Description
Lemon zucchini bars bring sunshine to your dessert table with their tangy, fresh flavor and moist texture. Drizzled with a sweet glaze, these bars turn ordinary zucchini into a treat your family will devour in minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Primary Ingredients:
- 1 cup grated zucchini
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- ½ cup unsalted butter
Moisture and Flavor Ingredients:
- ½ cup plain yogurt
- ½ cup fresh lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Binding and Texture Ingredients:
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 ½ cups powdered sugar
- 2–3 tablespoons milk
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F and generously grease an 8×8 inch baking pan with butter.
- Whisk 1½ cups flour, 1 teaspoon baking powder, ½ teaspoon baking soda, and ¼ teaspoon salt in a medium bowl.
- Cream ½ cup softened butter with 1 cup granulated sugar until the mixture becomes fluffy and light.
- Add 2 large eggs one at a time, mixing thoroughly after each addition, then stir in 1 teaspoon vanilla extract.
- Combine ½ cup yogurt and ½ cup lemon juice in a separate small bowl.
- Gradually incorporate dry ingredients and yogurt mixture into the butter mixture, alternating between the two and ending with dry ingredients.
- Gently fold 1 cup grated zucchini and 1 tablespoon lemon zest into the batter.
- Transfer batter to the prepared pan, spreading it evenly with a spatula.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Allow bars to cool in the pan for 15-20 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack.
- Whisk 1½ cups powdered sugar with 2-3 tablespoons milk until smooth and glossy.
- Drizzle glaze over completely cooled bars and let it set before cutting into squares.
Notes
- Grate zucchini on the large holes of a box grater to get tender, delicate pieces that blend seamlessly into the batter.
- Let zucchini rest on paper towels after grating to remove excess moisture, preventing soggy bars.
- Check bars at 30 minutes to avoid overbaking, which can make them dry and crumbly.
- For a gluten-free version, swap wheat flour with a cup-for-cup gluten-free blend and add an extra tablespoon of yogurt to maintain moisture.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30-35 minutes
- Category: Dessert Bars
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 180 kcal
- Sugar: 18 g
- Sodium: 100 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0.1 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 35 mg