Healthy Orange Zucchini Bread: A Whole Wheat & Honey Sweetened Delight
Elevate your zucchini bread experience with a vibrant burst of citrus! This incredible orange zucchini bread recipe infuses the classic favorite with fresh orange juice and zest, creating a wonderfully aromatic and flavorful twist. Made with wholesome whole wheat flour and naturally sweetened with only honey and orange juice, this recipe transforms a beloved treat into a healthy and delicious option perfect for breakfast, snacks, or even a light dessert for your entire family. It’s truly a guilt-free pleasure you’ll be proud to serve!
Zucchini bread stands out as a universally loved method for utilizing an abundant summer harvest of zucchini. Not only is it a perennial favorite among both children and adults, but its remarkable ability to freeze well also makes it an excellent choice for preserving that seasonal bounty. Here at AOC, we have a deep appreciation for zucchini bread, exploring a variety of flavors and approaches. Beyond this citrusy sensation, you can discover other cherished recipes, including our highly popular No-Fail Zucchini Bread, along with many more effortless bread creations in our comprehensive Best Bread Recipes collection.
Embracing the Zucchini Abundance: A Gardener’s Delight
We all know those hilarious summer anecdotes about zucchini – tales of colossal, baseball-bat-sized squash mysteriously appearing on doorsteps or, even worse, in an unlocked car! Well, rest assured, I am absolutely not one of those people who would ever complain about such a delightful “problem.” In fact, I welcome all the zucchini that comes my way – consider my doorstep and car seat an open invitation for your surplus harvest!
My love for zucchini runs deep, though I draw the line at mushy preparations (that’s a story for another day!). When I cultivate them in my garden, I make an effort to pick them while they’re small, firm, and tender. At this stage, they are ideal for creating exquisite dishes like sausage-stuffed zucchini or a vibrant zucchini, corn, tomato, and feta sauté. If you’re keen on growing your own zucchini or simply want to learn more about this versatile vegetable, our comprehensive Ultimate Zucchini Guide offers a treasure trove of growing tips, harvesting advice, and a vast selection of preserving and cooking recipes to inspire you.
Utilizing Large Zucchini for Baking
What happens when I miss a picking, and those little green squash morph into impressive giants? That’s precisely when they become perfect for grating and incorporating into a delightful array of baked goods! Think beyond savory dishes and explore the sweet side with an incredible zucchini cake, indulgent cupcakes, wholesome muffins, surprisingly tasty cookies (yes, cookies!), and, of course, the ever-popular zucchini bread. Even at the notorious “baseball bat” stage, all it takes is a quick quartering of the squash and a simple scoop to remove the soft, seedy centers. The firm, outer edges are then perfectly suited for grating and ready to be blended into your most cherished recipes.
Among all these delightful applications, zucchini bread remains our family’s undisputed favorite. This is precisely why I love experimenting with various flavor profiles each season, leading me to develop unique recipes like this bright orange zucchini bread. Zucchini breads, in general, freeze exceptionally well, likely due to their inherent moistness. In fact, I’ve found myself freezing grated zucchini less and less, as I predominantly use it for baking breads anyway. Opting for fresh zucchini often simplifies the process and yields fantastic results.
Crafting a Healthier Orange Zucchini Bread: Our Journey
My journey to create this orange zucchini bread began by drawing inspiration from a beloved lemon zucchini bread recipe. While the lemon version offered a delightful brightness, my goal for this new creation was to achieve a similar vibrant citrus flavor but with an enhanced nutritional profile. I set out to make it healthier by incorporating whole wheat flour, using only natural honey and the inherent sweetness of orange juice as sweeteners, and significantly reducing the overall sugar content compared to traditional recipes. I envisioned a bread that would not only taste special but also serve as a truly wholesome snack or breakfast option. I am thrilled to say that this recipe truly delivers on all fronts, offering a delightful balance of flavor and health!
Whole Wheat Orange Zucchini Bread: Sweetened with Honey
This recipe is designed to yield two generous loaves, making it an ideal solution for those bountiful “club-sized” zucchini you might find yourself blessed with! While you certainly have the option to halve the recipe to make just one loaf, I highly recommend making both, as this bread freezes beautifully. The only scenario where I’d suggest cutting the recipe in half is if your zucchini supply is truly limited. Otherwise, baking two loaves ensures you’ll have a delicious, healthy treat on hand whenever a craving strikes.
The Magic of Whole Wheat Pastry Flour
A key to the light yet wholesome texture of this bread lies in using whole wheat pastry flour. Unlike regular whole wheat flour, which can sometimes result in a dense crumb, whole wheat pastry flour is milled from soft white wheat, giving it a lower protein content. This translates to a finer texture and a more tender crumb, making it perfect for delicate baked goods like this zucchini bread. It allows you to enjoy the full nutritional benefits of whole grains without sacrificing the delightful, airy feel often associated with breads made from all-purpose flour.
Simple Steps to Deliciousness: Mixing Your Zucchini Bread
Just like most quick breads, this orange zucchini bread is wonderfully straightforward to prepare. The process begins by combining all the wet ingredients in a large mixing bowl. This typically includes eggs, oil, honey, orange juice, and the fresh orange zest, along with the star ingredient – shredded zucchini. Ensure everything is thoroughly mixed to create a smooth, consistent base for your bread.
