Monday 24 March 2014

Zucchini Bread


I had one more zucchini left in the fridge after making zoodles and it was getting a little bit soft. And then I remembered that I bookmarked Cheah's Zucchini Bread recipe. I was quite intrigued that zucchini could be used in cakes and I was curious. After all if carrots can be baked into carrot cakes why not a zucchini be baked into a zucchini bread?



This "bread" is actually a cake and it is probably called a bread because it is baked in a loaf pan and resembles bread. But I prefer to call it cake, if you know what I mean. Making this zucchini bread is pretty much like making a muffin. You can use oil instead of butter and you simply mix the dry ingredients with the wet ingredients and you are all done. Everything is mixed in one bowl and that was perfect because I baked this zucchini bread on a Saturday when there was no water supply.


I made some changes to Cheah's recipe in terms of the amount of ingredients and substituted nuts with more raisins. I also topped the cake with pumpkin seeds. It took about 50 minutes for the cake to be done and I was quite pleased with the appearance of my zucchini bread. 



Most of all I was very curious how it would taste. It wasn't until the next morning that I had a slice and I was very pleased that the cake tasted quite good. The texture is moist but dense in a good way.



Even though I reduced the sugar, the cake was still on the sweet side due to the natural sweetness of the raisins. My partner liked this cake (the man loves anything with raisins) and he too found the cake a little too sweet.

So the next time I have a zucchini lying idle in the fridge, I know what to do with it!



Zucchini Bread
Recipe source : Adapted from No-Frills Recipes

Ingredients :
- 1/2 cup grapeseed oil
- 200g self-raising flour
- 100g sugar (for my own reference : to reduce to 50g due to sweetness of raisins)
- 2 eggs, lightly beaten
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1.5 cups grated zucchini
- 1/2 cup raisins
- 1/2 cup golden raisins

Method :
1. In a large bowl, mix sugar, eggs and vanilla until well combined.
2. Stir in the grated zucchini followed by the oil. Mix till well blended.
3. Sift in flour 1/3 at a time over the liquid mixture and mix well.
4. Add raisins.
5. Pour batter into a lined 4" x 9" x 3" loaf pan.
6. Bake in a preheated oven at 160C for 40 to 45 minutes or until cooked.
7. Let cool in pan for about 10 mins before unmoulding onto a wire rack to cool completely.

48 comments:

  1. Morning sweetie.. My life is in a mess now.. G is having chicken pox.. Got it from his elder brother, who else.. Kz got it like 3 weeks ago and just when I thought everything is fine, G's having it now.. The virus incubated in him for 2 weeks before popping out. Bam!

    Oohhh first serai cheesecake.. And now zucchini cake.. I like.. Anything that comes from you, sure sedap.. P/S: Not brushing your shoes k? We don't carpool and you are not paying my salary :)

    It looks like cake, so just calk it zucchini cake la... I like that you modified the recipe to suit what you like.. Yep, I like more raisins too.. Would have done the same here.. Perhaps will add choc chips too.. Hehe.. So the cake finished by now?

    1 more thing.. You crazy? Baking this when there's no water?

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    1. Good afternoon, Louiz! You are always my early bird. Alamak, poor you! Two kids with chicken pox is no joke. But on the positive side, at least you get this chicken pox business over and done with in one shot. You know, I got chicken pox at the ripe old age of 33! No fun and I really wished I had it when I was a kid.

      Aiyo, I feel so shy with your puji-pujian! Not all my bakes and cooks are nice lah. I think you will like and enjoy baking this zucchini cake. Everything mix in one bowl and the only leceh part is to grate the zucchini. And yes, chocolate chips is a good idea. In fact you can add anything you like. I could bake this on a day without water because there would be water the next day. So I just soaked everything using stored water and wash up the next day.

      Hope your Baby G will recover soon and your life will get back to normal!

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  2. Hi Phong Hong,

    I think the answer is obvious!!! Use it to bake another cake but with less sugar if you prefer :p

    Zoe

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    1. Hi Zoe! Oh yes, I just bought 3 more zucchinis (hah...hah...I looove zucchini) and you can be sure that I will bake this zucchini cake again :)

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  3. wow! Another unusual ingredient cake, never come across in my mind that zucchini can be a choice for cake. It's reminded me your previous post of Chocolate Lemongrass Cheesecake. Sounds like you give a good comment to this particular cake, then I was inspired to have a try ! he.................
    Thanks for sharing such a marvellous cake.

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    1. Hi Aunty Young! This cake is good and gets my thumbs up. You can't taste or tell that there is zucchini inside unless if someone told you. I am glad it turned out well and I plan to bake it again. I hope you give it a try too!

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  4. It looks great - looks like a cake with lots of texture too, ie from the seeds. My kids also love any bakes with raisins, they will always pick out all the raisins and eat them first.

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    1. Hi Yen! I highly recommend this cake for its simplicity and versatility. You can add whatever you like - raisins, cranberries, any other dried fruit and even chocolate chips. And it tastes good too!

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  5. I have come across many have used zucchini to bake cakes and I was too hesitate to make it too. I am sure it is just no difference from the carrot cake which is my favourite. Love to get my hands to bake your recipe one day.

