Zucchini Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting is a great use for all of your extra zucchini harvest. You will never know it is made with zucchini.
What to do…What to do…What to do with all that extra zucchini? Well, this recipe will make you want to grow more just so you can make these Zucchini Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting. Very easy and the kids will never know the recipe includes zucchini.
Most people have heard of using zucchini to make bread. In fact, you can use zucchini to make many sweet treats just like you can with carrots. When using zucchini remember to drain it and squeeze out as much liquid as possible.
These bars taste like a spice cake with the addition of pumpkin pie spice and the use of pecans and dates.
You can substitute walnuts for the pecans and raisins or craisins for the dates. I personally like the use of dates in this recipe. The Zucchini bars would also be good made with black walnuts. Black walnuts have a very strong unique taste that you either love or hate. I have a few recipes using black walnuts that I need to share.
These bars would be perfect to take to a fall tailgate party or the teachers at school. The cream cheese frosting knocks them out of the park. They are also great for breakfast.
What is your favorite use for Zucchini?
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- 1 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1/4 cup oil
- 2 cups sugar
- 3 eggs
- 2 cups King Arthur all purpose flour
- 1 tsp. baking soda
- 1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1 1/4 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
- 2 cups shredded zucchini, drained, (about 1 medium)
- 3/4 cup shredded sweetened coconut
- 1 1/2 cup chopped pecans, optional
- 1/4 cup chopped dates, optional
- 1 tsp. Rodelle Vanilla Extract
- 1 cup crushed pineapple with juice (use can with juice, not syrup)
- 4 oz. butter, softened
- 4 oz. cream cheese, softened
- 1 tsp. Rodelle Vanilla Extract
- 2 cups powdered sugar
Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.
- In a large mixing bowl combine on low-speed applesauce, oil, sugar, and eggs
- In another bowl sift together flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt and pumpkin pie spice.
- Slowly add to mixing bowl with mixer on low speed.
- Stir in zucchini, coconut, pecans, dates, vanilla, and pineapple until batter is formed. Do not over-mix.
- Pour batter into a lightly greased or parchment lined 10x15-inch sheet pan.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Let cool completely!
- Beat the butter and cream cheese until nice and fluffy.
- Beat in vanilla.
- Slowly add powdered sugar.
Beat until smooth and no visible chunks of cream cheese remain.
- Spread on top of the cooled cake bars and serve or refrigerate for a few hours to allow frosting and bars to set up.
- Store bars in an airtight container, in the refrigerator.
- First published by Quinn Caudill for DadWhats4Dinner.com ©2015 -- Revised ©2018
- Makes 24 bars
Whats your favorite Zucchini recipe?
Check out my other bar recipes:
Cream Cheese Frosted Carrot Cake Bars
ChocolaTess says
Ummm…these look amazing! Moist zucchini bars with cream cheese frosting…heavenly! 🙂
Quinn Caudill says
Thanks for stopping by. Yes they are heavenly. :)))
trishlee75 says
Looks gorgeous AND delicious! Thanks for sharing!
Quinn Caudill says
Thanks Trish. They sure don’t taste like zucchini. Have a great week.
Ranjana@FlavorfulBakes says
Don’t know where I just commented! Lol 🙂 anyway, looks delicious! I love zucchini in anything! I even add zucchini to the dal (Indian food) that I make!
Angie says
Ok, I think I left you a message instead of comment, duh! Just ignore the message. But the cake looks awesome!
Ranjana@FlavorfulBakes says
Lol Angie… I did the same and then corrected myself! though I don’t see my comment here now 🙁
Quinn Caudill says
OK Obviously my site is confusing on how to leave a comment.:(((( What are you guys seeing that doesn’t make sense. I am still trying to figure out this self hosting business. Thanks for your feedback.
Angie says
Right below the recipe there’s a place to submit a message that I mistook for a place to write a comment. Although in the end, both serve the same purpose, I guess. Message, comment…same thing?
chefjulianna says
Oh so yummy! I have saved this for future reference!! Love the addition of coconut and cream cheese icing! Wow! 😀
Quinn Caudill says
Thanks Julianna. These bars are tasty and you can’t beat cream cheese frosting.
nancyc says
These bars look so good and moist!
Quinn Caudill says
Thanks Nancy. They were very moist and the cream cheese frosting is,, well the icing on the cake :))
Quinn Caudill says
Thanks Nancy. Have a great weekend.