Monday, August 24, 2009

Delicious Zucchini Cupcakes: Stocking The Freezer For Handy Lunch Box Snacks

Zucchini Muffins My boys have recently developed a crush on Zucchini Bread.  So I’ve been making it and freezing it while the Zucchini is in season. 

Today, however, I made a triple batch of batter and filled two cupcake trays along with my normal bread pan. 

Quick Breads (like Zucchini, Pumpkin, and Banana Bread) freeze well.  Plus, the cupcakes make handy lunch box treats!  Tonight, the boys were thrilled to find some in the cooler after soccer practice.  (I freeze them in baggies of three and just grab a bag on the way out the door.  How easy is that??)

Zucchini Bread recipes abound, but this one is deliciously moist!  Here it is, my favorite recipe, adapted from the Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book:

Zucchini Bread

  • 1 1/2 Cup flour
  • 1 tsp Ground Cinnamon (I add just a little more)
  • 1/2 tsp Baking Soda
  • 1/4 tsp Salt
  • 1/4 tsp Baking powder
  • 1/4 tsp Ground Nutmeg (Again, I add just a little more)
  • 1 Cup sugar
  • 1 Cup Shredded Unpeeled Zucchini (I put mine in the food processor because my boys don’t like to “see” the zucchini)
  • 1/4 Cup Cooking Oil
  • 1 Egg
  • 1/4 tsp Finely shredded lemon peel (I use a squirt of lemon juice)
  • 1/2 Cup chopped walnuts (My boys won’t eat nuts, so I skip this)

Mix dry ingredients in one bowl, wet ingredients in another, then combine.  Pour batter into greased 8x4x2 inch loaf pan.  Bake in a 350 degree oven for 55-60 minutes, or till tooth pick inserted in the center comes out clean.  Do not over cook.

For cupcakes, I cook them about 30 minutes. 

To freeze the cupcakes:  Remove them from the cupcake tin to a cookie sheet and freeze overnight.  Then seal them in baggies in convenient numbers for your needs. 

Also, I like to spray cooking oil in the pans and then use a bit of sugar to coat the bottom and edges.  It works the same and gives the bread a hint of sweetness that my boys enjoy! 

Check out what else is cooking at Tempt My Tummy Tuesday! and Tasty Tuesday!

15 comments:

SnoWhite said...

I love zucchini! Thanks for the great recipe.

Hoosier Homemade said...

Yum! I made 13 mini loaves last weekend and a new muffin that I added craisins to. They were great. DH picked 6 more zucchini today. Whew...
Thanks for sharing!
~Liz

MadeInCanarias said...

Great idea!

Pat@Back Porch Musings said...

We love zucchini bread. Yours looks so good! I love the cupcake idea.

Amanda @ Serenity Now said...

I can't thank you enough for mentioning the part about the food processor! I have two zuchinis in my fridge, but wasn't sure exactly how to shred them. I am going to have to give this recipe a shot. My oldest would love to see a *cupcake* in her preschool snack bag. :) Visiting from Jen's party today. :)

Candace said...

You recipe is very close to the one I use - I put it through the food processor too and the kids LOVE it!

I just made some yesterday!

Anonymous said...

Mmmm! I have a crush on zucchini too. I am gonna have to try the "cupcake" look. Maybe my son would try it then. :)

Have a great Tuesday!

Brenda said...

Its so nice to have things like that for snacks or breakfasts on the run.

Raise Them Up said...

Oooh Brenda, I didn't think about breakfast on the run. That's a great idea!

BTW, I need new loaf pans and muffin tins. Have any of you or your friends used the new flexible non-stick kind (I think they are silicone)?

How do they work?

Would you recommend them, or the traditional non-stick metal ones??

Unknown said...

Muffins are always a great way for the family to eat on the run. THANKS!!! Geri

Shelley said...

I'm always looking for new freezer-friendly recipes. These sound yummy! Thanks for sharing.

Lisa@BlessedwithGrace said...

Yay! These look great! Thanks for linking to TMTT.

Amy said...

I shared an easy one-bowl zucchini bread in my post today... it's that zucchini time of year, I guess! ;) I hadn't thought to try the same recipe for bread in cupcake tins- I know my kids would love that. Thanks for sharing!

Jerri at Simply Sweet Home said...

We never ate a lot of zucchini when I was growing up, but I've been seeing a lot of zucchini recipes lately, and I'm intrigued. These look yummy!

Unknown said...

My daughter always loved mini muffins in her lunch. I would love to invite you to join me for Crock Pot Wednesday at diningwithdebbie.blogspot.com. Please come check it out. Thanks so much for posting.