Carrot-Zucchini Bread

I’m a big fan of carrot cake and zucchini bread, so I came up with this recipe that combines the two! It’s a really tasty way to eat your veggies! 🙂 Topping this moist, flavorful bread with a yummy cream cheese frosting just seemed like the right thing to do, and I decided I might as well add some chopped walnuts as a finishing touch!

I was very happy with how it turned out…I think the cream cheese frosting really adds to this quick bread, but if you’re watching your calories, it’s good without the frosting, too. This recipe makes two 8 x4 ” loaves.

Carrot-Zucchini Bread with Cream Cheese Frosting

  • Servings: 14
  • Difficulty: easy
  • Print

CARROT–ZUCCHINI BREAD WITH CREAM CHEESE FROSTING by NancyC

Makes two 8×4″ loaves                       Carrot-Zucchini Bread @ NancyC                         

  • 1 3/4 cups all-purpose unbleached flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1/2 cup canola oil
  • 1/4 cup honey
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
  • 3/4 cup shredded carrot
  • 1 cup grated zucchini
  • 1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Preheat oven to 325˚F. Grease and flour two 8×4″ loaf pans; set aside.

In medium-size bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and ginger.

In large bowl, mix eggs, oil, honey, and vanilla extract, blending well; then add brown sugar and blend well.

Gradually add flour mixture from medium bowl into the egg mixture, mixing well. Stir carrot, zucchini, and walnuts into the batter; mix until well combined. Pour batter into the greased and floured 8×4″ loaf pans. Bake 50-55 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Let cool in pans about 15-20 minutes before removing to a wire rack; completely cool the loaves before adding the frosting.

CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

  • 1/2 cup butter, softened
  • 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
  • 3 cups powdered sugar
  • 1 Tablespoon Half & Half (light cream)
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1/3 cup chopped walnuts for garnish

In medium-size bowl, blend softened butter and cream cheese; add powdered sugar and mix well. Add in the Half & Half and vanilla extract, and blend all ingredients well. Spread frosting liberally over the top of the carrot-zucchini bread and sprinkle with chopped walnuts. If you’re not serving the loaves right away, keep refrigerated until ready to serve.

Recipe from NancyC | nancy-c.com

This quick bread is a real treat, and it’s perfect for a snack or dessert! Have you used carrots in any quick bread or dessert recipes this season?

Sharing at Inspire Me Monday, Happiness is Homemade, Weekend Potluck, Farmhouse Friday, Grace at Home, Thursday Favorite Things, Full Plate Thursday, Homestead Blog Hop, LouLou Girls.

64 responses to “Carrot-Zucchini Bread”

  1. Yum! This looks delicious!
    I wonder if I could figure out a way to make this gluten free so my whole family could enjoy it!

    Just stopping by via TMTT!

    Have a great day!

    Like

  2. I have bookmarked this recipe! Thanks for sharing, I love your blog – beautiful food and fabulous photos! Found you through Somewhat Simple. 🙂

    Cath

    Like

  3. I just made this and it is delicious! We didn’t even using the icing and it is still fantastic! Thanks for sharing!

    Like

  4. This looks absolutely delicious!
    I’m definitely going to try this. I have one question thought; what do you mean with half & half for the cream cheese frosting? Maybe it’s because of Dutch I don’t understand 😉

    Like

  5. I just made this recipe and it’s great. I added roughly 1/2 more zucchini and about 1/4 cup more of carrots. I omitted the icing, didn’t want all of those sugary calories. The bread is a big hit in my house. Thanks Nancy!

    Like

  6. Hi! Awesome recipe 🙂 Is there any modification I can make to it if I want to bake this as a three layer cake? Of would the recipe stay the same? Can I also substitute applesauce for some of the oil? Thanks!

    Like

    • I’ve never tried it as a cake myself, so can’t tell you if it would work as a 3-layer cake. You should be able to sub applesauce for the oil.

      Like

  7. I made this loaf into 11 muffins. They took about 30 minutes to bake. I used brown cane sugar instead of brown sugar because that’s all I had. They turned out really well. 🙂

    Like

  8. I liked one commenter’s idea to add 1/2c more zucchini, and 1/4c more carrots. I also replaced the oil with applesauce. Was a little short on frosting ingredients, so I used only 1/4c butter, and 1 1/2c powdered sugar. Everything turned out AMAZING!! Although my loaf didn’t bake very well — the cupcakes were fluffier and more moist.

    Like

  9. I made this last night and it was a huge hit. So moist. Even without the icing it was not too sweet which was great. Love this recipe. Thank you for sharing it with us 🙂

    Like

  10. Wow! It’s my first time baking with zucchini and I am truly impressed. This recipe is moist, soft and delicious. Not to mention the cream cheese icing is to die for!! You would never know that there is zucchini in here! Thank you so much for sharing this recipe.

    Like

  11. I have made this recipe now for the 8th time. Never fails. I add pineapple juice and coconut oil instead of canola. I also cut the icing sugar in half as I find it too sweet otherwise. But hands down this is my favourite recipe. Thank you!!

    Like

    • You’re welcome, Brittany–thanks for sharing about your healthy substitutions in the recipe–using coconut oil and pineapple juice is a great idea!

      Like

  12. Your Carrot Zucchini Bread look delicious! Thanks so much for sharing with us at Full Plate Thursday and hope you are have a great week!
    Miz Helen

    Like

  13. Love your recipe, Nancy! Thank you so much for sharing with us at Thursday Favorite Things! I’ll be featuring your yummy recipe tomorrow on the party over at Shoestring Elegance! Happy Spring!

    Like

  14. I made your carrot zucchini bread substuting applesauce for the oil – it was delicious. I would like to add crushed pineapple as I have a carrot cake recipe that uses crushed pineapple what adjustments if any would you recommend ..???

    Like

  15. Oh my hat, this does look super duper delicious. Most definitely worth a pin and try.
    I visited you via Happiness Is Homemade Link Party
    If you are not already part of SSPS, this is a personal invite to hop over and come and share your posts with us at Senior Salon Pit Stop, every Monday to Saturday, and share your awesome post/s with us as well.
    See my entries: 44+46 to the bottom of my page for the Senior Salon Pit Stop linkup, we hope to meet you there virtually.

    Liked by 1 person

Comments are always appreciated!

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Discover more from NancyC

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading