Description

Deliciously moist and flavorful, these simple zucchini bars are baked to perfection and topped with a creamy, smooth cream cheese frosting. Combining grated zucchini, warm cinnamon, and a sweet blend of sugars, these bars make for a perfect dessert or snack that feels both wholesome and indulgent.

Ingredients

Scale

Dry Ingredients

2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup quick oats
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Wet Ingredients

1 cup vegetable oil
1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup light brown sugar
3 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups grated zucchini

Cream Cheese Frosting

1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
3 tablespoons butter, softened
2 1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla flavoring

Instructions

Prepare the Baking Pan and Preheat the Oven: Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a jelly roll pan measuring 10.5 x 15.5 inches to ensure the bars don’t stick after baking. Set the pan aside for later use.
Mix the Wet Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine the vegetable oil, granulated sugar, light brown sugar, eggs, and vanilla extract. Stir these ingredients together until they are well blended and smooth to form the base for your zucchini bars.
Incorporate the Dry Ingredients: Add the all-purpose flour, quick oats, baking powder, salt, and ground cinnamon to the wet ingredients. Gently stir the mixture until just combined to avoid overmixing, which can make the bars dense.
Add the Zucchini and Bake: Fold the grated zucchini into the batter evenly. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and spread it evenly. Bake in the preheated oven for 18-22 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs. Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan.
Prepare the Cream Cheese Frosting: In a separate bowl, beat together the softened cream cheese and butter until the mixture is fluffy. Gradually add in the confectioners’ sugar and vanilla flavoring, beating until the frosting is smooth and creamy.
Frost the Zucchini Bars: Once the bars are completely cool, spread the cream cheese frosting evenly over the top. Cut into pieces and serve these moist, flavorful zucchini bars.

Notes

Make sure to squeeze excess moisture from the grated zucchini if too watery to avoid soggy bars.
You can substitute quick oats with rolled oats if desired, but texture may vary slightly.
For a nutty addition, sprinkle chopped walnuts or pecans on top before baking or mixing them in.
Store the bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator to keep the frosting fresh.
Allow bars to cool completely before frosting to prevent melting the cream cheese frosting.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Category: Dessert
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 bar (approx. 2.5 x 2.5 inches)
Calories: 280 kcal
Sugar: 22g
Sodium: 180mg
Fat: 16g
Saturated Fat: 6g
Unsaturated Fat: 9g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 30g
Fiber: 2g
Protein: 3g
Cholesterol: 45mg

Keywords: zucchini bars, cream cheese frosting, moist zucchini dessert, easy zucchini recipe, cinnamon zucchini bars, healthy dessert