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This lemon zucchini bread is a delicious combination of zesty lemon and fresh zucchini in a loaf. The light and creamy glaze adds a perfect finishing touch to this tender and moist bread. If you’re looking for a tasty way to use up that summer zucchini, this recipe is a must-try!
This zesty lemon zucchini bread is a wonderful way to use up that summer zucchini. The combination of lemon and zucchini in a sweet loaf is a match made in heaven.
Also try this lemon blueberry loaf or gluten-free zucchini muffins. Chocolate coconut magic bars and Nanaimo bars are also delicious.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Easy: This lemon zucchini bread recipe is so simple to put together. There’s no need for a mixer – just a couple of bowls and a spoon. It’s a quick and easy recipe that anyone can make.
Perfect for Any Time: This zucchini loaf with icing is a wonderful treat for breakfast, a sweet dessert, or a midday snack with a cup of tea. It’s so versatile, and the whole family will love it.
Incredibly Delicious: This recipe proves that lemons and zucchini are a perfect pair. The flavors are so balanced, and the buttermilk gives it a wonderfully tender crumb. It’s one of the best zucchini recipes!
Lemon Zucchini Loaf Recipe Ingredients
A complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
Zucchini: This ingredient is the star of the recipe and adds a lot of moisture to the loaf. Make sure to grate it finely so no one knows it’s there, but everyone can benefit from its goodness!
Lemon: The recipe uses both lemon juice and lemon zest to infuse the loaf with a bright, citrusy flavor.
Buttermilk: This ingredient is key to making the zucchini bread incredibly moist and tender.
Icing Sugar: This is used to make a simple but delicious glaze for the zucchini bread. It adds a sweet and creamy finishing touch.
How to Make Lemon Zucchini Bread
For more detailed instructions with weights and measurements, jump to the printable recipe card.
Prepare the pan: Preheat the oven to 350F. Grease and lightly flour a 9×5 inch loaf pan and set aside.
Mix the dry ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the flour and baking powder.
Prepare the wet ingredients: In another bowl, beat the eggs and then add the oil and sugar, followed by the buttermilk, lemon juice, and lemon zest. Next, add finely grated zucchini to it.
Combine wet and dry mixtures: Stir the grated zucchini into the wet ingredients. Then add the wet mixture to the dry mixture and stir until just combined.
Bake: Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and bake for 45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Add the glaze: Cool the loaf in the pan for 10 minutes, then remove it to a wire rack to cool completely. For the glaze, mix the lemon juice and icing sugar and pour it over the completely cooled loaf.
Substitutions and Variations
Gluten-Free: If you’re looking to make this zucchini bread gluten-free, you can easily swap out the regular flour for a gluten-free alternative like almond flour or gluten-free all-purpose flour blend. Just make sure to check that your baking powder is also gluten-free.
Add-ins: You can add a variety of mix-ins to this lemon zucchini bread to suit your tastes, such as nuts, raisins, or chocolate chips, making it a versatile treat for any time of day.
Spices: For a different twist, you can add a dash of your favorite spices to the batter. A bit of cinnamon or a hint of nutmeg can give your lemon zucchini bread a warm, cozy flavor that’s perfect for the colder months.
Serving Suggestions
Breakfast: This lemon zucchini bread pairs perfectly with your morning coffee or can be served alongside an Italian frittata or some sheet pan buttermilk pancakes. The contrast of the sweet, tangy bread with these savory breakfast dishes is a real treat.
Condiments: For an extra touch of sweetness, consider serving this lemon zucchini bread with an extra drizzle of glaze or some honey. These condiments enhance the lemon flavor and make the bread even more indulgent.
Dessert: For a dessert that’s both refreshing and indulgent, try serving this zucchini bread with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a fruit sorbet. The contrast of the creamy ice cream or tangy sorbet with the zesty bread is truly delicious.
How to Store Lemon Zucchini Bread
Store: To keep your lemon zucchini bread fresh, simply place it in an airtight container or wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and pop it into the fridge. It should stay fresh and tasty for up to a week.
Freeze: Freezing your lemon zucchini bread is also an option if you want to keep it for longer. Just make sure to wrap it in both plastic wrap and aluminum foil to prevent freezer burn. It can be kept in the freezer for up to three months.
Top Tips
Don’t bother peeling the zucchini: There’s no need to peel the zucchini for this recipe. Just give it a good rinse and dry it off. The little green flecks actually look quite nice in the bread, and there’s no need to waste time peeling!
Make your own buttermilk: If you don’t have any buttermilk or can’t find it, make your own by mixing half a tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar with half a cup of whole milk. Another option is half a cup of plain yogurt.
Don’t overmix the batter: When combining the wet and dry ingredients, stir until just combined. Overmixing your batter can lead to a tougher, less fluffy loaf.
Check your loaf before time is up: While the recipe suggests baking for 45 minutes, every oven is different. I recommend checking your loaf after 40 minutes to ensure it doesn’t over-bake, which can lead to a dry loaf.
