This classic gluten-free zucchini bread is one of the easiest recipes you can make. It is a great way to use up those zucchinis growing in your garden or just a delicious way to sneak more vegetables into your diet. Add chopped nuts such as pecans or walnuts, dried fruit, or even chocolate chips to the batter for a little something extra. This gluten-free zucchini bread recipe is the perfect recipe to try if you are new to gluten-free baking. Made with simple ingredients it is not only gluten free but also dairy-free. t

Jump to:
- Recipe Ingredient Notes
- Kitchen Equipment Needed to make Zucchini Bread
- Pro Tips for making Zucchini Bread
- How to make zucchini bread
- How to freeze Zucchini Bread
- Why you should sift dry ingredients
- FAQ for Gluten Free Zucchini Bread
- Baking in grams
- Note about Ovens and Oven Temperatures
- Substitutions and Modifications
- More Gluten Free Recipes to try
- 📖 Recipe
- 💬 Comments
Recipe Ingredient Notes
Gluten Free Flour: I use my gluten-free flour blend in this recipe. I also tested this recipe with Bob’s Red Mill 1 – to 1 and King Arthur Measure for Measure and both blends work great. All those blends mentioned already contain xanthan gum. If you would like to make this an even healthier zucchini bread, feel free to substitute up to 75 grams of gluten-free multipurpose flour with buckwheat flour.
Grated Zucchini: Please make sure you wash your produce before using it. It is important to mention to squeeze out as much liquid as possible from your shredded vegetables. If you own a potato ricer, that's the perfect tool for this job. You can also just use a clean dish towel. Paper Towels are an option as well but they tend to break.
Unsweetened Apple Sauce: It's no secret that unsweetened apple sauce can be used to replace parts of the fat used in baked goods. Make sure to use unsweetened apple sauce without any added flavorings. I do NOT recommend replacing all the oil with apple sauce.
Spices: Zucchini bread tastes like the combination of spices you add to the batter along with brown sugar which provides a hint of molasses. Make sure not to skip the spices.
Optional Add-Ins: If you like, you can add chopped nuts (such as pecans or walnuts), dried fruit (such as dried cranberries), or chocolate chips to your gluten-free zucchini bread batter. I only recommend using a total of 100 grams or less.
Kitchen Equipment Needed to make Zucchini Bread
This gluten-free chocolate zucchini bread recipe is very simple to make and doesn't require any fancy equipment. You will need a box grater to grate the zucchini (you may also use your food processor), a large bowl to mix the zucchini bread batter, a small bowl for the dry ingredients, a whisk, a rubber spatula, and a small offset knife. You will also need an 8.4”x4.5”x4.1 Pullman Loaf Pan but a standard 8x4 loaf pan will work as well.

Pro Tips for making Zucchini Bread
When it comes to choosing the zucchini to make gluten-free zucchini bread, using smaller zucchinis is better. Smaller zucchinis have more moisture and sweetness while supersized zucchinis can be dry and bitter. Definitely not something you will want in your zucchini bread.
To shred zucchini for bread, you can use the small grates on a box grater or use the shredding attachment for your food processor. I don't recommend blending the zucchini (unless you plan to make zucchini soup)
If you use small zucchinis, there is no need to remove the seeds before grating them. The seeds should be so small, that they just dissolve. IF you use large, oversized zucchini you may need to remove the seeds before grating them.
Because smaller zucchinis are moist, I highly recommend squeezing the grated zucchini before adding it to the bread batter. The extra moisture can cause your gluten-free quick bread to not bake fully and be underbaked and dense.
To squeeze zucchini you can either use a potato ricer, clean kitchen towels, or a few sheets of paper towel. Please be aware paper towels tend to break easily.

