Sourdough Zucchini Bread
This is the best sourdough zucchini bread, made with sourdough starter discard. It is lightly sweetened, subtly spiced with cinnamon, and includes chopped walnuts for a satisfying crunch!

If you happen to have excess zucchini and leftover sourdough starter discard, don't miss out on making this easy sourdough zucchini bread recipe. In fact, why not bake a few loaves and store them in the freezer for later?
Similar to our recipes for sourdough lemon cake, sourdough pumpkin bread, and sourdough banana bread, this recipe is incredibly simple to make, and you'll be amazed by its tender and moist texture.
We love creating recipes that make good use of sourdough discard, as it helps minimize food waste while adding an extra layer of flavor to this quick bread.
This recipe offers a delicious way to encourage your family to consume more veggies too!
Enjoy this lightly sweetened quick bread at any time of the day, whether it's morning, noon, or night.

Ingredients needed
An added convenience of this recipe is that you don't need an electric mixer. The ingredients effortlessly come together with just a spatula, making the mixing process a breeze.

- freshly grated zucchini
- light brown sugar
- eggs
- sourdough starter
- vanilla extract
- avocado oil
- flour
- baking soda
- baking powder
- salt, cinnamon
- chopped walnuts
- chocolate chips or raisins (optional)

How to make it
Step 1: Preheat the oven
Preheat your oven to 350ยฐF (176ยฐC) and lightly grease a 9" x 5" baking pan.
Step 2: Prepare zucchini
Grate the zucchini using a box grater or a food processor. Use your hands to squeeze the zucchini to release any extra moisture and excess water. Leave the zucchini in a colander while you mix the remaining ingredients.

NOTE: To ensure consistent results with every bake, use grated zucchini that has been thoroughly drained to remove excess moisture. The variation in moisture content of each zucchini can greatly affect the outcome, and our method helps maintain consistency.
Step 3: Mix dry ingredients
Mix the dry ingredients together in a small bowl and set aside.

Step 4: Mix wet ingredients
In a large mixing bowl, combine the wet ingredients and stir until the mixture is smooth.
Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and stir until combined. Give the zucchini one last squeeze and fold it into the batter.

Step 5: Bake
Pour the batter into a greased 9โ x 5โ baking dish and bake at 350ยฐF (176ยฐC) for 55-60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
NOTE: The batter can be cold fermented in the fridge overnight after it has been mixed and poured into the baking dish. Keep it covered until you are ready to bake.

Step 6: Cool
Let the zucchini bread cool for 15 minutes. Run a butter knife around the edges to release them from the dish and transfer the bread to a cooling rack.
Enjoy warm or at room temperature.

How to store and freeze
For storage, once the sourdough zucchini bread has cooled entirely, cover it and keep any leftovers at room temperature for 1-2 days. Alternatively, you can store it in the refrigerator for up to 7 days.
If you wish to freeze the bread, wrap the cooled loaf first in plastic wrap and then in aluminum foil. It can be frozen for up to 3 months.
To thaw the frozen bread, allow it to thaw overnight in the refrigerator. Once thawed, bring it to room temperature before slicing and serving.

Recommended kitchen tools
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- 9" x 5" baking dish (affiliate link)
- mixing bowls (affiliate link)
More sourdough discard recipes:
We love sharing recipes that utilize sourdough discard. Browse through our sourdough discard recipes for a little baking inspiration. Here are just a few!
- sourdough brownies
- sourdough chocolate chip cookies
- sourdough banana nut muffins
- sourdough pop tarts