Lemon Zucchini Loaf FAQs
Yes, you can use a different type of flour, such as almond flour or coconut flour, but keep in mind that these flours absorb more moisture, so you may need to adjust the liquid ingredients accordingly.
If you don’t have buttermilk, you can easily make a substitute by mixing half a tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar with half a cup of whole milk. Another option is half a cup of plain yogurt.
While fresh lemon juice is always preferable for its bright, tangy flavor, you can use bottled lemon juice if that’s all you have. Just make sure it’s 100% pure lemon juice with no added preservatives or sweeteners.
To avoid overmixing, stir the wet and dry ingredients together until just combined. A few lumps in the batter are okay. It’s better to have a slightly uneven batter than to overmix and end up with a tough loaf.
If your bread is still not baked through at the 45-minute mark, you can cover it with foil to prevent the top from browning too much and continue baking, checking every 5-10 minutes until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Yes, you can easily turn this recipe into muffins. Just adjust the baking time; they’ll likely take around 20 to 25 minutes to bake. The same rule applies, make sure not to overmix the batter.
If your glaze is too thick, add a drop of lemon juice at a time until it reaches the desired consistency. If it’s too thin, add a bit more icing sugar. Just remember to add any extra liquid or dry ingredients in small increments to avoid overdoing it.
Lemon Zucchini Loaf Recipe
Lemon Zucchini Bread
Ingredients
- 2 Cups all purpose flour
- 2 Teaspoon baking powder
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 Cup vegetable oil
- 2/3 Cup granulated sugar
- 1 Juiced lemon, or 2 Tbsp. lemon juice
- 1 Zested Lemon
- 1/2 Cup buttermilk
- 1 Cup zucchini, grated
Glaze
- 1 Cup icing sugar
- 1 Juiced lemon, or 2 Tbsp. lemon juice
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour a 9×5 inch loaf pan and set aside.
- In a large bowl combine the flour and baking powder. Set the dry ingredients side
- In another bowl beat 2 eggs, then add the oil and sugar. Mix well.
- Add the buttermilk, lemon juice and lemon zest and mix well. Next stir in the zucchini to the wet ingredients.
- Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir until just combined. Do not over mix.
- Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan. Bake for 45 minutes. I recommend checking after 40 minutes as each over is different.
- Cool the loaf in the pan 10 minutes, then remove to a wire rack and cool completely.
Glaze
- In a bowl, combine glaze ingredients. Stir until smooth and creamy.
- Pour glaze over the completely cooled loaf. Allow the glaze to set before slicing.
Nutrition
This lemon zucchini bread with a zesty, creamy lemon glaze is a must-make recipe if you want a delicious way to use up zucchini. You’ll love the fresh and light and how the lemon makes it extra special, and the creamy glaze on top adds a perfect finishing touch!
Other Recipes to Try
- These delicious morning glory muffins are just as moist and tender!
- Lemon Berry Panna Cotta is one of my absolute favorite desserts.
- This Lemon Posset Brûlée has the most beautiful flavors.
- Want to have muffins instead? Try these Savoury Breakfast Muffins!
- These Bakery Style Blueberry Muffins are another popular recipe that everyone will enjoy!
Bella Bucchiotti
Bella Bucchiotti is a Canadian-based syndicated food, travel, and lifestyle writer, photographer, and creator at xoxoBella. She founded xoxoBella in 2015, where she shares her love for food, dogs, sustainability, fitness, crafts, outdoor adventures, travel, and philanthropy to encourage others to run the extra mile, try new recipes, visit unfamiliar places, and stand for a cause. Bella creates stress-free and family-friendly recipes for weeknight dinners and festive feasts.
My zucchini was very wet so I squeezed some water out and baked it 10 minutes longer at 365. Delicious!
Glad it came out well!
Can I make this Lemon Zucchini Bread without eggs.
You can sub flax eggs for regular eggs. To make a flax egg, mix a tablespoon of flaxseed meal with 2.5 tablespoons of water and let the mixture sit for 5 minutes. Use that mixture in place of 1 egg. It won’t bind and stiffen as well as regular eggs in some recipes, but flax eggs do work pretty well in breads, loaves and cakes!
Hello Bella.
Is it possible to swap the sugar for applesauce or a ripe banana?
I haven’t tried this myself but if you are using applesauce you will need to reduce the amount (otherwise the batter will be too runny). I would suggest swapping the 2/3 cup of sugar for just under 1/2 cup of applesauce or one mashed banana. Because the fruit isn’t as sweet as the sugar, you might want to add some sugar or sweetener too, and it might take a little experimenting to get the flavor just right. Let me know how it works 🙂
That is a winning combo! Beautiful flavors together 🙂
This was delicious! I used melted butter instead of oil in the batter and added 1/4 tsp lemon extract along with the lemon juice in the glaze! Will definitely make again! Thanks for a great zucchini bread recipe!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Soo looking forward to making this recipe.. soo many zucs, think 🤔 this might be a new favourite.. thanks
This is my favourite recipe. So great every time!