Zucchini Bread Muffins

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Total Time 35 minutes

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These Zucchini Bread Muffins are so moist, tasty, and flavorful, and are a great way to use up all that fresh, farmers market zucchini that’s in season right now.

If you’re in the mood for more sweet zucchini recipes, you’ve gotta try my Lemon Poppy Seed Zucchini Bread, Zucchini Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting, Chocolate Zucchini Bread, and Cinnamon Swirl Zucchini Bread

close up of a zucchini bread muffin broken in half with one half in front of the other on top of a cupcake liner with a fork on the side all on a plate.

 It’s that time of year when I get the urge to bake. I know, I know, it’s not fall for a while yet, but the weather has shifted ever so slightly in that direction and it’s like my mind has this imperceptible shift while I’m sleeping or something. I wake up with all the baking on my mind. Cookies (for a chocolate chip recipe, try my Double Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies), cakes, breads, and of course, muffins. (For recipe suggestions try my Caramel Pecan Pumpkin Cheesecake, Cream Cheese Frosted Pumpkin Bread, Breakfast Muffins.)

The farmers market is still in full swing just down the street from me and I am always sure to go if I can to load up with all that fresh produce every week. Right now there is an abundance of zucchini, which is fine with me because I can easily combine my desire to bake with my desire to use up my veggie overstock before they go bad. 

Zucchini muffins are easy to make (and even easier to eat, like, maybe three or more in a sitting, so consider yourself warned). Plus, the kiddos just love them for breakfast, snacks, lunch, more snacks, and as a side for dinner. Sometimes we can even get by with pawning them off as a dessert!

side by side images of zucchini bread muffins in a muffin tin unbaked and baked.

ARE ZUCCHINI MUFFINS HEALTHY?

I’ll be honest with you. Most baked goods, unless stated otherwise, aren’t as good for you as eating, say, an apple. However, most baked goods made at home ARE better for you than the packaged goods you buy at the store. Why? Well, because the baked goods you make at home have a shorter expiration date, which is a nice way of saying they are not packed full of preservatives that make them shelf-stable for months (or longer). 

Plus, these zucchini bread muffins aren’t overdoing it with the sugar and other ingredients aren’t terrible for you, either. Plus, you get all the vitamins and minerals contained in the zucchini that you wouldn’t get from, say, a chocolate chip muffin. 

If you want to make these muffins even healthier, you can bring the sugar down to ¾ cup and use ⅓ cup of applesauce instead of oil. You can also use whole wheat flour instead of white flour but to be honest, I’m not super well-versed in cooking with wheat flour so follow the manufacturer’s directions when substituting that one. 

close up top view of a zucchini bread muffin with other muffins around it all in a muffin tin.

HOW DO YOU STORE ZUCCHINI BREAD MUFFINS?

If, by any small chance, you have any of these muffins left after baking them (or you’re smart and make a double batch right off the bat), you can easily store them for later feasting. 

Place the muffins in a single layer in an airtight container and leave them on the counter up to three days. If you won’t eat them within the three-day window, then put them in the fridge. They will last up to a week if kept refrigerated. 

If you want to freeze a batch for later gorging, then I suggest placing the muffins in a single layer on a baking sheet or tray into the freezer until they are frozen all the way through. Then transfer them to a resealable freezer bag for easier storage.  

side by side images of zucchini bread muffins in a muffin tin.

HOW CAN I CUSTOMIZE ZUCCHINI BREAD MUFFINS? 

If you’d like to mix up the muffins in other ways beyond making them healthier, you’ve come to the right place. Other ways I’ve experimented (with good results, of course) is to: 

  • Hand mix in a half cup of mini chocolate chips to the muffins right before baking. 
  • If you like a little crunch in your muffins, consider adding a half cup to a cup (depending on how nutty you like your muffins) of chopped walnuts, pecans, or pistachios to the mixture before baking. 
  • Another fun way to make these zucchini bread muffins is to add in coconut, craisins, raisins, or dried (chopped) apricots, or another dried fruit that you enjoy. Start with half a cup to a cup and see if you like that amount before adding more. Don’t get too crazy adding in everything or the muffins won’t bake correctly and will be nothing but chewy. 
  • If you’d like them to be even more sweet, you can drizzle cream cheese frosting over the tops of the muffins after they come out of the oven. 
  • Make Zucchini Bread…bread. If you don’t have a muffin tin, don’t feel like making muffins or just prefer bread, then you can do that. Make this batter as directed, then cook at 350 for 45-60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean. 
  • Add lemon and poppy seeds for a delicious zucchini muffin treat. 
  • If you want to get a little crazier with the spices, try substituting cardamom for the cinnamon. Or mix the cardamom with the cinnamon and ginger and call it Chai-zucchini bread muffins.
a hand holding half of a zucchini bread muffin above a plate with the other half on it faded underneath.