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    1. Mel, at first I thought it was funny but after I tried it, I like this cake very much. I am sure that you will like it too!

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  6. Nice baked! Definitely love to try this bread or cake with zucchini as I'm curious about the taste too :)

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    1. Ann, do give it a go as it tastes pretty good. In fact, you can't taste the zucchini at all and won't know that it is there unless you are told.

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  7. Good morning Phong Hong, I'm really curiuos what does zucchini bread taste like?
    Anyway, It looks tempting to me :) May i have a slice ? :)

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    1. Esther, you may have as many slices as you like! This cake taste like any good ordinary cake as you can't even tell that there is zucchini inside.

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  8. Yum yum.... Bookmarked ! I never tried bread with Zucchini...Love to taste this !

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    1. Priya, do try it and surprise yourself!

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  9. That looks good! Wish I were into baking too...too lazy to even try. :(

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    1. Ah, Arthur! This one is an easy cake to bake. All you need is a bowl and a wooden spoon to mix everything together. Hey, Melissa is on holiday right? You can get her to bake with you hee...hee....

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  10. Phong Hong, I LOVE THIS BREAD!! aiyoh, you love zucchini don't you?? you've made your zoodles and now you are using it to make a bread, interesting and i like that.. and is that really a bread?? it looks so moist and rice, i would have thought it is indeed a rich fruit cake!! and i also love the raisins and pumpkin seeds you added, make the bread looks a lot more delicious.. slurps slurps!! if you are throwing this away, please PosLaju to me, hehehehe!! :D

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    1. Hi SK! My partner ate most of the cake, he loves the raisins hah...hah....Yes, I do love zucchini now, I used to think it was so tasteless and bland. I mean, it is bland but that is an advantage as it takes on other flavours and gives moisture to this cake. Eh, why don't you bake this cake and post it on your blog? Hee..hee....

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  11. Hi Phong Hong,
    I like zucchini. It takes the flavours of other ingredients really well, besides providing moisture. Have not baked cakes using zucchini in ages. Your cake looks really moist and soft. And I like raisins! And I would reduce the sugar too, a habit of mine for almost all cakes. :)

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    1. Hi Joyce! I just bought three zucchinis hah...hah...my new love! Most recipes especially the American and British ones contain far too much sugar. I cannot tahan!

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  12. Hmmm...I have to say, zucchini in a cake does sound a little weird to me. Still, it looks really healthy and moist!

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    1. It sounded weird to me too but after I tried it, I realised that it is not so weird after all!

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  13. Phong hong it looks so very yummy l think l can eat half of it at one go.I love raisins in any kind of bread or raisins in buns like hot cross buns soon hot cross bu8ns will be on sale Easter is coming soon.Pandai mu ni buat roti .

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    1. EE, I baked it in the small rectangular pan that you gave me. Perfect size!

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  14. SO pretty topped with pumpkin seeds! I love zucchini bread and yours looks perfect :)

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    1. Thank you, Lizzy! I am going to bake another one soon :)

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  15. Have never tried baking with zucchini but it looks good and has the feel good healthy factor :)

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    1. Oh yes, healthy indeed but need to eat very sparingly hee..hee..

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  16. so many seeds...yummy.....would love to have a try. Hmmm if successful will let u know

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    1. Wokay! I look forward to your zucchini cake :)

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  17. What an awesome looking zucchini.

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  18. HI Phong Hong,
    I saw this zucchini bread in Cheah's blog too!!
    From your picture your ZB looks inviting. I love to bake with pumpkin seed and raisin too.
    Does the texture of this ZB similar to carrot cake?
    mui

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    1. Hi mui mui! The texture is dense and moist. If I remember correctly, carrot cake is not as dense.

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  19. Your zucchini loaf looks moist and delicious! I would know what to do with my zucchini next time. :)

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    1. Do try the zucchini cake as it is pretty good. It really surprised me.

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  20. I have always wanted to try making zucchini bread!! I have a folder that I keep my recipes in, and I still don't have any recipes in my "Z" category. This would be my first addition ;)

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    1. Cathleen, you should do this zucchini bread because it is a really easy to make. And don't forget the zebra cake :)

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  21. May I have 2 pieces, looks yummy!!!!

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    1. Hi Jozelyn! Yes, of course you can :)

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  22. Zucchini kaki, I think this recipe is a good choice for those who have kids that don't eat vegetables! I like the pumpkins seeds spread on the top of the bread.

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    1. Hi Jessie! Oh, you also suka zucchini? Very nice to put in cakes and I also love it now as my vege :)

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  23. Wow, this is the best zucchini bread I have seen in a long time. I like how you added less sugar because the use of the raisin. The recipe is absolutely perfect...the outcome is light, moist and super delicious!

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    1. Thank you, Elisabeth! My first ever zucchini bake and it turned out so well. Happy me!

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  24. Hi Phong Hong, how can I missed such a lovely cake of yours???? This zucchini bread looks so beautiful and ho jiak!!! I am bookmarking it now and am telling myself I have to bake this as soon as possible. Can't wait any longer, hahaha.. Thanks for sharing and regards :)

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    1. Hi Ivy! Better late than never! This cake is very good, moist and full of goodness, Try it and you will love it!

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