• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Comfortable Food
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Cooking
  • Seasonal
  • Regional
  • About
    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • Cooking
    • Seasonal
    • Regional
    • About
    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×
    Home » Bread Recipes

    Cranberry Zucchini Bread with Walnuts

    BY: Ben Rayl PUBLISHED: 20 Apr, '22 UPDATED: 20 Apr, '22 Leave a Comment

    RecipePrintComments
    5 from 1 vote

    This cranberry zucchini bread with walnuts is incredibly delicious, easy to make, and packed with nuts, chocolate chips, cranberries. It's the perfect way to use up zucchini that makes bread recipes super moist, and this zucchini bread recipe stays fresh for ages to enjoy a slice for breakfast or lunch throughout the week.

    Cranberry zucchini bread with walnuts featured

    ⭐ Why this recipe works

    Zucchini bread with chocolate chips and walnuts is an easy and delicious way to use up summer squash. This sweet bread is perfect for breakfast, lunch, or dessert! Chocolate and zucchini are a match made in heaven in this tasty bread.

    The nutty zucchini bread takes over 1-hour to make using quality ingredients like chocolate chips, shredded zucchini, walnuts, cranberries, and some festive spices. This chocolate chip zucchini bread recipe is so moist and full of flavor that you'll want to make it again and again!

    Adding zucchini to the batter makes the bread super moist, and the leavening agents of baking soda and baking powder help the bread rise.

    Any home cook can easily make this delicious recipe using essential kitchen equipment and pantry ingredients. And it's perfect for any occasion, whether you have friends over for coffee or going to a picnic and potlucks!

    This zucchini bread recipe is also very versatile - you can add orange for a tasty orange zucchini bread, different nuts, or a variety of dried fruits. So feel free to experiment and make this chocolate zucchini bread your own!

    🍽 Key Ingredients

    The chocolate, nutty & cranberries zucchini bread uses high-quality ingredients that help the bread stay fresh for longer.

    Flour mixture - Use a combination of all-purpose flour, salt, baking soda, baking powder, and cinnamon. The baking powder and soda are the leavening agents that help the bread rise.

    Zucchini - Buy fresh zucchini and shred it yourself - this ensures that your bread will be moist.

    Dried fruit - Dried cranberries add a lovely sweetness.

    Nuts - Walnuts give the bread a lovely crunch.

    Wet ingredients - Use eggs, oil, vanilla, and sugar. The eggs help bind the ingredients together, while the oil and sugar add moisture.

    Chocolate - Use good quality chocolate for the chocolate chips. 

    Substitutions

    Cranberries

    This recipe uses cranberries, but you could also add raisins or dates.

    Walnuts

    You could substitute the walnuts for almonds, brazil nuts, or pistachios.

    Flour

    For a nuttier texture, you can use wheat flour instead of the all-purpose flour.

    🔪 How to make

    This is the best zucchini bread with walnuts you will ever try, and you can make it with my easy-to-follow steps and helpful top tips. It takes over an hour, and most of the work is done by the electric mixer.

    Preparations

    • Use a grater to shred the zucchini in a bowl.
    • Coarsely chop the whole walnuts.

    Cooking instructions

    1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (170 degrees Celsius) and grease a 9x5x3" loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray.
    2. Use an electric mixer to blend the oil, eggs, and sugar together in a large bowl, then add the vanilla and beat to combine.
    3. In a medium bowl, sift and combine the flour, salt, baking soda, baking powder, and cinnamon.
    4. Add the dry ingredients to the wet and use the electric mixer to blend the mixture until combined.
    5. Use a wooden spoon to stir in the grated zucchini, walnuts, cranberries, and add chocolate chips.
    6. Pour the mixture into your prepared loaf pan and bake for about 50 - 60 minutes until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
    7. Allow the zucchini and walnut bread to cool for about 15 minutes in the pan, then remove to a wire rack to cool completely.

    💭 Cooking tips

    Shred the zucchini

    I have one tip for making this bread: shred the zucchini using the large holes on a box grater. This will help prevent the zucchini from adding too much moisture to the batter.

    Don't overmix the batter

    Another important tip is to not overmix the batter. Once the wet ingredients are combined with the dry, mix in the zucchini and chocolate just until everything is incorporated - you don't want to develop too much gluten, which will make for a tough bread.

    Don't use a food processor

    Combining the ingredients in a food processor may be quicker, but it will also overwork the batter.