Next, you’ll gradually incorporate all the dry ingredients into the wet mixture. If you plan to include optional additions like chopped pecans or walnuts, it’s a smart idea to wait until the flour is fully mixed in and all lumps have disappeared before gently folding in the nuts. This ensures an even distribution and prevents overmixing of the batter. Once combined, pour the batter into your prepared loaf pans and bake to golden perfection. Voila – a truly simple whole food recipe at its absolute best!
Choosing and Preparing Your Zucchini
For the best results in your zucchini bread, aim for medium to large zucchini. While small, tender zucchini are great for sautéing, larger ones contain more moisture which is perfect for keeping your bread exceptionally moist. Before grating, give your zucchini a good wash. If you’re using a particularly large zucchini, you might want to slice it lengthwise and scoop out any overly large, watery seeds before grating. You can use a box grater for a coarser shred or a food processor for a finer texture. There’s no need to squeeze out excess water from the grated zucchini for this recipe; its moisture content is essential for the bread’s tender crumb.
Orange Zucchini Bread Low Sugar Glaze Option: A Buttery Citrus Kiss
While this bread boasts a fantastic orange flavor from the juice and zest within the batter, a glaze can add that extra special touch and enhance the citrus notes even further. Spreading the glaze onto warm loaves allows it to soak in beautifully, infusing every bite with an additional layer of brightness. However, since the bread itself is sweetened with honey, I wanted a glaze that complemented its wholesome nature rather than simply adding a rush of refined sugar. (Though, for those who prefer it, a simple traditional powdered sugar glaze option is provided in the full recipe card below).
My solution was to create a unique butter-honey-orange juice mixture that gently coats the top of the bread and melts into its warm crumb, delivering an irresistible boost of flavor. It’s certainly not a traditional, thick glaze in appearance, but rather a luscious, buttery topping that achieves the desired effect while keeping the sugar content wonderfully low. To achieve the right emulsified consistency for this glaze, you will need a small food processor or a blender. I speak from experience – attempting to whisk the butter, honey, and orange juice by hand proved futile, as the butter stubbornly refused to incorporate into the liquid. A quick spin in a machine, however, brings all the ingredients together beautifully, as shown in the image above, resulting in a smooth, flavorful topping.
Whether you opt for the buttery low-sugar glaze, a classic powdered sugar glaze, or choose to enjoy this orange zucchini bread entirely plain, you are in for a treat. Regardless of your topping preference, this bread promises a moist, tender crumb with a bright, uplifting citrusy orange flavor that shines through in every single bite. It’s a testament to how simple, wholesome ingredients can create something truly extraordinary.
Storage and Freezing Tips for Zucchini Bread
One of the best qualities of zucchini bread is how well it stores and freezes. To keep your freshly baked loaves moist, store them wrapped tightly in plastic wrap or in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3-4 days. For longer storage, this bread is an excellent candidate for freezing. Simply allow the loaves to cool completely, then wrap them tightly in plastic wrap, followed by a layer of aluminum foil. Label with the date and freeze for up to 3 months. To enjoy, simply thaw at room temperature. You can even slice the bread before freezing, making it easy to grab a single slice for a quick breakfast or snack.
Baking this healthy orange zucchini bread allows you to not only use up your garden’s bounty but also serve your family and friends a wholesome, incredibly flavorful treat. Go ahead and spread the word: your doorstep is always open for extra zucchini! With this delightful recipe in your arsenal, you’ll always have a delicious way to enjoy nature’s generosity.
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Orange Zucchini Bread Recipe (Whole Wheat & Honey Sweetened)
Ingredients
- 4 eggs
- 3/4 cup oil mild olive oil, cold-pressed sunflower oil, melted coconut oil, etc.
- 1 cup honey
- 1/2 cup orange juice
- 1 tablespoon orange zest
- 2 cup shredded zucchini
- 3½ cups whole wheat pastry flour
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1½ teaspoons baking powder
- 1½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts optional
Optional Low Sugar Glaze:*
- 1/4 cup butter, softened
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 2 tablespoons orange juice
- 1 teaspoon orange zest, optional
Instructions
Bread:
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Heat oven to 325 degrees F (160 C). Grease and flour two 8×4″ loaf pans.
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In a large mixing bowl, beat the eggs well. Then add the oil, honey, orange juice, orange zest, and shredded zucchini. Mix thoroughly until all wet ingredients are well combined.
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Stir in the whole wheat pastry flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon. Mix just until all the dry ingredients are incorporated and no flour lumps remain. If using, gently fold in the chopped nuts (pecans or walnuts).
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Divide the batter evenly between the two prepared loaf pans. Bake for 50-60 minutes, rotating the pans at the halfway mark to ensure even baking. The bread is done when a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
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Allow the loaves to cool in their pans for 10 minutes before carefully turning them out onto metal racks to cool completely. If using, prepare the optional glaze and spread it onto the slightly warm loaves.
Glaze:
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In a small food processor or blender, combine the softened butter and honey. Pulse until well mixed.
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With the motor running, gradually add the orange juice. Continue to process until the mixture is smooth and emulsified.
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(This creates more of a flavored butter topping than a traditional glaze, but it’s incredibly flavorful and keeps the sugar low!)
Notes
The nutrition facts below are an estimate for one slice, assuming each loaf is cut into 11 slices and includes the low-sugar glaze. These values can vary based on exact ingredients and portion sizes.
Nutrition
More Delicious Zucchini Recipes to Explore:
Whole Wheat No Fail Zucchini Bread
Honey Sweetened Dark Chocolate Zucchini Bread
Zucchini-Cinnamon Freezer Muffins
Amazing White Zucchini Cake with Broiled Caramel Nut Frosting