Zucchini bread is a bread that has flown under the radar for some time. Some people don’t even know of its existence. However, we feel that is going to change. We think that it will come to be known as one of the greatest dishes of all time. And it’s all going to start with the holiday that celebrates its glory, a holiday known as National Zucchini Bread Day, which falls on the 25th of April every year. Anyone looking to find out what all the fuss is about will likely want to try a slice of this bread on this holiday or maybe even take a moment to bake it themselves.

The History Of Zucchini Bread

Even though we looked under every rock and read every holiday history book we could get our hands on, we just couldn’t locate who invented this holiday or when it was invented. So we decided to go ahead and research the origins of zucchini bread instead. Fortunately, the history of this bread is well-defined and was quite easy to uncover.

Zucchini is a type of squash and, as such, is native to the Americas—particularly Mesoamerica. It was a favorite food source of many Native American tribes and was often eaten raw. Explorers who visited the Americas during the 15th and 16th centuries didn’t know what to make of this strange vegetable, but nonetheless, they introduced it to Italy and other countries in Europe.

Around the 18th century, pearlash was discovered, and this led to the development of quick bread. Pearlash produces carbon dioxide gas in dough, allowing it to rise. This led people in the Americas to experiment with a variety of quick bread, and since zucchini was plentiful, it was only natural to make a quick bread using it.

The first published quick bread recipes could be found in the 1796 cookbook by Amelia Simmons called “American Cookery.” This was the first American cookbook published. Unfortunately, there were no quick bread recipes that contained zucchini in them, but we’re pretty sure that someone was making them by the end of the 18th century.

Facts About Zucchini

While researching this holiday, we came across some fun facts about zucchini that we thought you might like. Just a little knowledge to go along with your zucchini bread.

• One zucchini is called a zucchina.
• The flower from the zucchini plant is edible. In fact, fried squash blossoms are considered a delicacy.
• A zucchini has more potassium in it than a banana.
• Zucchini is filled with antioxidants and is good for the heart.
• The world’s largest zucchini was 69.5 inches long and weighed 65 pounds.

Observing National Zucchini Bread Day

This holiday can be observed easily enough by grabbing a slice of your favorite zucchini bread or attempting to make your own. Thanks to the Internet, there are about a thousand different zucchini bread recipes out there, so all you have to do is choose the one that suits you. Some of the zucchini bread recipes we like include Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread, Cinnamon Zucchini Bread, and Lemon Zucchini Bread. While you’re enjoying the plethora of zucchini quick bread, be sure to use the hashtag #NationalZucchiniBreadDay on your social media accounts to share them with the world.