I've tried many a recipe for gluten-free Baked Zucchini Fritters. With this recipe, I have finally succeeded in making a baked zucchini fritter that not only tastes delicious but also holds together and gets nice and crispy in the oven. And without breadcrumbs.

What Is A Fritter?

A fritter, according to Encyclopedia Brittanica, is pretty much any food that you can bread or dip in batter and deep-fry. Technically, this means that this recipe doesn't qualify as a fritter since it is, after all, baked and not fried. You can also call these oven-fried fritters, similar to my Oven Fried Green Tomatoes recipe, as well as these Gluten-Free Buffalo Cauliflower Bites.

However, I'm still calling them fritters, regardless of the definition. Because these gluten-free bites are everything you want in a fritter. They're crispy and golden on the outside, tender on the inside.

Why Zucchini Fritters?

I grow zucchini every year and always need to come up with new recipes. This one is amazingly delicious! Do you grow zucchini, or know someone who does? If so, then you know that you can never have too many zucchini recipes. This recipe is one more to add to your zucchini repertoire.

A Key Ingredient: Parmesan Cheese

Besides zucchini, Parmesan cheese is a star ingredient in these fritters. Parmesan makes them cheesy and delicious, and because it always crisps up so nicely in the oven, it contributes to the crisp golden exterior of the patty. It's important to use a good quality, freshly grated Parmesan for best results in any dish. I like Parmigiano-Reggiano.

Why Are My Fritters Soggy?

There are a few reasons that you could end up with soggy fritters.

The main reason is not removing excess water. Zucchini squash has very high water content, so it's important, for this recipe, that we remove as much water as possible from the grated squash. I like using cheesecloth and I keep it around for making jelly and lots of other recipes.

I've tried pressing the water out over a sieve with the back of a spoon, but it just doesn't work as well as squeezing. If you don't have cheesecloth, you can use a clean, thin kitchen towel to squeeze out as much water as possible.

Another reason for soggy baked zucchini fritters may be about oven temperature. You need a high oven temperature to successfully make this recipe. I use an oven temp of 400° because I'm using parchment paper. You should aim for that temp if you're using parchment paper, like me. Any hotter is not really recommended when using parchment. However, if you omit the parchment and use a little more oil, you can bake them in at 425°. Just watch them carefully as the baking time will be reduced.

How To Eat Baked Zucchini Fritters

These are fritters are delicious either hot or cold, and make a perfect game day appetizer with a dipping sauce like sriracha mayo (I used wasabi mayo here). Some other delicious ways to enjoy them:

As a meal, topped with sour cream and served with a salad.
As a base for bruschetta.
Topped with a poached egg and hollandaise for a gluten-free benedict.
As a veggie burger patty

Can I Make these Fritters Ahead?

Yes, you can make these ahead. They taste even better the next day. They will keep for a couple of days in the fridge, stored in an airtight container. If you want to reheat them, just put them in the oven for a few minutes until heated through.

You can also freeze them and defrost or reheat them from frozen. To freeze, cool completely, then freeze them on a tray until firm. Pack them in a freezer-safe container or bag.

Need More Zucchini Recipes?

Here are a couple more for you. Try Vegetable Zucchini Noodle Soup, Gluten-Free Zucchini Bread or Zucchini Tomato Bake

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