Man, I’m feeling bummed right now. I would guess that my mom is too based on her tears when I dropped her off at the airport this morning. She starts to cry, then I start to cry…it ain’t pretty! I think I even saw a nearby taxi driver shed a tear.
We always have such a great time together and then when it’s all over I feel a pit in my stomach when she has to leave. I’ve already called her once since I got home from the airport. I may look like a grown woman, but I’m still a mama’s girl at heart. ;)
The good news is, we’ll always have this incredible oil-free Zucchini loaf to remember the good times and great food on this trip!
I even sent her off with a big slice to take on the plane with her. It comforts me knowing that she has my yummy homemade food to eat instead of cardboard plane food. I’m a strong believer in wholegrain carbs when you’re feeling blue!
Plus, carbs are addicting which means that she’ll have to come back to visit real soon…right?
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Oil-Free Zucchini Walnut Raisin Loaf with Cinnamon Streusel
Adapted from Fat Free Vegan Kitchen.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups whole grain spelt flour (or white whole wheat flour)
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp kosher salt
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp nutmeg
- 1/2 cup sugar (I use organic cane sugar)
- 1/3 cup raisins
- 1/3 cup chopped walnuts
- 1 flax egg (1 tbsp ground flax + 3 tbsp water, mixed and set aside for 5 minutes)
- 1 & 1/4 cup shredded zucchini (leave skin on), packed
- 1 tbsp lemon zest
- 2 tsp fresh lemon juice
- 1 tbsp pure maple syrup (or other liquid sweetener)
- 1 & 1/4 cups non-dairy milk (I used vanilla almond milk)
- Cinnamon Streusel topping: 2 tsp non-dairy margarine/butter, 1 tbsp coarse sugar (like turbinado), 1 tbsp flour, 1/2 tsp cinnamon
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350F (see note below). Mix the flax egg and set aside. Oil a regular-sized loaf pan and then line it with parchment paper so you can easily pull out the loaf when cooled.
2. In a large bowl, whisk the dry ingredients (flour, powders, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, sugar, raisins, and walnuts).
3. In another large bowl, combine the wet ingredients (flax egg, shredded zucchini, lemon zest & juice, maple syrup, milk).
4. Add wet ingredients to dry and stir until just mixed. Be careful not to overmix the batter as spelt flour is delicate.
5. Spoon the batter into prepared loaf pan and spread out evenly. Prepare the cinnamon streusel and then sprinkle on top. Bake for about 45-60 minutes at 350F or until toothpick comes out clean and the loaf gently springs back when pressed.
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None of us could believe that this loaf does not contain oil! Magic trick #2 this weekend. (See Magic Trick #1: The eggless fluffy chocolate cupcake!)
The shredded zucchini does a wonderful job giving this loaf moisture..and you don’t taste the zucchini at all. You can see beautiful flecks of green though!
It’s a very dense loaf, but not in a bad way! Whole grain spelt flour tends to make dense breads, but I just love the nutty flavour of spelt so I don’t mind. The walnuts, streusel, and raisins add just the right amount of sweetness and crunch.
We’ve been enjoying this not-too-sweet loaf for breakfast or as an afternoon snack. If you like your baked goods sweet you might want to add another 1/4 cup of sugar, but we thought it was just perfect for a healthy snack.
It’s wonderful spread with Earth Balance, nut butter and jam…or just enjoyed plain!
On that note, I think I may need some endorphin-inducing carbs to cheer me up…
That bread is almost as gorgeous as you!
This looks so good! Like the perfect after work snack for me. I must make this soon. My parents lives 800 miles away and its really hard when they leave after a great visit. Not fun. But they are coming to see me this weekend so I am excited, maybe I should make this for them!
