01 -
First things first, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grab a 9x5-inch loaf pan. I usually grease it with a bit of butter and then dust it with flour – prevents sticking, a lesson I learned after a few loaves got stuck in the pan, a truly frustrating kitchen moment! In a large bowl, whisk together your flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Make sure everything is well combined; you don't want pockets of leavening. I always give it an extra whisk, just to be sure.
02 -
In a separate, medium bowl, crack your eggs. Whisk them lightly, then pour in the vegetable oil and vanilla extract. Give that a good stir until it's all nicely blended. This is where the magic starts to happen, you can almost smell the goodness already! I always make sure there are no streaks of oil, just a smooth, golden mixture. This step is pretty straightforward, but don't rush it; proper mixing here makes a difference in the final texture of your loaf.
03 -
Now, pour your wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Stir them together with a spatula until just combined. Honestly, resist the urge to overmix! Overmixing develops the gluten too much, and we want a tender, moist bread, not a tough one. Lumps are okay here; in fact, a few small lumps are perfectly fine. This is the stage where I usually get a little flour dust on my nose, a sign of a good baking session!
04 -
Gently fold in your shredded zucchini and fresh blueberries. I always toss the blueberries with a tiny bit of flour beforehand; it helps prevent them from sinking to the bottom of the loaf. This is a crucial step for even berry distribution. Be gentle, we don't want to smash those beautiful blueberries! I love seeing the vibrant blue peeking through the green zucchini, it just looks so fresh and inviting.
05 -
Pour the batter into your prepared loaf pan and smooth out the top. Pop it into your preheated oven and bake for 50-60 minutes, or until a wooden skewer inserted into the center comes out clean. Around the 40-minute mark, I usually check it and sometimes loosely tent it with foil if the top is browning too quickly. The smell at this stage is absolutely heavenly; it fills the whole house with warmth and anticipation for your Blueberry Zucchini Bread with Lemon Glaze.
06 -
Once baked, let the bread cool in the pan for about 10-15 minutes before carefully transferring it to a wire rack to cool completely. While it’s cooling, whisk together the powdered sugar and fresh lemon juice for your glaze. You want it thick enough to drizzle but still pourable. Once the bread is completely cool (this is important, or your glaze will melt!), drizzle that tangy lemon glaze all over. It’s the perfect bright finish to our delightful loaf. Don't be afraid to make a little mess with the drizzle, that's part of the homemade charm!