaller bowl, add wet ingredients (including shredded zucchini).
  • Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix gently. Do not overmix your batter, or your bread will turn out dense.
  • Pour the batter into the two prepared bread loaf tins. Spray oil in the pans and line with parchment paper.
  • Optional, sprinkle course sugar on top of the loaves.
  • Bake for 5 minutes at 425ยบ F, then reduce the oven temperature to 350ยบ F and bake 35-40 minutes until done. (Baking at high heat for 5 minutes makes your loaf dome up in a beautiful way!) The actual baking time will vary depending on the size of your loaf pans.
  • Remove from the oven and carefully remove the cakes from the hot pans to a cooling rack. Do not slice the bread until it is cooled.

Notes

  1. It is important to squeeze your zucchini shreds into paper towels to absorb the extra liquid before adding them to the wet ingredients.
  2. I have tested this recipe with King Arthur Measure for Measure GF and Bob’s Red Mill 1 to 1 GF blend. That doesn’t mean others will not work; I have not tested other flours.
  3. If your gluten free flour blend doesnโ€™t contain Xanthan Gum or Guar Gum, please add 1 teaspoon. You can use my DIY Gluten Free Flour Blend if you are gum-free.
  4. I highly suggest using almond flour and not almond meal. Almond meal is more coarse and will make your donuts grainy.
  5. To make this recipe nut-free, omit the almond flour and substitute an additional 1/2 cup gluten free flour blend.
  6. Other dairy-free milk will work, but I do not recommend canned coconut milk.
  7. This bread will keep up to 2 days in an air-tight container or up to 4 months in the freezer.

SPECIAL NOTE

Please know that every gluten free flour blend has a different starch to grain ratio. If you use a blend I didn’t test, you may need to adjust your moisture levels in your baked goods.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 399kcalCarbohydrates: 37gProtein: 7gFat: 27gSaturated Fat: 13gCholesterol: 41mgSodium: 238mgPotassium: 173mgFiber: 5gSugar: 15gVitamin A: 124IUVitamin C: 5mgCalcium: 108mgIron: 2mg
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Nutrition Disclaimer

Nutritional information is an estimate provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the actual nutritional information with the products and brands you are using with your preferred nutritional calculator.

*Note, this post was updated from an older post in February 2017. See below for a photo of the old post.

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4.88 from 8 votes (5 ratings without comment)

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18 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    Really like this bread. Has a good flavor and is very moist. Wondering if I could substitute avocado oil for the coconut oil?

  2. What can I use instead of flaxseed meal. Iโ€™m baking last minute and none in my pantry?
    And can I use frozen shredded zucchini

    1. Hi Janice, you can omit the flaxseed meal. As for frozen zucchini, you will need to thaw it and then use a towel to squeeze out the extra liquid. I hope this helps.

    1. Hi Susan, I find regular baking powder can leave a slight metallic taste. It makes a bigger difference in my recipes that use a lot, like my bisucits recipe. For this bread, it shouldn’t matter as much.

  3. 5 stars
    This is SO good! My hubs (who hates gf food) loved this recipe! *tip- make sure to really squeeze all the moisture out of the zucchini, though.

  4. 5 stars
    Love this one!
    I used ATK’s flour mixture, added xanthan gum and dark chocolate chips, and baked them for about an hour. So moist, non-grainy and flavorful! Great with cream cheese, butter or plain, warm or cold.

  5. I want to make this for a family who has a child allergic to almonds. What flour can i use instead of almond (I’m aware that different flours act differently in baking)?
    Also, 8 have frozen shredded zucchini. I will drain off water when it thaws. Should I use 1 1/2 cups of the thawed, drained zucchini?

    1. Hi Kimberly, you can use more flour instead of the almond meal. Try 1/2 cup additional gluten free flour blend and skip the almond flour. You may need to adjust wet ingredients a little based on the frozen zucchini (which I have never tried in baking)