Pineapple Coconut Zucchini Bread
By the time Labor Day rolls around, my resolve is weak. Those loaves of zucchini bread I’ve spotted in magazines and on Pinterest eventually wear me down. I pulled out my bowls and box grater and started mixing up a batch of this scrumptious, loaded Pineapple Coconut Zucchini Bread.
Add this Moist Zucchini Bread with Pineapple to your menu when summer zucchini is plentiful. You’ll become a fan after your first bite!
Why You Should Make one of the Best Zucchini Bread Recipes
The family tends to prefer their food sans nuts and “funny stuff,” as the hubby calls anything he’d rather not eat. So when I made this bread, I knew I might be eating it all myself. The sacrifices I make for this blog!! I made one small loaf sans nuts and one large loaf with the works, meaning walnuts, crushed pineapple, and coconut.
- The addition of pineapple makes this zucchini loaf nice and moist. And the coconut and nuts contribute to a more complex texture. I love the crunch from the walnuts.
- Quick or soda bread like this zucchini bread are great for hostess gifts, holiday gifts, and on and on. Attach a card with the recipe!
- This recipe makes TWO loaves. One for you and one to freeze or share.
Frequently Asked Questions
Select small zucchini which will be younger, more tender, with thinner skin and smaller seeds. The skin should be without blemishes and the color a vibrant dark to light green
Use a box grater or food processor. Just cut off a small slice from the stem end and grate.
Removing the excess liquid helps even the playing field. 2 cups of shredded zucchini will have different water contents depending on the condition of the zucchini used. This liquid will dilute the batter. This recipe was developed using squeezed zucchini so skipping this step won’t produce the best results.
Use the toothpick test. Poke a toothpick into the middle of the bread. If it comes out without batter on it, the loaf is done. Repeat this test in any crack, especially if you see batter lurking inside. If you see a few moist crumbs on the toothpick, that’s fine. But you do not want to see batter.
Different pans and different ovens will need more or less time. Mark your recipe card with the time that worked in your oven for future batches.
This can be done in the oven or in a large saute pan. Watch carefully as they can go from toasted to burnt in no time. In a saute pan, place them in a single layer and cook over medium low heat, stirring occasionally for about 5 minutes or until you notice a nice, nutty aroma.
To toast/roast in the oven, preheat to 350 degrees. Spread out in a single layer on a rimmed sheet pan. Cook for about 5 minutes, stir, the cook for another 3 minutes or until lightly browned with a nutty aroma. Different variety and sizes of nuts will take more or less time, so use your best judgement by observation.
Moist Zucchini Bread
Dense, cinnamon kissed, and packed full of textures, this turned out to be exactly the kind of quick bread I adore. Katie enjoyed her nut-free mini loaf and I tried to drum up some willpower by hiding my loaf in the freezer. But I just couldn’t resist and found that even frozen slices are quite appealing. So if you have a couple of zucchini lingering in your veggie bin, you won’t regret making this terrific Zucchini Bread with Pineapple!
You may wonder if this zucchini bread is healthy. It does have some redeeming features, like the addition of pineapple for some Vitamin C and walnuts for protein and antioxidants. But there’s a lot of sugar, so it’s not exactly healthy. Maybe healthier than a slice of chocolate cake, but this bread would never be considered health food.
Tips for How to Make Zucchini Bread
As with all quick bread, there are a few tips that will ensure the best results every time!
Prep and Mixing Tips
- Prep your loaf pans properly so the bread will release easily. I like to grease and flour the pan or use a flour-oil non-stick spray like Baker’s Joy.
- As an extra measure, you can line the bottoms of your loaf pans with a rectangle of parchment paper. Grease the top of the parchment, too.
- Toast your nuts. This brings out their natural oils and nuttiness.
- With wet ingredients, like the crushed pineapple and zucchini, you’ll want to make sure you remove any excess liquid. I place the pineapple in a colander or strainer and press out some of the juices. I squeeze dry the shredded zucchini, as well.
- After adding the dry ingredients, do not over mix. The mixing should be done with a wooden spoon and only mixed until the flour is incorporated. It’s better to see a few spots of flour than to work to mix in every bit. PRO-Tip: Never mix a quick bread with an electric mixer. Over mixing will result in tunnels throughout your loaf.
Baking and Storing Tips
- Test your loaf before removing it from the oven. Insert a toothpick into the center. You should not see any wet batter on your toothpick after it is removed. If you do, return to the oven and bake for 5-10 minutes before retesting.
- You can also eyeball the cracks in the top of the loaf to look for any signs of raw batter, but using a toothpick is the only sure-fire way to make sure the loaf is fully cooked. This zucchini bread is WAY too scrumptious to lose even a small amount to underbaking.
- PRO-Tip: Depending on your pan, the baking time can vary greatly. I use a heavy-duty loaf pan and my bread always takes much longer to bake than in recipe instructions. This is why testing with a toothpick is SO important. There’s nothing worse than cutting into a loaf and finding the middle is still raw or under baked.
- Cool your loaves on a wire rack for 10-15 minutes before removing them from the pans. This time allows the loaf to firm up a bit without cooling so much that it sticks to the pan.
- These loaves can be stored in the refrigerator for up to a week or frozen for 3 months. Wrap cooled loaves well in plastic, then foil before freezing.
More Zucchini Recipes You’ll Love:
- Lemon Zucchini Cake from Mom on Timeout
- Classic Zucchini Bread from That Skinny Chick Can Bake
- Salt and Vinegar Zucchini Chips from Sugar-Free Mom
- Chocolate Zucchini Bundt Cake from That Skinny Chick Can Bake
- Zucchini Cookies with Chocolate Chips and Dried Cranberries from Two Peas & Their Pod
- Gluten-Free Zucchini Bread from My Gluten-Free Kitchen
- Easy Zucchini Bread without Nuts
- Plus more tasty Bread and Soda Bread Recipes
The Recipe: Pineapple Coconut Zucchini Bread
A summertime quick bread favorite with walnuts, coconut, and crushed pineapple.
Ingredients
- 2 cups sugar
- 1 cup vegetable oil
- 3 eggs
- 2 cups shredded zucchini, squeeze out any excess moisture
- 1/2 cup chopped, toasted walnuts
- 1 can (4 ounces) crushed pineapple, well-drained
- 1 cup coconut
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 2 cups flour
Instructions
- Grease and flour two 9 x 5 loaf pans (or spray with Baker's Joy). Set aside.
- Preheat oven to 350º.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine sugar and oil. Add eggs and beat well. Add zucchini, walnuts, pineapple, coconut, vanilla, and cinnamon and mix to combine.
- In another bowl, whisk together soda, salt, baking powder, and flour. Stir into zucchini mixture with a rubber spatula or wooden spoon just until combined. Do not overmix.
- Pour into two prepared pans. Bake for 50 minutes-1 hour, 25 minutes (time will vary depending on your pans and oven). Test with a toothpick. Loaves are done when a toothpick inserted in the center of each loaf comes out clean.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
24Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 229Total Fat: 12gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 10gCholesterol: 23mgSodium: 181mgCarbohydrates: 28gFiber: 1gSugar: 19gProtein: 3g