    📖 Recipe Variations

    This zucchini bread with walnuts is delicious as it is, but there are a few ways you could mix things up.

    Orange zucchini bread

    Swap the chocolate chips and walnuts for the zest and juice of 2 oranges to give the zucchini bread a lovely festive flavor, and use 2 teaspoons of cinnamon instead of 1.

    Zucchini bread with streusel topping

    Make a streusel topping by combining equal parts flour, sugar, and butter (half a cup). Mix in a teaspoon of cinnamon to taste, then sprinkle it over the top of the bread before baking.

    Chocolate chip zucchini muffins

    Simply divide the batter evenly among 12 greased muffin cups to make muffins. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for about 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

    🥗 What to serve with

    A slice of zucchini bread with walnuts is perfect in the morning with a coffee or toasted with melted butter and maple syrup for a quick sweet snack. 

    If you want to get really fancy, serve it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and a drizzle of chocolate sauce.

    Zucchini bread is packed with chocolate, fruits, and nuts - and therefore is quite filling on its own - and is best served on its own without the need for other dishes.

    However, if you want to serve it as part of a larger meal, it goes great with pancakes like my easy aunt jemima pancake recipe.

    🙋 Frequently Asked Questions

    Why does my zucchini bread sink in the middle?

    There are a few reasons why zucchini bread may sink in the middle. One reason could be that the batter was mixed too vigorously. Another reason could be that the baking powder or soda was old and not as effective. Lastly, opening the oven door while it's baking can cause sinking.

    Do you need to peel the zucchini?

    Nope! There's no need to peel the zucchini. The skin is actually relatively thin and will soften during baking.

    🧊 Storage

    Zucchini bread is excellent for storing at room temperature, refrigerated, and frozen once it has cooled completely.

    Room temperature - zucchini bread will stay fresh at room temperature for 4 days. Wrap it tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil, and place it in a cupboard away from direct sunlight.

    Fridge - Wrap it tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil, and it will stay fresh for up to a week refrigerated.

    Freezer - Wrap it tightly in freezer-safe wrapping or place it in a freezer container, and it will stay good for up to three months. Thaw it overnight in the fridge when you're ready to eat it.

    🍳 Related Recipes

    If you like my cranberry zucchini bread with walnuts recipe then you must try one my delicious recipes with zucchini as a main ingredient.

    • Featured orange zucchini bread
      Cranberry Orange Zucchini Bread
    • Chorizo pasta with zucchini featured
      Chorizo Pasta with Zucchini
    • Chocolate chip zucchini bread featured
      Chocolate Chunk Zucchini Bread
    • Stuffed zucchini boats featured
      Stuffed Zucchini Boats

    Looking for easy baking recipes? Check out my collection of fun things to bake.

    👪 Serving size

    This zucchini bread with walnuts recipe will give you approximately 10 servings, with 1 slice being 1 serving. You can scale this recipe up or down to cater to how many people you need to feed.

    Zucchini bread is a great way to use extra zucchini from your garden. This recipe is easy to follow and yields delicious results. Whether you enjoy it with nuts, dried fruits, and chocolate or some additions, this zucchini bread is sure to please. Enjoy!

    Subscribe Now

    Never miss a recipe!

    Thank you!

    You have successfully joined our subscriber list.

    .

    Love this breakfast recipe? Please leave a 5-star 🌟rating in the recipe card below and/or a review in the comments section further down the page.

    Try one of my comfort breakfast recipes for your next family meal! And if you have any questions, I'm here to help!

    Cranberry zucchini bread with walnuts

    Cranberry Zucchini Bread with Walnuts

    This zucchini bread with walnuts is incredibly delicious, easy to make, and packed with nuts, chocolate chips, cranberries. It's the perfect way to use up zucchini that makes bread recipes super moist, and this zucchini bread recipe stays fresh for ages to enjoy a slice for breakfast or lunch throughout the week.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Pin Rate Save Saved! Share
    Course: Baking, Breakfast
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 20 minutes
    Cook Time: 50 minutes
    Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
    Servings: 10 servings
    Calories: 528kcal
    Author: Ben Rayl

    Ingredients
     

    • 1 cup sunflower oil
    • 3 eggs
    • 1 ½ cups sugar
    • 2 teaspoon vanilla
    • 3 cups flour
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • 1 teaspoon baking soda
    • ½ teaspoon baking powder
    • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
    • 2 cups zucchini - grated
    • ½ cup walnuts - chopped
    • ½ cup dried cranberries
    • 1 cup chocolate chips

