Each year on April 25th each year, National Zucchini Bread Day encourages bakers to make this delicious bread.   

Many explorers who came to the Americas brought back what they considered strange foods, including the zucchini. The zucchini eventually found its way to Italy, where it was named zucchino. Native Americans referred to zucchini as “something eaten raw.” However, we all know that zucchini tastes best cooked, especially in bread.

Zucchini bread is similar to other quick breads like banana bread. Other quick breads you might be familiar with making include muffins, scones, and biscuits. When baked, Zucchini and banana bread go into the oven in loaf pans. When finished, slice and serve with butter, peanut butter, jam, or just plain. 

Basic Ingredients of a Quick Bread 

• Fat – Bakers use shortening, butter, margarine, or vegetable oils depending on the texture they wish to achieve. Follow recipes and use only the fat called for to achieve the desired results. 
• Sugar – Granular sugar, brown sugar, and some sugar substitutes are used. Many bakers add fruit for sweetness, substituting a portion of the sugar in the recipe. 
• Eggs – As an emulsifier and a binding ingredient, eggs add volume and texture to quick bread
• Flour – Most bakers use all-purpose flour, but other recipes will use alternative flours. Always follow the recipe because other ingredients have been adjusted to improve texture when using an alternative flour.
• Liquid – Usually, milk or water moisten the mixture, activate the gluten in the flour, and dissolve the sugar.
• Leavening agent – Either baking powder or baking soda + an acid (such as cream of tartar) are used. Baking powder is baking soda with the acid already added.
• Flavoring ingredient – Bakers incorporate a variety of spices, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and extracts. Each one complements the flavor of the main ingredient. In a quick bread, bakers often use vanilla to enhance the flavor. 

When mixing your ingredients, be sure to follow the recipe instructions. Over mixing prevents the bread from rising while baking causing the bread to be dense.

More breads…..

• Homemade Bread Day
• National Zucchini Bread Day
• National Crouton Day
• National Sourdough Bread Day
• National Raisin Bread Month
• National Banana Bread Day
• National Toast Day
• Mom’s Pioneer Bread

HOW TO OBSERVE #NationalZucchiniBreadDay

Celebrate the day by making fresh zucchini bread for yourself. Dip into your freezer stash from last year’s bumper crop and bake the day away. Be sure to plant more zucchini so you can celebrate this day next year, too!

Use #NationalZucchiniBreadDay to share on social media.