Zucchini Bread (Gluten Free)

This is the type of bread that comes out of the oven and you eat 6 pieces because you just can't believe how good it is (speaking from personal experience). The top is flakey and very thin and the inside is very soft and light. I got this recipe from "Nearly Normal Cooking for Gluten-Free Eating" by Jules E. D. Shepard and modified the flours and added applesauce for part of the oil to cut down on the fat. I can't wait to try more recipes from this book! UPDATE: I took this to work and everyone liked it. They said it tasted just like regular bread! It's nice to hear that from people who eat gluten everyday. It stays well in the fridge and reheats great in the microwave. It's been two days and the bread is still just as soft and pliable as when it came out of the oven!

• Ready In: 1 hr 20 mins
• Serves: 24

Ingredients

• 3  eggs
• 2  cups sugar
• 1⁄4 cup canola oil
• 1⁄4 cup unsweetened applesauce
• 1  teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 1⁄2 cups cornstarch
• 3⁄4 cup  rice flour
• 3⁄4 cup tapioca flour
• 1  tablespoon xanthan gum
• 1  tablespoon cinnamon
• 1  tablespoon baking powder
• 1  teaspoon baking soda
• 2  cups fresh zucchini, grated
• 1⁄2 cup walnuts (optional)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Beat the eggs until foamy, adding sugar, oil, and applesauce (use wire whip attachment for mixer). In a separate bowl, mix the dry in ingredients and then add them to the egg mixture (switch to the flat beater or dough hook attachment) and beat in electric mixer for about 3 minutes or until batter is mixed well and becomes very thick. Add nuts.
3. If baking as a loaf, grease two large loaf pans and fill each 1/2 full. Bake for approximately 1 hour and 10 minutes, testing to be sure the middle is cooked through. If your oven cooks the tops of these loaves too quickly, cover with aluminum foil to prevent burning (after about 25-35 minutes). If you want to use this as a breakfast bread, you can sprinkle the tops with Confectioner's sugar.
4. If baking as muffins, grease and 1/2 fill 24 muffin tins. Bake for approximately 30 minutes, testing to be sure the middle is cooked through.