How to make zucchini bread
This gluten-free zucchini bread recipe is the perfect recipe to make if you are new to gluten-free baking. The most labor-intense task of this recipe may be grating and squeezing the zucchini.
Step 1: Preheat your oven to 350F. Spray the loaf pan with some cooking spray and line it with parchment paper. Set aside. Make sure to leave some overhang which will help to remove the fully baked zucchini bread from the pan.
Step 2: Shred and measure out the zucchini and squeeze all the excess moisture. You will need 225 grams of shredded and squeezed zucchini (so make sure to measure it AFTER squeezing it)

Steep 3: Sift or stir together the gluten free flour, baking powder, baking soda, kosher salt, cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg in a bowl and set aside.
Step 4: In a large mixing bowl combine both sugars, unsweetened apple sauce, eggs, vanilla extract, and vegetable oil and whisk together until the sugars are fully dissolved.
Step 5: Add the dry ingredients to your wet ingredients and mix with a spatula until fully combined. While we don’t have to worry about building gluten, try not to overmix your batter. Fold in the shredded zucchini and any add-ins you may use (such as nuts or chocolate chips)

Step 6: Transfer your gluten-free zucchini bread batter to your prepared loaf pan and use a spatula, spoon or small off set to smooth it out evenly. At this point, you can refrigerate the unbaked zucchini bread batter for up to 24hrs before baking it.
Step 7: Bake at 350F for 55-65 minutes. Remove the best zucchini bread when it is golden brown and a toothpick or cake tester inserted in the center of the loaf comes out clean. (If using a digital thermometer, the internal temperature should be 200F or higher.
Remove from the oven, and allow for the zucchini bread to cool in the loaf pan for 10-15 minutes. Remove it from the loaf pan and transfer it to a cooling rack to cool completely.
Store the gluten free zucchini bread at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

How to freeze Zucchini Bread
During peak zucchini season you may want to bake a few extra loaves of zucchini bread and freeze them. Zucchini bread - sliced or unsliced - freezes very well. If you are freezing an entire loaf, wrap the completely cooled bread in plastic wrap and place it in a large ziplock bag. You can freeze quick bread for up to 6 months.
If you plan on freezing slices of GF zucchini bread, wrap each slice in plastic wrap and place the slices into a freezer bag. Freeze them for up to 3 months. To defrost an entire loaf of zucchini bread, the best way is to allow for it to sit at room temperature for several hours (make sure to unwrap it). You can defrost slices quickly in the microwave or in a toaster.
Why you should sift dry ingredients
Sifting dry ingredients together may seem like an extra step Chefs like to add to the recipe but there is actually a reason behind the sifting. Not only does sifting dry ingredients make sure all the ingredients are blended well but it also helps to lighten up the flour mixture. You don’t need a fancy kitchen tool for this. I use a strainer I have had for as long as I can remember. I place it over the bowl of my kitchen aid mixer and sift the ingredients right into my bowl.

FAQ for Gluten Free Zucchini Bread
There is no need to peel zucchini for zucchini bread. Just make sure to give it a good rinse before grating it.
Yes, you can make the batter for quick breads the night before and bake them in the morning. Keep this in mind for the holidays – think fresh-baked quickbread on Thanksgiving or Christmas Morning but without making a huge mess in your kitchen the second you get up. Resting the batter for several hours or even overnight gives the starches in the flour more time to absorb the moisture from the liquid ingredients used in the batter. I recommend baking your muffin batter within 24hrs.
Baking in grams
I share my recipes in grams and by weight since baking by weight is the most accurate way to bake. Digital Scales are very affordable and very affordable. You can purchase them on Amazon for less than a set of measuring cups. Measuring cups are very inaccurate and can cause significant errors when it comes to gluten-free baking or baking in general. Especially since I bake with gluten-free flours which weigh differently than “regular” flours. I do provide some ingredients like spices and leavening agents in measuring spoons. To learn more about Baking with a digital scale, make sure to check out my post about Baking by weight.
Note about Ovens and Oven Temperatures
All my recipes are tested and developed with a conventional oven. I always bake my baked goods on the rack placed in the MIDDLE of my oven. This way the heat coming from the bottom will not burn my baked goods.
If you are baking with convection (fan-forced), please adjust the recipes accordingly. Be also prepared that the convection oven can cause your baked goods to dry out quickly and still be raw inside. Be aware that it takes at least 15-20 minutes for a standard American Oven to be fully preheated. I highly recommend investing in an Oven Thermometer.
Substitutions and Modifications
Any dietary or ingredient modifications/substitutions to this recipe may alter the end result in appearance and taste. I test my recipes several times as published in this post and The Gluten Free Austrian Blog is not responsible for the outcome of any recipe you find on our website.

