This website may contain affiliate links and advertising so that we can provide recipes to you. Read my disclosure policy.
These zucchini bars with brown butter frosting are one of my favorite ways to use up all the zucchini from my garden. The bars are soft, warmly spiced, and incredibly moist, while the nutty brown butter frosting makes every bite taste extra special.
What’s So Special About These Zucchini Bars?
- Perfectly Moist: Freshly shredded zucchini keeps the bars soft and tender without making them taste like vegetables.
- Irresistible Frosting: Browning the butter gives the frosting a rich, nutty flavor that takes these bars over the top.
- Uses Plenty of Zucchini: This recipe uses two cups, so you can use up all of your garden zucchini!
- Feeds a Crowd: One pan makes 24 bars, so they are great for potlucks, parties, or sharing with neighbors.
A Reader’s Review
This was the year I entered in the State Fair. (Bucket list). I used this recipe for dessert bars on the county level snd received a blue ribbon. Made it again for the State Fair, zucchini bars and received an Honorable Mention. I’ve had people text me for the recipe. Thank you for this recipe I did make as the recipe says, no changes.
– Jeff
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Zucchini:
- Shred size: Finely shred it to help it disappear into the bars, or use a larger shred for more visible zucchini.
- Peeling: Optional.
- Do Not Squeeze It! The liquid keeps the bars soft and tender.
- Butter: Use unsalted butter for better control of salt.
- Milk: Start with less milk and add more as needed until the frosting is smooth and spreadable.
- Make Them Your Own! Leave out the pecans or replace them with chopped walnuts or chocolate chips.
How to Make Zucchini Bars
These zucchini bars come together quickly with simple pantry ingredients and freshly shredded zucchini. When the garden is overflowing, use the rest to make my favorite zucchini bread, double chocolate zucchini brownies, or crispy Parmesan fried zucchini.
- Preheat Oven: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a jelly roll pan with nonstick cooking spray. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon. Set aside.
- Mix Wet Ingredients: Add the sugar, vegetable oil, and eggs to a large mixing bowl. Whisk until smooth.
- Combine: Add the dry ingredients to the wet, and mix just until combined. *Do not overmix, or the bars may become dense. Fold in the shredded zucchini and chopped pecans.
- Add to Pan: Spread the batter evenly in the prepared pan. Bake for 30-40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let the bars cool completely before adding the frosting so it does not melt.
Brown Butter Frosting
- Brown Butter: Add the butter to a medium saucepan and cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, for 5-8 minutes. The butter is ready when it turns golden brown, develops toasted brown specks, and smells nutty. Remove it from the heat immediately and let it cool slightly.
- Make Frosting: Use a hand mixer to combine the browned butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract. Begin with 8 tablespoons of milk, then gradually add more as needed until the frosting is smooth and spreadable. Spread the frosting evenly over the cooled bars. Slice the Zucchini Bars and serve.
Alyssa’s “How To Brown Butter Like a Pro” Tips
- Use a light-colored pan: It makes it easier to see the toasted brown specks forming on the bottom.
- Butter: Cut into pieces for even melting and browning.
- Stir frequently: This helps the butter cook evenly and prevents the milk solids from burning.
- Watch and smell: The butter is ready when it turns golden brown, develops toasted specks, and smells rich and nutty.
- Remove it from the heat promptly: As soon as the butter is browned, take the pan off the heat so it does not continue cooking.
* Be sure to use all the toasted brown bits in the frosting. That is where much of the nutty flavor comes from!
Must Have Tools For This Recipe
- Jelly Roll Pan: A 15x10x1-inch jelly roll pan. A standard half-sheet pan will also work, but the bars will be much thinner.
- Hand Mixer: Either works well for mixing the brown butter frosting until smooth and creamy.
Pin this now to find it later
Pin It
Zucchini Bars with Brown Butter Frosting
Soft and moist cinnamon zucchini bars topped with rich, nutty brown butter frosting.
Equipment
- 1 15 x 10 x 1 baking sheet jelly roll pan
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- 1 cup vegetable oil
- 3 large eggs
- 2 cups shredded zucchini about 2 medium zucchini
- 1 ½ cups chopped pecans optional
Brown Butter Frosting
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 6 cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 8-10 tablespoons milk more or less as needed
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and grease a 15x10x1 inch pan with nonstick cooking spray.
- Whisk 2 cups all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon baking powder, ½ teaspoon salt, and 1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon together in a medium bowl. Set aside.
- Add 1 ½ cups granulated sugar, 1 cup vegetable oil, and 3 large eggs to a large mixing bowl and whisk together until smooth. Add the flour mixture and mix until just incorporated.
