Got Zucchini? We have the BEST Zucchini Bread Recipes

Now that summer is upon us, many gardens are in full swing. Some of the first fruits and vegetables are ready for picking. At our house, we have an array of tomato plants, zucchini, squash, cucumbers, eggplant, peppers, and green beans. We also have our fair share of herbs and berries, as we wait for our first crop of blackberries. Zucchini and summer squash are just starting to appear with a few pieces here and there. I know in about a week I won't know what to do with them.

My favorite is zucchini, not only can you cook with them, but they are great for baking, too. The best being zucchini bread. Over the past few years we have tried everything from traditional zucchini bread to chocolate zucchini bread and pineapple-zucchini bread.

The first is Mom's Zucchini Bread with Walnuts. This is a traditional zucchini bread made with white sugar and walnuts. It is moist and nutty and allows you to substitute different ingredients. If you like raisins, pecans or even craisins, this is a great recipe to add and subtract basic "add-on" ingredients (nuts, raisins, dried cherries, craisins).The second is Chocolate Zucchini Cake, which is the best zucchini bread I make. It has buttermilk and cocoa in the base with mini semi-sweet chocolate chips. It also contains cinnamon and allspice which give it an exceptional flavor. It is very moist and the chocolate is not overwhelming.Lastly, is the Pineapple Zucchini Bread. This is a very interesting bread as you add crushed pineapple and raisins. It has a pleasant vanilla flavor which works well with the pineapple and raisins. My mother made this as we were growing up and this was what I came to know as traditional zucchini bread.

With all the zuchini being picked, take advantage of shredding a few and making zucchini bread. These recipes are relatively easy to make and freeze well. I enjoy opening the freezer in September and enjoying some of my favorite zucchini breads, long after the garden fresh zucchini is gone.