Amish Zucchini Recipe
These moist and fluffy zucchini bars with cream cheese frosting are the BEST way to use up summer zucchini. They are absolutely AMAZING!!
With a delightful flavor profile and a light and fluffy cake-like texture, they are everything that I look for in a delicious zucchini bar.
And then they still get topped with a delicious cream cheese frosting, which makes them PERFECT!
What to Do With Extra Zucchini?
It's zucchini time again! I picked my first one last week, and now I want to bake zucchini bars.
I don't know if you've ever planted zucchini in your garden. But if you can keep the squash bugs from killing your plant, you'll probably harvest more zucchini than you know what to do with.
They grow very quickly, and sometimes they are giant before I get them picked. So I try to find different ways to use them. And thankfully, zucchini is great to use for baking. It adds so much depth and moisture to baked goods.
And these carrot zucchini bars are one of my favorite recipes to make with zucchini.
I end up with tons of zucchini every summer, so I bake everything zucchini for about a month or two - Zucchini bars, chocolate zucchini cake, muffins, my amazing Amish zucchini bread with pineapple, etc.
They're all great ways to use up an overabundance of zucchini. But I can't get enough of these zucchini bars, so I make them several times before the zucchini harvest is over.
Healthy Zucchini Bars??
I'd like to say that this recipe makes healthy zucchini bars. Because look at all the nutrition in there. It has zucchini, carrots, applesauce, and nuts. That sounds pretty nutritious, right?
Although, if I'm being completely honest, they also include sugar, flour, and oil. And that doesn't sound as healthy.
But you get the point, they're healthier than a lot of baked goods. And you could also omit the frosting to keep them healthier.
But then again, if you're eating baked goods, you're probably not too worried about whether it's healthy or not. So we probably don't need to address that issue.
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Easy Zucchini Bars Recipe
This zucchini bars recipe with cream cheese frosting is very easy to make. However, you will need to shred zucchini and carrot.
So whenever I make these bars, I like to begin by shredding my vegetables and chopping the nuts so that everything is ready to add.
Simply wash and shred the zucchini. It does not need to be peeled.
Large zucchini often produces some liquid when it is shredded. And it's okay to add some of the liquid along with the zucchini. Although, you may want to drain some of it, as we don't want a lot of extra liquid.
Once you have the vegetables shredded, the bars will come together very quickly.
Frosted Zucchini Bars
These delicious and moist zucchini bars pair so well with cream cheese frosting. It adds the perfect touch!
But if you don't care for cream cheese frosting, perhaps you'd enjoy them with brown butter frosting. Or you can spread them with your favorite frosting.
And if frosting is not your thing, then feel free to eat them without. They're delicious either way. Although I highly recommend adding the frosting 🙂 .
Can I Use Frozen Zucchini to Make These Amish Zucchini Bars?
Yes, you can use frozen zucchini to make these bars. Every summer, I shred and freeze extra zucchini to use after the harvest is over.
I put a heaping 2 cups of shredded zucchini in freezer bags and lay them flat on a cookie sheet to freeze. And then I have zucchini to use throughout the year.
You will need to thaw and at least partially drain the zucchini before adding it to the batter.
Can I Freeze Zucchini Bars?
Yes, you can freeze zucchini bars with cream cheese frosting.
You may know by now, that I am a huge fan of freezing baked goods to keep them fresh. However, these zucchini bars need to be refrigerated and will keep well in the refrigerator for up to a week.
But if your pan of bars will not get eaten within a week, I would recommend placing some of them into the freezer for later use.
After the bars are cooled and iced, slice them into squares and place them into an airtight container. Then store them in the refrigerator or freezer.
Once frozen, remove them from the freezer to thaw at least a half-hour before serving.
More Amish Dessert Bars Recipes
Perhaps you'd like to try more of my bar recipes...
Amish Chewy Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Bars Recipe
Chocolate Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Bars
Amish Zucchini Bars Recipe with Cream Cheese Frosting
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 c. sugar
- 1/2 c. canola or vegetable oil
- 1/2 c. applesauce (or you can substitute this with another 1/2 c. oil)
- 3 large eggs
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- 2 c. all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp. salt
- 1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
- 2 tsp. baking soda
- 1/4 tsp. baking powder
- 3/4 c. rolled oats (old-fashioned)
- 1 c. chopped walnuts or pecans, optional
- 2 c. shredded zucchini
- 1/2 c. shredded carrot (1 med. carrot)
Cream Cheese Frosting:
- 1 (8 oz.) pkg. softened cream cheese
- 1/2 c. softened butter (1 stick)
- 2 1/2 c. powdered sugar
- 2 tsp. vanilla extract
- 1/8 tsp. salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the sugar, oil, applesauce, eggs, and vanilla. Beat well.1 1/2 c. sugar, 1/2 c. canola or vegetable oil, 1/2 c. applesauce (or you can substitute this with another 1/2 c. oil), 3 large eggs, 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- Add the flour, salt, cinnamon, baking soda, and baking powder. Mix only to combine.2 c. all-purpose flour, 1 tsp. salt, 1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon, 2 tsp. baking soda, 1/4 tsp. baking powder
- Add the oats, nuts, shredded zucchini, and carrots. Stir to combine.3/4 c. rolled oats (old-fashioned), 1 c. chopped walnuts or pecans, optional, 2 c. shredded zucchini, 1/2 c. shredded carrot (1 med. carrot)
- Spread the batter onto a greased 10" x 15" jelly roll pan.
- Bake at 350° for about 23 - 25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out with only a couple of crumbs.
- Cool the bars then frost with the cream cheese frosting. Cut into bars and serve.
- Store in the refrigerator for up to a week. Or you can also place the bars into an airtight container and freeze them for later.
Cream Cheese Frosting:
- In a mixing bowl, beat the softened cream cheese and butter until smooth.1 (8 oz.) pkg. softened cream cheese, 1/2 c. softened butter (1 stick)
- Add the powdered sugar, vanilla, and salt. Mix on low until the powdered sugar is incorporated. Then beat well for a couple of minutes until the frosting is light and fluffy.2 1/2 c. powdered sugar, 2 tsp. vanilla extract, 1/8 tsp. salt
- Spread the frosting onto the cooled bars.
Rhonda Antonsen
These were simple to make and so yummy! I used cinnamon applesauce for the applesauce. I feel like like the applesauce is what makes them so moist. I liked the addition of carrots in this recipe. It makes for a great combination. I will be adding this to my recipe collection.
Anna
Thank you! So glad you enjoyed them.
Rose Kostelecky
I made these yesterday. So easy. Absolutely delicious! I will definitely be making them again!
Anna
So glad you enjoyed them!
Jean
When it says rolled oats. Are you meaning the quick oats or old fashioned oats?
Anna
I'm sorry, I guess I was thinking that rolled oats usually means old-fashioned oats. The old-fashioned is what I use.