- Stir in 2 cups shredded zucchini and 1 ½ cups chopped pecans. Spread evenly in the prepared pan.
- Bake for 30-40 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let the bars cool completely.
Brown Butter Frosting
- Heat a medium-sized saucepan over medium heat. Add 6 tablespoons unsalted butter to the pan and cook, stirring occasionally, until it begins to brown, about 5 to 8 minutes. Remove the butter to cool slightly.
- Use a hand mixer to combine the browned butter with 6 cups powdered sugarand 1 teaspoon vanilla extract. Add 8-10 tablespoons milk until smooth and spreadable. Spread evenly over the cooled bars and serve.
Video
Notes
Leftover Instructions
- Room Temperature: Zucchini bars with butter frosting will keep at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
- In the Refrigerator: Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 7 days.
- In the Freezer: Chill the cooled bars for 2 hours, then freeze them in an airtight container with parchment between layers for up to 3 months. Thaw in a single layer at room temperature before serving.
Nutrition
Calories: 370kcalCarbohydrates: 52gProtein: 3gFat: 18gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 7gMonounsaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 31mgSodium: 79mgPotassium: 85mgFiber: 1gSugar: 43gVitamin A: 154IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 30mgIron: 1mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Tried this recipe?Mention @alyssa_therecipecritic or tag #therecipecritic!
More Zucchini Recipes To Try
This was the year I entered in the State Fair. (Bucket list). I used this recipe for dessert bars on the county level snd received a blue ribbon. Made it again for the State Fair , zucchini bars and received an Honorable Mention. I’ve had people text me for the recipe. Thank you for this recipe I did make as the recipe says, no changes
Great bars!
The browned butter frosting really made these bars! But i think they’d be really good with cream cheese frosting, too.
I halved the recipe of the bars (because I’m the only one in the house who will eat them), used olive oil (that’s what I had on hand), and unfortunately, squeezed excess liquid from the shredded zucchini. I didn’t read the tips until after I made them, and it’s noted NOT to remove any of the liquid for moist bars. I’ll try that next time! Overall, they turned out great! Since I halved the recipe, i cut down the baking time to 20 minutes, which seemed perfect. Thanks for the wonderful recipe.
Any oil that isn’t a fruit oil: is bad for you: can you sub: olive/ avacado/ coconut oil.
I haven’t tried that before in this recipe but they could work!
silly question. what is the 1x 2x and 3x mean?
1x is the normal amounts, 2x is double the amounts and 3x is triple the amounts.
Do you keep in the pan to cool and frost
Yes!
I thought it was too much powdered sugar.
This recipe says 6 cups of powdered sugar for the frosting! ?
So good!
I made these for company the other day.
The bars were very good, but the frosting was way too sweet for us!! I would cut the frosting in 1/2 next time or not frost at all.
I stumbled across this recipe because I was given a large zucchini and I needed to use it before it went bad.
WOW!! These bars a A-MA-ZING! Even our picky child who made a face at them tried it and liked them. I had to go back for another one. This is a keeper!!
Just tried the Zuke bars… I don’t have a 10x15x1 pan so I subbed wth a 9×13..
Also using a new stove which I am not too used to….. amazing all went well…. I was so surprised to have the bars come out in 30 minutes,,, good thing I tested early….
Also my first time trying the Brown Butter Icing and it is PERFECT with this cake.
Thanks so much for putting this out there for us to try……
Sooo good!!
My kids even loved them…
Bars were moist and soft. Frosting made them even more delicious…followed directions and comments regarding the frosting…it all turned out great….It’s a keeper!!
Do you absorb the zucchini juice or use that for the moisture? Some recipes tell you to place grated zucchini in a cheese cloth and twist out the juice.
Yes, you can do that if the zucchini is overly watery.
much tastier than zucchini bread, great recipe, thank you
Just made these, and followed recipe EXACTLY…. bars were flat and dry..any ideas what went wrong?? I want to try making again sometime. Thanks!
Hmmmm not to sure what could have gone wrong. They definitely should be moist and not flat and dry at all.
It would be nice to know if you are supposed to take the butter off the stove before adding sugar and milk…
Yes take it off of the stove.
I baked these bars this afternoon and my husband & I just got done tasting them. His comment “I could eat 2 or 3 pieces but will only eat 1”. The only change I made was to add pecans on top the frosting — we love pecans. I will freeze some of the bars since there is just the two of us. One suggestion to those making this for the first time — after the frosting is done you need to frost immediately without delay. Since the butter is browned & hot, the frosting will start to harden as it cools when adding the other ingredients. I will definitely bake again.