This zucchini bread recipe blends wholesome ingredients like whole wheat flour, applesauce, and grated zucchini with warming spices for a healthier spin on a classic treat. Dried cranberries add a touch of tart sweetness, while a cinnamon-sugar topping offers a deliciously crisp finish. It’s the kind of loaf that’s perfect for sharing—moist, flavorful, and just fancy enough to make any morning feel special.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly coat a 9-by-5-by-3-inch loaf pan with cooking spray, and set aside. Grate zucchini on the large holes of a box grater (to yield 1 3/4 cups); set aside. In a large bowl, whisk together sugars, oil, applesauce, vanilla, and eggs.
Into a small bowl, sift together flours, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves, and salt. Add flour
mixture to egg mixture, and stir to combine well. Stir in grated zucchini and dried cranberries.
Pour batter into prepared pan, spreading evenly. Sprinkle with cinnamon/sugar mixture-if you wish. Bake until a toothpick inserted in center of loaf comes out clean, about 40-45 minutes. Cool in pan 10 minutes; invert onto a wire rack, then re-invert, top side up. Cool completely before slicing.