Beautiful bread, beautiful mom, beautiful you :) Moms are the best! and although my mom lives close by I miss her even I have’nt talked to her in awhile. I hope your day gets better :)
This looks amazing angela! But I’m afraid if I make this, I’m gonna eat it in one sitting :)
Oh, this looks so delicious! I started to tear up reading this post because I haven’t seen my mom since Christmas and I’m going home next week. This is the longest we’ve ever gone without seeing each other, so I am so excited to give her a big hug :)
I am bookmarking this NOW! My garden is about to overflow with zucchini!!
Awww i get to visit my family at the end of the month and i know ill be bawling when i leave:(:(
I love zucchini bread! it reminds me of summer, and my mom since she makes it every summer:):)
This looks really good! :)
Now that I’m all grown up and moved out, I find myself calling my mom and dad a lot during the week just to chat!
I just had an interview for a full-time teaching position, and if I get the job I’m going buy myself a congratulatory camera like yours so that I can really start focusing on the photography portion of my blog!! I love your pictures.
I just happen to have a couple large zucchinis sitting in my fridge, as well as some negleted walnuts and raisins in my pantry. I think this recipe should put them to good use! I can’t wait to sink my teeth into this and top it with the strawberry freezer jam I just made!!!!
My mom just moved this past week, and it’ll be rough having to see each other via plane. Ugh… not looking forward to that!
The recipe looks great by the way! (as usual)
My mom just left too so I can understand where you’re coming from (although our relationship is not as wonderful as yours is). This loaf looks so good that I think I can actually smell it through my computer screen… which may be why I’m unnecessarily close my screen…. :-)
I always loved zucchini bread but an oil free zucchini bread tops the cake!! That sounds amazing and LOOKS delish! Hopefully when I get over this little cold it won’t be too warm for some baking :)
Hey Angela, I was wondering… I have all the ingredients to make this loaf (which I plan on making today!) except I only have chia seeds. In general, would a chia egg work in place of a flax egg? Which do you prefer?
I alternate when i bake between chia and flax so I think youd be fine but Angela probably knows better than i do
I literally just put a loaf of zucchini bread in the oven when i saw your post! i was so disappointed that i didnt notice it earlier! Your recipe looks so much better, well maybe next time :)
I can’t believe there isn’t oil in this loaf either! Incredible. Anyway, I love all the shots with the Earth Balance. A little too much. Like . . . I NEED this in my preggo stomach NOW! <3
Oh my gosh, this is PERFECT timing! I really, really wanted to try out a new quick bread recipe this weekend. Ever since I made my first (good) gluten-free carrot cake loaf last month, I’ve been addicted to eating quick breads before my long runs on the weekend.
This looks so good. I will try to make it gluten free this weekend and report back. Dun dun duhhh… I’ve learned that making gluten free quick breads from a gluten recipe rarely works on the first try. So it may take me a bit to get it right!
Also, I love the soft corners (I’m sure there is a technical term) you’ve been making on your photographs lately. It adds such a nice touch!
My inability to bake properly will totally not keep me from trying to make this!
ah-mazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I love baking with zuchinni!!! Thanks for the recipe!
I am whispering to my zucchini plants what their fate will be. I’m sure they won’t mind. Mua ha ha. An oil free loaf? Count me in on trying this out!
Awww, Angela. I’m so sorry you had to say goodbye to your mother today. I hope you’re able to say hello to her again very soon.
I always have such a hard time parting with my parents after a visit too. I hope you have another visit with her soon to look forward to though! :)
I feel the same way when I leave my family! Great plan for giving her some addicting carbs so she will come back to visit, although I am thinking she will be back for lots of other reasons, like maybe just to hang out with you amazing daughter!:) I always do best when I keep myself busy after my company leaves…takes your mind off things.
The loaf looks outstanding! and OIL-FREE!
Have a wonderful day!
LizAshlee
twitter.com/lizashleeblog
Oh I forgot to mention…I made a version of half the calories, double the fun almond butter (see today’s post) and I am thinking it would taste amazing on the loaf…I might just have to go do some baking!
Oh girlie! I always feel the same way when I leave my mom. We’re separated by 6 hours in the car, and it’s way too far. ON a positive note, the loaf looks goooooood. Can’t believe it’s oil-free!
