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Zucchini Bread with Cream Cheese Glaze – Easy & Best Streusel Recipe

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This isn’t your average quick bread. Unbelievably moist shredded zucchini, a crunchy cinnamon streusel topping, and a tangy cream cheese glaze make this the best zucchini bread you’ll ever bake. Perfect for breakfast or dessert, it’s a crowd-pleaser that hides a whole zucchini in every slice.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 ½ cups (190g) all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled)
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon (preferably Saigon cinnamon)
  • ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg (freshly grated if possible)
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • ½ cup (100g) granulated sugar
  • ½ cup (100g) packed light brown sugar
  • ½ cup (120ml) vegetable oil (or melted coconut oil)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 ½ cups (about 200g) shredded zucchini, squeezed dry
  • ¼ cup (30g) all-purpose flour (for streusel)
  • ¼ cup (50g) packed light brown sugar (for streusel)
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon (for streusel)
  • 3 tablespoons (42g) cold unsalted butter, cut into small cubes (for streusel)
  • 4 ounces (113g) cream cheese, softened (for glaze)
  • 2 tablespoons (30g) unsalted butter, softened (for glaze)
  • 1 cup (120g) powdered sugar, sifted (for glaze)
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract (for glaze)
  • 1–2 tablespoons milk (for glaze, to thin if needed)

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×5-inch loaf pan with parchment paper, leaving a 2-inch overhang on the long sides. Lightly grease the exposed ends with cooking spray or butter.
  2. Shred the zucchini using the large holes of a box grater. You’ll need about 1 ½ cups of shredded zucchini. Place it in a clean kitchen towel or several layers of paper towels and squeeze firmly to remove as much liquid as possible. You should end up with about 1 cup of squeezed zucchini.
  3. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Set aside.
  4. In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the eggs, granulated sugar, brown sugar, oil, and vanilla extract until smooth and well combined. The mixture should look glossy and slightly thickened.
  5. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir with a rubber spatula until just combined. A few streaks of flour are okay—overmixing will make the bread tough. Gently fold in the squeezed zucchini until evenly distributed.
  6. In a small bowl, combine the flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon for the streusel. Add the cold butter cubes and use your fingers or a pastry cutter to work the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. You should see small pea-sized butter pieces.
  7. Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and spread it evenly. Lightly dust the top of the batter with about 1 tablespoon of flour (just a thin, even layer). Then sprinkle the streusel evenly over the top.
  8. Bake for 50-60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with just a few moist crumbs. If the streusel is browning too quickly (around the 40-minute mark), tent the loaf loosely with aluminum foil.
  9. Let the bread cool in the pan for 15 minutes, then use the parchment overhang to lift it out onto a cooling rack. Cool completely before glazing.
  10. While the bread cools, beat the softened cream cheese and butter together until smooth. Add the sifted powdered sugar and vanilla extract, and beat until creamy. If the glaze is too thick, add milk one tablespoon at a time until it reaches a drizzle-able consistency. Drizzle over the cooled bread, letting it cascade down the sides.

Notes

Don’t skip squeezing the zucchini—too much moisture will make the bread soggy. The flour dusting trick is non-negotiable to keep the streusel on top. Room temperature ingredients matter for smooth batter and glaze. Let the bread cool completely before glazing to prevent the glaze from melting. Store glazed bread in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Unglazed bread can be frozen for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Keywords: zucchini bread, cream cheese glaze, streusel, quick bread, zucchini recipe, easy baking, breakfast bread, dessert bread

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