Description
These Best Zucchini Bars are moist, flavorful, and packed with wholesome ingredients like shredded zucchini, carrot, oats, and walnuts, topped with a luscious cream cheese frosting. Perfect as a dessert or snack, these bars offer a delightful balance of sweetness and texture.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Zucchini Bars
- 1 cup vegetable oil
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 3 large eggs
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 cups shredded zucchini
- 1 small carrot, shredded
- 3/4 cup rolled oats
- 1 cup chopped walnuts
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
For the Cream Cheese Frosting
- 1/2 cup salted butter, room temperature
- 8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups powdered sugar
Instructions
- Preheat and prepare pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13 inch baking pan to prevent sticking.
- Mix wet ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the vegetable oil and granulated sugar. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract until fully incorporated.
- Combine dry ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, ground cinnamon, salt, baking soda, and baking powder. Gradually add this mixture to the wet ingredients, stirring gently until just combined.
- Fold in vegetables and nuts: Carefully fold in the shredded zucchini, shredded carrot, rolled oats, and chopped walnuts into the batter to evenly distribute.
- Bake the bars: Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan, spreading it evenly. Bake in the preheated oven for about 24 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Prepare the frosting: While the bars are cooling, beat the softened butter and cream cheese together until smooth and creamy. Add vanilla extract and gradually mix in the powdered sugar until the frosting reaches a silky texture.
- Frost and serve: Once the zucchini bars have completely cooled, spread the cream cheese frosting evenly over the top. Cut into squares and serve.
Notes
- Make sure to squeeze excess moisture from the shredded zucchini and carrot to prevent soggy bars.
- You can swap walnuts for pecans if preferred.
- Store bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator to keep the frosting fresh.
- Allow bars to cool completely before frosting to avoid melting.
- For a gluten-free version, replace all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour blend.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 24 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar (approx. 2x2 inch)
- Calories: 280 kcal
- Sugar: 22 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 50 mg
Keywords: zucchini bars, cream cheese frosting, zucchini dessert, healthy dessert bars, carrot zucchini bars