Yum, this looks delicious and reminds me of my mom’s zucchini bread! And sending you a big hug! It’s only good bye for now, you’ll see her again soon! xo
This looks absolutely amazing!!
This looks absolutely amazing!!
The loaf looks wonderful. love the shot with the earth balance on it. Everything is better with butter :) Or buttery spreads.
And you and your mom getting all teary eyed upon leaving each other…Awww, Ange, major hugs! I know how close you and your mom are and I can only imagine you are feeling very….bummed right now. I hope you two can see each other again, soon!
And if nothing else, reading this makes me want to do everything I can so that one day Skylar and I are as close as you an your mama are…it’s just beautiful :)
Could the spelt flour be switched with whole wheat pastry flour? I’ve seen spelt flour but have never used it…what does it taste like? LOVE your blog ;-)
hmm im not sure! Sometimes I find WWPF can be crumbly in a loaf. Let me know if you try it out!
Thank you…I let you know if I try it. Or I may just get the spelt flour!
You are like me, make it oil free and then slather Earth Balance or nut butter on top! :)
I just made zucchini bread the other day (which was amazing), but I really wish I’d seen this recipe beforehand! I love that it’s oil free and the cinnamon streusel sounds fabulousss!
Oh, I know that feeling. I love far away from my mom too and its the WORST having to say goodbye after a visit. It never gets easier, and talking on the phone doesn’t help. I think I’m going to have to try this recipe, in honor of moms who lives far away from daughters…
I love zucchini bread. I bet this would be sooo good as french toast.
aww you and your mom are so cute! :) so sad to say goodbye isn’t it. I live about 4000 miles away from my family right now, I definitely get homesick quite a bit.
totally off topic, but have you done any posts on tea biscuits? I looked in your recipe section but no luck finding one. I thought for sure I would come across one on here :)
This looks delicious! Can’t wait to try it. Your mom is too cute!
Great minds must think alike – I baked choc ZUCCHINI friands on the weekend!
The bread looks perfect and it’s so pretty. The colors in your post today are so cheery + fabulous. I’m so sorry your mom had to leave so soon. I know that feeling and it’s awful. :( Despite being sad…I hope you have a great rest of the week!
This looks amazing! do you think would it work with grated apples or carrots? I love the green speckles in the loaf though!!
This recipe looks scrumptious. I will be making it soon! Hope your mum gets to come back soon as well!
I am moving away (across the US) and I am best friends with my mom. We seriously do everything together and I have no idea what i’m going to do without her! It is going to be the hardest thing ever to leave. When did you move away from your mom? For college? Any advice? :(
This recipe looks absolutely A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!!
Oh man, I feel for you! I know exactly how you feel, my family lives in Sask. and I in Alberta….always so hard to say goodbye even when we are all grown up :(
But baking always helps me, hopefully you too :)
This is exactly the kind of recipe I look for when doing my baking. Whole, simple ingredients that is healthy, vegan and delicious!
Thanks for this, I look forward to more of your oil-free baking experiments!
I love the idea of flax egg! I’m definitely going to give that a try in some recipes!
My mom and I are the same way. We both have sob fest when one of our visits comes to an end :(
I have to stay completely away from sugar, do you think I could substitute something else for that, such as honey? Please e-mail me as I’d really like to try this, thanks!
Aww, You look JUST like your mom!
So sweet.
That looks absolutely scrumptious! Your recipes and healthy living is so inspiring. :)
y’all are b-e-a-utiful!! All of your recipes rock my world, & i’m sure this zucc loaf will live up to the standard!
Hmm I wonder if you could cut out the sugar and just make it a savory loaf? I’ve been toying with the idea of baking bread… but I think I may just keep thinking about it and not actually do it. Too time consuming haha
Angela, you and your mom are so cute together! I hope I am close to my kids always. I bet this cake will bring you both back together really soon – it does look awesome :)