More Gluten Free Recipes to try
📖 Recipe
Gluten Free Zucchini Bread

This classic gluten-free zucchini bread is one of the easiest recipes you can make. It is a great way to use up those zucchinis growing in your garden or just a delicious way to sneak more vegetables into your diet. Add chopped nuts such as pecans or walnuts, dried fruit, or even chocolate chips to the batter for a little something extra.
Ingredients
Gluten Free Zucchini Bread
- 300 grams gluten free flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 150 grams light brown sugar
- 50 grams granulated white sugar
- 100 grams unsweetened apple sauce
- 90 grams neutral oil
- 2 large eggs, at room temperature
- 225 grams shredded, squeezed grated zucchini
- 100 grams of add-ins (nuts, dried fruit, chocolate chips))
Instructions
How to make Gluten Free Zucchini Bread
- Preheat the oven to 350F and line your loaf pan with parchment paper and set aside
- Finley shred and squeeze zucchini. Measure out 225 grams AFTER squeezing.
- Sift together the gluten-free flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg in a bowl and set aside.
- In a separate bowl combine the sugars, unsweetened apple sauce, eggs, and oil and whisk together.
- Add the dry ingredients to your wet ingredients and mix with a spatula until fully combined.
- With a rubber spatula fold in the shredded zucchini and any add-ins you may add.
- Transfer the zucchini bread batter to the prepared loaf pan and with a small offset knife or a spatula smooth out evenly.
- Bake at 350F for 55-65 minutes, The loaf is done when it is golden brown and a toothpick or cake tester inserted in the center of the loaf comes out clean. (If using a digital thermometer, the internal temperature should be 200F or higher)
- Remove from the oven, and allow for the zucchini bread to cool in the loaf pan for 10-15 minutes. Remove it from the loaf pan and transfer it to a cooling rack to cool completely.
Recommended Products
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
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Katbite 200PCS 12x16 In Heavy Duty Flat Parchment Paper, Parchment Paper Sheets for Baking Cookies, Cooking, Frying, Air Fryer, Grilling Rack, Oven(12x16 Inch)
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King Arthur, Measure for Measure Flour, Certified Gluten-Free, Non-GMO Project Verified, Certified Kosher, 3 Pounds, Packaging May Vary
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Amagabeli Pullman Loaf Pan with Lid 8.4”x4.5”x4.1” Loaf Tin with Lid Bread Toast Mold with Cover
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
12Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 241
Calories are a guestimate.
Emily says
These muffins look and sound incredible! Can't wait to try them!
Kelli says
I truly appreciate the fact that you give suggestions and tips for dairy free alternatives in addition to being gluten free. Love your other recipes and we can’t wait to try this one, too!
Daniela Weiner says
Kelli, you are very welcome. I try to include dairy-free recipes on a regular basis since several readers have requested more dairy-free options. While I am "Team Butter" I can only handle a limited amount of dairy myself (whole milk is not my friend).
Megan Levonyak says
Would you recommend potentially baking this as a cake rather than muffins? If so, what size/type of pan would you use?
Daniela Weiner says
I have not baked this in a pan but since this recipe gives you 12 muffins I would use a 9x9 pan. Or a 9" round pan. Bake it at 350F. As for baking time. I would start with 35 minutes and keep an eye on it. I am not comfortable giving you an exact baking time since I haven't tried it.
Andrea says
5 stars for these muffins! The crumb and spice are perfect. My daughter, who doesn’t eat gluten free, took a muffin to work. She texted me “These muffins are amazing!” She had no idea they were gluten-free