What people are saying about these Zucchini Bread Muffins

“This has been the best zucchini recipe I’ve tried & I’ve tried six! From the ingredients list I didn’t think much of it but it tastes delicious. As a disclaimer I made zucchini bread instead of [muffins]. However the bread was moist and sweet. It did take about 20 minutes longer to bake, fyi. This recipe is a keeper!!!” – Michelle

Zucchini Bread Muffins easy recipe | lecremedelacrumb.com
4.93 from 494 votes

Zucchini Bread Muffins

These Zucchini Bread Muffins are so moist, tasty, and flavorful, and are a great way to use up all that fresh, farmers market zucchini that’s in season right now.
Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 20 minutes
0 minutes
Total: 35 minutes
Servings: 12 muffins
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Ingredients 

  • 1 ½ cups flour
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 2 large eggs, at room temperature
  • ½ cup oil
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 2 cup finely grated unpeeled zucchini

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease or line a muffin tin with paper liners.
  • In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
  • Whisk eggs into oil, then stir in vanilla. Stir wet ingredients into dry ingredients until just combined (mixture will be very thick and somewhat dry).
  • Fold zucchini into batter until incorporated.
  • Fill muffin tins 3/4 full.
  • Bake for 20-22 minutes until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.
  • Store at room temperature in airtight container up to 5 days or wrap individually with plastic wrap and store in the fridge or freezer up to 3 weeks. Serve at room temperature or pop them in the microwave for a few seconds and slather on a bit of butter.

Notes

Flavor tip: add chocolate chips!

Nutrition

Calories: 219kcal | Carbohydrates: 30g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 27mg | Sodium: 173mg | Potassium: 82mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 17g | Vitamin A: 81IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 21mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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Tiffany of Creme de la Crumb in the kitchen

Welcome!

Hey there, I’m Tiffany – chef, photographer, mother, and avid taco eater. I am passionate about turning simple flavors and ingredients into tasty meals the whole family will love, with minimal prep and cleanup so there’s more time to spend eating and enjoying. Stay awhile, and help yourself to a taco or two!

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4.93 from 494 votes (360 ratings without comment)

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291 Comments

  1. jeanne says:

    5 stars
    This is the BEST zucchini Muffin recipe I have found!!! everyone i make them for loves them!

    1. Tiffany says:

      So glad you’ve had such a good experience with this recipe! Thanks, Jeanne!

  2. Indiana says:

    5 stars
    Excelent. Didnt have oil, substituted with melted butter. Yummy. Added walnuts and raisins to add crunch. Can’t wait to try the cookies.

    1. Tiffany says:

      Awesome! Thank you for sharing!

  3. Stephanie says:

    Hi! Thank you for the recipe. They came out great. I subbed a few things- maple syrup for sugar (1/2 cup instead of 1), used a combo of oat flour and millet flour, plus extra whole oats because batter ended up being too thin/wet. I used coconut oil and, before baking, sprinkled tops with demerara sugar. 🙂 I had a little batter left over after filling muffin tins so I made a few mini muffins, too. So cute and yummy.

    1. Tiffany says:

      Awesome!! Thanks for sharing, Stephanie!

  4. Michelle says:

    5 stars
    This has been the best zucchini recipe i’ve tried & i’ve tried six! From the ingredients list i didnt think much of it but it tastes delicious. As a disclaimer i made zucchini bread instead of cupcakes. However The bread was moist and sweet. It did take about 20 minutes longer to bake, fyi. This recipe is a keeper!!!

    1. Tiffany says:

      Thanks for your input, Michelle!

  5. Carol Schultz says:

    Are you suppose to squeeze the moisture from the zucchini?

    1. Tiffany says:

      Nope, don’t squeeze out the moisture! Your batter will need it. I typically just grate the zucchini over a paper towel and then dump the zucchini straight into the bowl. 🙂

  6. granny says:

    5 stars
    WOW! This looks gorgeous AND delicious!

  7. Mary says:

    Does the cooking Time changE when you use applesauce instead of Oil?

    1. Tiffany says:

      The cooking time shouldn’t change!

  8. 2pots2cook says:

    5 stars
    So perfect timing for these beauties ! Thank you and have a nice day 🙂

  9. Gina Lane says:

    Are you sUre there is not SUPPOSED to be milk in these? I had to add Some almond milk because the CONSISTENCY was like cookie dough.

    1. Tiffany says:

      Hi Gina, Did you by chance squeeze the moisture out of the grated zucchini? The liquid from the oil, eggs, vanilla, combined with the moisture from the zucchini should be plenty to bring the batter together. 🙂

  10. Pat says:

    Can you tell me the calories for each muffin ir other nutritional values? Thanks

    1. Tiffany says:

      Hi Pat! I don’t have that information.. but you can easily get it by using MyFitnessPal. They have a great tool where you can input any recipe and it will generate that information for you!