I’m still in farmers’ market mode! In fact, some of my own veggies are coming up in my back yard as well, so I’m looking for any excuse – recipe – to make the most of the goodies that are growing right now! We’ve had some reader requests lately for zucchini bread, and this seems as good a time as any to share this terrific recipe.

Traditional zucchini bread has always seemed unnaturally high in oil to me, so early on, I worked to make a light, airy and not oily zucchini bread that I could enjoy without the guilt. I use fruit and sour cream (non-dairy) to compensate for the reduced fat and sugar, and the results are fantastic: moist, fluffy and crunchy on the top (my son’s favorite part!). I like to make this bread as mini-loaves or muffins so I can share the love with friends. They’ll want more, I promise!

• 1/2 cup granulated cane sugar OR coconut palm sugar
• 1/2 cup shortening, butter OR non-dairy alternative (Earth Balance® Shortening or Buttery Sticks)
• 2 large eggs (or favorite egg sub like 2 Tbs. flaxseed steeped in 6 Tbs. warm water)
• 1/4 cup sour cream, dairy or non-dairy (Tofutti Better than Sour Cream®)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, gluten-free (Nielsen-Massey® Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla)
• 1/2 cup mashed, ripe banana (approximately 1 banana) OR 1/2 cup natural applesauce or apple butter
• 2 1/2 cups Jules Gluten Free™ All-Purpose Flour
• 2 Tablespoons flax seed meal (optional, but recommended) (Flax USA Real Cold Milled™ Golden Flax)
• 1 Tablespoon cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice
• 1 Tablespoon baking powder, gluten-free (Hain Purefoods Featherweight®)
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
• 2 cups packed, fresh zucchini, grated (approximately 1 zucchini squash)
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)
• cinnamon-sugar mixture to sprinkle on top

Preheat oven to 350° F (static) or 325° F (convection).

Beat sugar and shortening until fluffy, then add the eggs, sour cream, vanilla and mashed banana and mix well.

Sift all dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Pour slowly into the wet ingredient bowl and beat together until integrated. Fold in the zucchini and nuts. The batter will be stiff. Sprinkle with cinnamon-sugar mixture, if desired.

If baking as mini loaves, oil two 5-6 small loaf pans, filling each no more than 1/2 full. Bake for approximately 35 minutes, testing with a cake tester or toothpick to be sure the middle is cooked through. There should be few, if any, wet crumbs sticking to the tester when done. If baking as muffins, oil and fill 24 muffin tins halfway full. Bake for approximately 30 minutes, testing to be sure the middle is cooked through. If you are using mini-muffin tins, cook for only 15 minutes.