Patricia says
This bread looks wonderful, but I am allergic to eggs. Do you ever bake without eggs?
Daniela says
thank you. I have celiac disease and my focus is gluten-free. Sometimes I share egg free recipes like my chocolate chip scones.
Patricia says
Thank you. Yes, my husband has celiac disease also. I am allergic to eggs and dairy. Dairy is not so bad, it is the egg free that is my problem with baking ! (of course I love eggs !. so hard!)
Daniela says
Have you ever tried duck eggs?
Daniela says
Patricia, please check out this recipe for a vegan, gluten-free chocolate cake. No eggs, dairy or gluten.
Daniela says
You may try this recipe with aquafaba (6 Tablespoons) instead of the two eggs but I have not tested it so I can't promise it will work.
Jacqui says
Instead of eggs I used flax eggs, and it worked out great anyways! Such a fabulous recipe.
Lisa says
This is a solid recipe for GF zucchini bread. My kids even approved!
Jenny says
Been craving zucchini bread this whole pregnancy so I was excited to give this recipe a try at 39 weeks…it didn’t disappoint!!
nancy says
ive been craving a moist bread loaf and this recipe was super easy to make
Amanda says
I love zucchini bread, and it came out beautifully! It was super moist, and I loved the depth of flavor those spices added.
Sharon says
I am always looking for new zucchini bread recipes and this gluten-free version came out perfect! Great for when you have guests who eat gluten-free.
Marlene Copeland says
I have a recurring problem that my gluten free quick breads (zucchini, banana, etc.) are always undercooked in the very center of the loaf. If I baked any longer the rest is overdone. I'd love your advice on how to avoid this.
Daniela says
Marlene, I highly recommend using a Pullman loaf pan. I used to have this issue all the time and it was because a pullman pan is taller - therefore the chances of the loaf collapsing are lower
Leslie says
I love to make zucchini bread for friends and neighbors to give out during the summer. Having a gluten-free recipe is crucial these days. Keeping this one in my back pocket!
Amanda Mason says
This zucchini bread turned out delish! The game changer with this recipe was the applesauce. Great gluten free recipe that is super moist...loved it!
Uma says
I love this zucchini bread and I agree It is a great way to use up those zucchinis and a delicious way to sneak more vegetables into your diet.
Lori | The Kitchen Whisperer says
My sous chef is gluten-free and LOVE zucchini anything. I made this for her and she went nuts over it! This is honestly incredible! We both couldn't stop eating it!
Loreto and Nicoletta says
My mom loved making zucchini bread. You have brought back all those lovely memories. She also loved using the small zucchini from their garden! Lovely post!🥰😋👍👌🙏
Lauren Michael Harris says
I am saving this recipe for this summer when our zucchini starts to really come in. My husband is gluten free and loves zucchini bread so we will definitely be making this!
Cathleen says
Can you believe that I have never made zucchini bread before?? Your gluten free version looks too good NOT to make!! Trying it tonight, thanks so much for the recipe 🙂
Connie says
I just made this gluten free Zucchini bread for the first time and it came out perfect!!! I usually follow the recipe exactly as it's written the first time to see how it turns out and then tweak as needed but it's so good no tweaking needed. I did add chocolate chips because I always do to my banana breads and this did not disappoint. Will be making this a lot more to freeze with all the zucchini that I get from my garden that I planted for the first time this year. Thanks for a great recipe!!!!
Daniela says
Hooray! Thank you Connie for this kind comment. I really need to update the photos on this post but like you said, the recipe is spot on!