Sourdough Zucchini Bread
EQUIPMENT
Before You Begin
INGREDIENTS
Dry Ingredients
- 2 cups (240 g) all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons (8 g) baking powder
- ยฝ teaspoon (2 g) baking soda
- 1 teaspoon (5 g) fine sea salt
- 2 teaspoons (4 g) ground cinnamon
- ยฝ cup (60 g) chopped walnuts
Wet Ingredients
- 1 ยพ cups (220 g) grated zucchini
- 1 cup (220 g) light brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- ยฝ cup (125 g) sourdough starter discard
- 2 teaspoons (10 g) vanilla extract
- ยฝ cup (109 g) avocado oil
INSTRUCTIONS
- Preheat oven to 350ยฐF (176ยฐC) and lightly grease a 9" x 5" loaf pan.
- Grate 1 ยพ cups (220 g) grated zucchini using the large holes of a cheese grater. Place it in a colander and squeeze out excess moisture. Leave the zucchini in the colander while you mix the remaining ingredients.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the 2 cups (240 g) all-purpose flour, 2 teaspoons (8 g) baking powder, ยฝ teaspoon (2 g) baking soda, 1 teaspoon (5 g) fine sea salt, 2 teaspoons (4 g) ground cinnamon, and ยฝ cup (60 g) chopped walnuts.
- In a separate bowl, mix 1 cup (220 g) light brown sugar, 2 large eggs, ยฝ cup (125 g) sourdough starter discard, 2 teaspoons (10 g) vanilla extract, and ยฝ cup (109 g) avocado oil with a spatula until smooth. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix until just combined. Stir in the grated zucchini.
- Pour the batter into the greased baking pan and bake for 55-60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let the bread cool for 10-15 minutes before transferring it to a cooling rack. Slice and serve.
NOTES
- Adjusting salt: We use Redmonds fine sea salt weighing 5 grams per 1 teaspoon. If using regular table salt, use ยพ teaspoon. If using flaky sea salt, use a heaping 1 ยผ teaspoon.
- Flour: All-purpose flour can be substituted with bread flour.
- Long Ferment: After mixing and pouring the batter into the baking dish, you can cold ferment it in the fridge overnight. Just be sure to cover it until you're ready to bake.
- Discard Recipes: This recipe is designed to use leftover sourdough discard for added flavor and to reduce food waste. However, you can use an active starter if that's what you have on hand.
- Measuring Ingredients: Our recipes are developed using a kitchen scale for precise measurements. Measuring cups can lead to inconsistent results, so keep that in mind if youโre not using a scale.
- To store: Allow the bread to cool completely, then cover and store at room temperature for 1โ2 days or in the refrigerator for up to 7 days.
- To freeze: Wrap the cooled loaf in plastic wrap, followed by aluminum foil, then freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge or at room temperature before serving.




Very easy to make and so tasty! I made 4 small loaves and subbed chopped pecans for the walnuts.
This was delicious!
I would like to bake it again using mini loaf pans to gift friends &family.
Can you recommend how to adjust the temperature and time for mini loafs.
This recipe made delicious bread!
How would I adjust the temperature and cook time if I want to bake the recipe in 3-4 mini loaves?
Hi Jane. This will depend on the size of your pans, but I would keep the temperature the same and bake for 35-40 minutes. Keep an eye on it. Check to see if it's done with a toothpick.
This recipe is amazing! My husband usually doesn't like anything with zucchini in it and he loved this recipe!
If a person is ciliac, does the sourdough discard have a lot of gluten in it? I would make this bread with gluten free flour. Thank you!
If you are using a sourdough starter made with regular flour, then it will contain gluten and will not be safe for someone with celiac. We do have a recipe for gluten free starter.
We turned these into muffins and put them in for about 20 minutes at 3:50ยฐ and added a few chocolate chip chips! They turned out good but a little dry. I'll try a little less time next time.
Made this recipe today! It turned out amazing! Only change was I used Crisco oil instead of avocado oil! I did add roasted walnuts as you suggested. I highly recommend this recipe!
Would it work to use apples instead of zucchini?
Hi Agnes, we haven't tested this recipe with apples, so we're not sure how it would turn out.
Several people have commented that they had success using GF flour. Do you think this recipe would work substituting all-purpose flour with almond flour?
Hi Terri, I've never made it with almond flour so I don't feel confident if it would work or not.
Can I subsitute splenda for the sugar? Or half it. I am prediabetic.
Thanks
Hi Rosemary, I don't see why not! I would make it with baking Splenda since it's a 1:1 ratio to sugar.
I make this into muffins almost weekly! They are so good and my grandchildren LOVE them!