This has got to be the BEST lemon zucchini bread. It’s incredibly soft, moist, super flavorful and it’s gluten free AND dairy free! You would never even know it because it’s just that good. This is one of those recipes that I find myself craving all the time. With how easy it is to make, I’m tempted to just have a loaf around at all times!

This post is sponsored by Bob’s Red Mill but all thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that make Butternut Bakery possible!

How to make the most PERFECT lemon zucchini bread

And by perfect I mean a super flavorful and moist lemon zucchini bread. I seriously cannot get over the texture of this stuff! Immediately after I was done photographing it, I just sat on the floor and continued to eat 2 slices. I have no shame.

It all starts with the zucchini. The trick is to shred it using the medium-sized grate on a box grater. It should resemble finely shredded cheese. I prefer to shred it to this size because it releases so much more moisture, giving a delicious texture to this zucchini bread.

You can’t actually taste the zucchini, although it does help to balance out some of the sweetness. The main purpose of baking with zucchini is to add tons of moistness to a recipe.

I also wanted to load this up with lemon flavor. Often times, lemon desserts just lack that tangy punch. Don’t be afraid to add in more than you think you’ll need!

That’s my secret to baking perfect lemon desserts. Tons of fresh lemon juice and zest. It shines through here and in my lemon poppy seed muffins.

Another interesting step is to rub together the sugar and lemon zest before adding in the other ingredients. The sugar is abrasive, so it helps to loosen up the zest and release even more flavor. Through this process, you’re flavoring the sugar to create a tastier lemon loaf!

the top of a freshly baked gluten free lemon zucchini bread

lemon glaze being drizzled on a lemon zucchini bread loaf

How to make lemon glaze

Lemon glaze is possibly the easiest thing you can make. It’s made up of just two ingredients: powdered sugar and lemon juice.

Simply whisk the two together until no lumps remain. If you like a thicker glaze, cut back on the amount of lemon juice you use. If you want it a bit thinner, reduce the amount of powered sugar.

It’s best to pour it on top when the lemon zucchini bread is still a bit warm. This allows it to slowly sink in to the top layer which enhances that lemon flavor.

If you really love lemon like I do, sprinkle some extra lemon zest on top!

If you plan on serving the bread later, wait and drizzle on the glaze when it’s ready to serve. This is because as the bread sits, the glaze continues to sink in which makes the bread look kind of ugly. Still delicious! Just not as presentable.

What makes this lemon zucchini bread gluten free?

Say hello to seriously the easiest gluten free dessert you’ll ever make. It’s all thanks to Bob’s Red Mill 1-to-1 Gluten Free Baking Flour. I bake with this stuff ALL the time because of how simple it is to create delicious gluten free recipes.

This is because it’s a 1-to-1 replacement so wherever you use regular flour, just swap it out with this gluten free baking flour.

Typically, you need to account for gluten free flour AND some sort of thickening agent like xanthan gum. With the Bob’s Red Mill gluten free flour, it’s already mixed in!

And you can trust that it is absolutely 100% gluten free because Bob’s Red Mill gluten free products are produced in a dedicated facility and batch tested to ensure it’s completely gluten free.

The best part is that you’d never even know this is gluten free. Although, gluten free baking has become SO good that you can never really tell. But for any naysayers you know out there that believe gluten free baking is less than, serve them this and it’ll totally change their mind.

a slice of lemon zucchini bread being picked up

Making this an EASY dairy free and gluten free lemon zucchini bread recipe

Ok so we’ve covered the reasons why this is an amazing gluten free recipe but let’s not forget about why it’s an amazing dairy free lemon zucchini bread too!

With so many options out there, baking dairy free dessert recipes has become so much more accessible and approachable. That’s why I love it so much!

For this recipe, I used an ingredient I’m sure we’re all familiar with and that’s oil. Using a mildly flavored oil like vegetable or canola oil makes this zucchini bread super moist and keeps it that way for days.

Typically, I like to add Greek yogurt or some sort of thick dairy ingredient to add even more moisture and structure. As a simple swap, I used canned coconut milk. You can find it at your local grocery store, just make sure you DON’T get the light kind.

When you open a can, you have a thick and creamy substance on top with the thinner coconut water on the bottom. The magic is in the coconut cream at the top. It acts almost exactly like yogurt or sour cream would to give this lemon zucchini bread the perfect texture.

close up on a slice of moist lemon zucchini bread

a bite taken from a slice of lemon zucchini bread

For more brunch dessert recipes, check out my:

Make sure to tag me @butternutbakery on Instagram or comment below if you make this Lemon Zucchini Bread. To pin this recipe and save it for later, you can use the button on the recipe card, the buttons above or below this post, or on any of the photos above. Happy baking!