    Instructions

    • Preheat the oven to 350 and grease a 9x5x3" loaf pan.
    • In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to blend the oil and eggs and sugar together.  Add the vanilla and beat to combine.
    • In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, salt, baking soda, baking powder and cinnamon and stir to combine.
    • Add the dry ingredients to the wet and use the electric mixer to blend together until combined.
    • Use a wooden spoon to stir in the zucchini, walnuts, cranberries and chocolate chips.
    • Pour the mixture into your prepared loaf pan and bake until a toothpick test comes back clean - about 50 - 60 minutes.
    • Allow to cool for about 15 minutes in the pan, then remove to a wire rack to cool completely.

    Notes

    Shred the zucchini
    I have one tip for making this bread: shred the zucchini using the large holes on a box grater. This will help prevent the zucchini from adding too much moisture to the batter.
    Don't overmix the batter
    Another important tip is to not overmix the batter. Once the wet ingredients are combined with the dry, mix in the zucchini and chocolate just until everything is incorporated - you don't want to develop too much gluten, which will make for a tough bread.
    Don't use a food processor
    Combining the ingredients in a food processor may be quicker, but it will also overwork the batter.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 528kcal | Carbohydrates: 66g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 27g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 49mg | Sodium: 385mg | Potassium: 154mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 35g | Vitamin A: 123IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 38mg | Iron: 2mg

    More Bread Recipes

    • Featured how to make the perfect pizza dough
      Best Easy Pizza Dough with All-Purpose Flour
    • Featured jalapeno cheddar cornbread
      Jalapeño Cheddar Cornbread
    • Featured starbucks pumpkin bread
      Starbucks Pumpkin Bread
    • Cream cheese banana nut bread recipe 3
      Cream Cheese Banana Bread

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Chef Ben Rayl

    Hi, I'm Ben!

    I believe comfort food unites us, and I want to inspire you to cook at home with everyday ingredients. It is easier and takes less time than you think, costs less than eating out, and tastes a million times better.Read More

    Feel free to share our recipes on your blog using a photo and link back to the original recipe.

    Cooking How-tos

    • How many ounces in a quart featured 2
      How Many Ounces in a Quart
    • Jasmine rice featured
      How to make Perfect Jasmine Rice
    • How to brine a turkey
      How To Brine A Turkey
    • What is wagyu beef explained
      What Is Wagyu Beef?

    Italian Recipes

    • Tiramisu featured 1
      Easy Tiramisu Recipe
    • Different types of pasta featured
      32 Different Types of Pasta
    • Pizza pasta featured 2
      Pasta Pizza Casserole
    • Pizza soup featured 3
      Pizza Soup

    Comfort Casseroles

    • Featured chicken broccoli casserole
      Chicken Broccoli Casserole
    • Featured beef enchilada casserole
      Beef Enchilada Casserole
    • Featured chicken wild rice casserole
      Chicken Wild Rice Casserole
    • Featured pics
      Cabbage Roll Casserole

    Best Comfort Recipes

    • Soup recipes with few ingredients
      35 Easy Soup Recipes with Few Ingredients
    • Featured shredded chicken
      28 Easy Recipes with Shredded Chicken
    • Chorizo recipes featured
      26 Easy Chorizo Recipes
    • Cream of chicken recipes
      20 Easy Cream of Chicken Recipes
    • Panini recipes
      25 Best "Gooey Panini Recipes"
    • Easy kielbasa recipes
      30 Easy Kielbasa Recipes

    Footer

    Subscribe Now

    Never miss a recipe!

    Thank you!

    You have successfully joined our subscriber list.

    .

    About

    • Contact
    • Privacy
    • Disclosure
    • Accessibility

    Recipes

    • Dinner Recipes
    • Lunch Recipes
    • Breakfast Recipes
    • Side Dish Recipes
    • Appetizer Recipes
    • Dessert Recipes

    More

    • Cooking How tos
    • 35 Easy Soup Recipes with Few Ingredients

    Favorites

    • Bruschetta Recipe
    • Breakfast Casserole with Bacon
    • Greek Lemon Chicken Soup
    • Chicken and Biscuits
    • Chicken Casserole with Ritz Crackers

    ↑ back to top

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2021 Comfortable Food · All Rights Reserved