I Tried 5 Popular Zucchini Bread Recipes and Found My New Favorite

Now I can win summer for real.

Baking loaves of fragrant zucchini bread is one of my favorite summer activities. It's a tradition I picked up from my mom, who used to have warm slices waiting for us when we got home from summer camp. But while her loaves were always delicious, they required a fair amount of work, including wringing the zucchini dry of every last drop of water.

This summer, my goal was to find a recipe that put the "quick" in quick bread. I've tried several over the years, and have picked up plenty of tips: sprinkle the tops of the loaves with coarse sugar, cool them on their side, and always bake them the day before you plan to serve them. But I'd yet to find an easy, foolproof recipe I could return to again and again. So why not test five of the most popular zucchini bread recipes on Allrecipes and find my favorite there?

What Makes a Perfect Loaf of Zucchini Bread?

The perfect zucchini bread should come together quickly, with a few plump zucchini and a handful of pantry staples. The outer crust should bake up crisp and golden brown, while the inside should be moist, tender, and packed with the grated squash. It should be easily amenable to mix-ins, and versatile enough to enjoy with spreads and toppings, such as Nutella or salted butter. It should also dirty a minimal amount of dishes and stay soft for days after it's baked.

Which Zucchini Bread Recipes Did I Test?

I tested the five most popular zucchini bread recipes on Allrecipes, all of which received upwards of 4.5 stars. There was one with more than 11,000 reviews, one made with freshly grated lemon zest, one filled with walnuts and raisins, one with a perfect 5-star rating, and one with an unexpected spice. To keep things fair, I tested each recipe with the same brands of flour, baking powder, baking soda, spices, eggs, sugar, butter, and vegetable oil. Here’s what I found.

Most Cake-Like: Mom's Zucchini Bread

• Fast facts: Developed by Vicki Monte, has 8,685 reviews with a 4.8-star rating

This beloved zucchini bread will please kids and adults alike, thanks to its sweet vanilla-scented flavor and extra-moist texture. It's the perfect all-day "snacking cake" to keep on the counter: Enjoy it for breakfast, after lunch, or even for dessert. It would taste fantastic with sweetened cream cheese or a dollop of whipped cream.

Don't be alarmed if the loaves take the full 60 minutes to bake—the batter is very thick, so it needs time to cook through. And though this bread keeps well for several days after it’s made, you can pop it in the freezer for longer-term storage. Simply wrap it in plastic wrap followed by foil.

Get the recipe: Mom's Zucchini Bread

Most Unique: Lemon Zucchini Bread

• Fast facts: Developed by REBECITA, has 491 reviews with a 4.6-star rating

If you're one of the many fans of Starbucks' lemon loaf, you're guaranteed to fall hard for this lemon-scented zucchini bread. The two teaspoons of zest make it taste extra bright and light for summer, and because it's less sweet, you won't suffer a sugar crash after breakfast.

This loaf is also gorgeous, with a beautifully domed top and specks of zest throughout. Between its good looks and unique flavor, it's the perfect homemade gift, whether for new homeowners, new parents, or simply just because. It would also be a hit at a bake sale.

Get the recipe: Lemon Zucchini Bread

Quickest and Easiest: Applesauce Zucchini Bread

• Fast facts: Developed by Maria, has 3 reviews with a 5.0-star rating

This bread satisfied my wish for simplicity: Just mix the wet into the dry (no need to sift!), then pour the blended batter into two greased loaf pans. The use of oil and applesauce helps keep the bread moist, and the chopped pecans add a nice toasty crunch. The loaves emerged from the oven with picture-perfect, golden brown crusts, and sliced cleanly into thick slices.

It's worth noting that this is a mild-flavored bread, with only 1/2 cup of zucchini in each loaf. This makes it ideal for zucchini bread skeptics, or anyone who has just a small bit of squash to use up.

Get the recipe: Applesauce Zucchini Bread

Most Elevated: Chef John's Zucchini Bread

• Fast facts: Developed by Chef John, has 11 reviews with a 4.7-star rating

Similar to the recipe my mom used when we were kids, this one requires you to salt the zucchini to draw out the water, rinse it to remove the salt, then squeeze it dry before adding it to the batter. Unfortunately, this required extra time and effort dried out the bread, too. Between the dried-out zucchini and the use of melted butter rather than oil, the baked bread wasn't nearly as moist as other versions I tried.

But that's not to say it didn't have its perks! The butter did add richness, and the bread was nicely spiced, thanks to cinnamon, ground ginger, and freshly grated nutmeg. And, as one commenter put it, the unexpected pinch of cayenne added a nice "zing!" Next time, I'll balance the spices and vegetal flavor with the addition of chocolate chips.

Get the recipe: Chef John's Zucchini Bread

Best Overall: Mom's Spiced Zucchini Bread

• Fast facts: Developed by carriekdevine, has 63 reviews with a 4.8-star rating

Wow. This zucchini bread is truly spectacular, and all my taste-testers agreed. The generous amount of zucchini keeps it tender and moist, but there's a good amount of sugar, too, which offsets any bitterness. The mix of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves is spot on: Every bite is filled with warm spices (and the kitchen smells amazing as it bakes), but it's not too overpowering. I can't wait to try it as muffins!

Slicing into the first loaf revealed an even distribution of walnuts and raisins, which added interest to every bite. The only thing I'd add is a sprinkling of coarse sugar before baking, which is my go-to trick for practically any quick bread. Otherwise, no notes. It's truly everything I've been searching for.

Get the recipe: Mom's Spiced Zucchini Bread