Paleo Orange Zucchini Bread (Quick Bread Recipe)

by Lindsay Cotter · 06/17/2019

This Orange Paleo Orange Zucchini Bread is a healthier version of a classic zucchini quick bread recipe. Easy to make, refined sugar free, and dairy free. The orange ginger glaze is optional, but delicious when drizzled on top.

A loaf of orange zucchini bread on white cutting board with several thick slices cut from loaf. Topped with orange slices.

Favorite zucchini QUICK BREAD just got a makeover!

If you could choose one bread to live off the rest of your life, what would it be? Is that too much to ask on a Monday? Ha, perhaps. But I’m going to go ahead and answer this for you. Zucchini Bread! Why? Because you get a serving of vegetables in a lightly sweet and delicate quick bread form. Slather with clarified butter or coconut oil and you’ve got a serving of healthy fats.

And this paleo(ish) orange zucchini quick bread might be the bread of life. Packed with ALL THE THINGS! Vegetables, fruit, lightly sweet, healthy fats, grain free, moist (ugh, hate that word but it’s true), and packed with Vitamin C. That’s justifiable. No? Kidding. Kinda.

It’s legit delish and perfect for summer baking!

Healthy zucchini bread recipe coming at ya –

Now, let me tell you why I ended making batches of this zesty paleo zucchini bread. Get ready… nerdy nutrition talk comin’ at ya once again.

You see, we’re entering into crazy summer heat. Heat can cause stress on the body. So can summer vacation with your family. I kid, I kid. But in all seriousness, a little (acute) inflammation is good for the body, allowing it to repair and rebuild properly. Chronic inflammation is a whole other story! If you want more information on that topic, check out our Anti-inflammatory Starter Kit.

Either way, we’re still in need of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory rich foods. Hence this extra burst of Vitamin C in this paleo zucchini bread.

A loaf of orange zucchini bread in silver loaf pan sitting on wooden cutting board. Topped with thinly sliced orange

Orange zucchini bread on white cutting board with several slices cut from loaf, topped with baked-in thinly cut oranges.

But wait, there’s more!

All these ingredients are high in antioxidants (think Vitamins and such).

Fresh Oranges and Orange Juice– High in antioxidant VITAMIN C. Oh yea!
Ground Ginger– Rich source of antioxidants including gingerols, shogaols, zingerones, and more. These antioxidants in ginger root do wonders for the body and can help reduce inflammation in the muscles. So less soreness!
Almonds – Rich in antioxidant Vitamin E (fat soluble vitamin), which can help fight against free radicals and oxidative stress. WOO! Although Vitamin E diminishes with high heating, you can still get a great source with this almond flour base.
Zucchini– Rich in Vitamin C and A. Plus did you know the squash seeds are said to be microbial and help with immunity? Yep, very cool!

Now you might be wondering… “That’s all fine and dandy Lindsay, but how can a glaze with sugar be healthy?”

Okay you might not have been wondering that, but I’ll answer for you anyways.

KEEP READING…

REFINED SUGAR FREE ZUCCHINI BREAD OPTION:

To make this bread UBER healthy, skip the real sugar and the glaze. Instead, opt for a refined sugar free sweetener like coconut sugar, maple syrup, or honey (see this meal plan for more info on refined sugar free). Ya’ll, it’s still delicious and lightly sweet, even without the glaze. I promise!

Tips for making paleo zucchini quick bread!

All ingredients for orange zucchini bread arranged on wooden cutting board.

Ingredients you need –> eggs, almond flour, coconut flour, ginger, fresh orange juice, zucchini, unrefined sugar, coconut milk or almond milk.

Zucchini prep tip —> The key to zucchini bread success is making sure you get most of the water out of the grated zucchini. Too much water will create soggy bread. You can do this by first grating the zucchini, then pressing it with a towel to remove excess water or placing it in a cloth and squeezing until all the water is removed. Then pat the grated zucchini dry and place in bowl.

After that, you simply mix the wet ingredients together and combine with your dry ingredients (sifted flour, sugar, etc.) . Once that’s mixed, all you have left to do is bake.

A thick slice of bread being cut from an orange zucchini loaf with a knife, on a white cutting board.

A woman's hand pouring orange glaze over thick slices of orange zucchini bread, on a white cutting board.

Once the zucchini bread is all done and baked, just drizzle a little ginger glaze on top and enjoy! Again, this is totally optional, but it’s a great brunch option when entertaining. Ya know?

We made a few batches already so I could freeze them for later. Speaking of freezing, stay tuned for our freezer friendly gluten free meal plan later this week.