Description
Fresh zucchini bars with cream cheese frosting deliver pure summer garden goodness straight to your plate. These simple bars combine garden-fresh zucchini with sweet cream cheese frosting for a delightful treat that disappears faster than you can slice them.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ¾ cups granulated sugar
- 2 cups shredded zucchini
- 8 ounces cream cheese
- 4 cups powdered sugar
Supporting Ingredients:
- ½ cup unsalted butter
- ½ cup unsalted butter
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- ½ cup milk or cream
- 2 large eggs
Spices and Seasonings:
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
Optional:
- 1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F. Thoroughly coat a 9×13 inch baking pan with butter and flour, ensuring complete coverage.
- Combine flour, baking soda, salt, and all spices in a medium mixing bowl. Whisk thoroughly to distribute ingredients evenly.
- In a separate large bowl, blend softened butter, vegetable oil, and granulated sugar until the mixture becomes light and creamy.
- Incorporate eggs one at a time into the butter mixture, beating smoothly after each addition. Mix in vanilla extract.
- Gradually fold dry ingredients into the wet ingredients, stirring until just combined. Avoid overmixing the batter.
- Gently stir 2 cups of freshly shredded zucchini into the batter. If desired, add 1 cup of chopped walnuts for extra texture.
- Transfer the batter to the prepared pan, spreading it evenly with a spatula to create a uniform layer.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes. Check doneness by inserting a wooden skewer into the center – it should come out clean.
- Remove from oven and let the bars cool completely inside the pan on a wire rack.
- For the frosting, beat 8 ounces cream cheese and ½ cup butter until perfectly smooth and integrated.
- Gradually add 4 cups of powdered sugar, mixing thoroughly after each addition to prevent lumps.
- Incorporate vanilla extract and 2 tablespoons of milk, blending until the frosting reaches a spreadable consistency.
- Once bars are totally cool, cover the entire surface with cream cheese frosting using an offset spatula.
- Slice into squares and serve at room temperature.
Notes
- Grate zucchini on the large holes of a box grater to get the perfect texture and moisture for the bars.
- Press excess liquid from zucchini using a clean kitchen towel to prevent soggy bars.
- For a gluten-free version, swap all-purpose flour with a 1:1 gluten-free baking blend.
- Toast chopped nuts before adding to the batter to enhance their nutty flavor and crunch.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25-30 minutes
- Category: Dessert Bars
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 370 kcal
- Sugar: 31 g
- Sodium: 180 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
- Trans Fat: 0.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 42 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 45 mg