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How to Fix a Dense, Heavy Zucchini Bread?

Liz asks: I have been using the same zucchini bread recipe for a number of years. Over the past few months, every time I make it, it comes out flat and very dense. I have tested my baking soda and baking powder and they are both fine. What else could be causing this problem?

Baking S.O.S. says: I, too, have experienced the exact same problem with my favorite cake recipe.  Sometimes it turns out just fine, but other times, it is very dense and even RUBBERY. (yuck!)  Over the years, I have tried a number of different variables to solve the problem because I love the cake recipe too much to give up on it.

I finally came to the conclusion that the original recipe simply did not contain ENOUGH leavening agents (baking powder & baking soda), so I added more baking powder to my original recipe.  Since you have tested your baking powder and baking soda to confirm that they are still fresh and active, then I would suggest the next step is to look at the quantity of baking powder and baking soda called for in the recipe.

Baked goods can fall in the center or become heavy and dense in situations where you have either too much OR too little leavening, so it can be tricky to determine which it is!

As a general rule, there should be 1 tsp. of baking powder OR 1/4 tsp. of baking soda for every 1 C. of flour in the recipe.
Take a look at your original recipe and see how much baking soda or baking powder it calls for per each cup of flour.  If there is too much leavening, cut back on the baking powder using the ratio above.  (You will still need baking soda to counter-act any acidic ingredients in your recipe, including the zucchini.)  If you do not have enough leavening, add some baking powder according to the formula above.  My guess is that you could probably add a little baking powder to your recipe to help it rise more.  (But beware: too much baking powder can cause your product to taste bitter.)

One other option to consider is your oven temperature.  Since you mentioned that it has only been the past few months that you have started experiencing problems with your recipe, I wonder if it could be a problem with the oven rather than the recipe?

Have you used an oven thermometer to gauge the internal temperature of your oven as it preheats? I recently had oven problems, and my repair person told me that with some gas ovens, they will eventually start to lose pressure and slowly lose their heating power over time.  It may not be noticeable at first.

If your oven is not actually getting up to the necessary temperature, then your zucchini bread will not rise quickly enough, and it will end up heavy and dense.  Baking powder needs a hot oven to activate it quickly and force it to make your product rise. Try checking your oven temperature, too.  That could also make a difference.

I hope one of these suggestions will help.  Good luck!

4 comments to How to Fix a Dense, Heavy Zucchini Bread?

  • Rhea G

    Fantastic suggestions, thank you! I am guessing that adjusting the measures of baking soda and powder in mine will fix the problem. It is nice to know the “rule of thumb” for them, thank you.

  • Mary Collins

    I have a question, when you say you will “still need baking soda to counteract any acidic ingredients” does this mean even if you use the proper amt of baking powder?

    for instance, if I use 3 cups flour and 3 tsps baking powder—I’ll still need baking soda if I use an acidic ingredient like lemon? So how do you calculate the proper amt of soda to add to 3 cups flour if you are already using 3 tsps baking powder?

  • Hi Mary, This is a very good question, and I was just asking myself the very same thing the other day!

    In my case, I recently discovered that I really like the taste of homemade cornbread made with buttermilk rather than plain milk (as many recipes call for). I have found that I can substitute buttermilk in place of milk in my recipe and still use the same amount of baking powder WITHOUT needing to add any baking soda (to counteract the acidity of the buttermilk–as I had suggested earlier).

    So to answer your question, I think it is OK to incorporate an acidic ingredient into a recipe without also having to add some baking soda–as long as you are not adding a HUGE amount of acid and as long as the recipe contains enough baking powder to make the product rise sufficiently.

    I hope that make sense!

  • Jane

    So much for the recipe on Cooks http://www.cooks.com/recipe/ac12t73s/easy-zucchini-bread.html Note the 1/4 t baking soda for THREE cups of flour. My bread is a tad over 2 inches high, and I used the right-sized pan. Rats!

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