Zucchini Bars with Brown Butter Frosting

Name: Zucchini Bars with Brown Butter Frosting
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 1 h
Yield: 24
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 cups all purpose flour; 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon; 2 cups granulated sugar; 1 cup vegetable oil; 3 large eggs; 2 cups shredded zucchini; 1/2 cup chopped pecans (optional); 1/2 cup unsalted butter; 3 cups powdered sugar; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 8 tablespoons milk, plus more as needed

These soft and warmly spiced bars are the perfect way to use up fresh garden zucchini.

By Recipes By Nani· 🌍 American· August 1, 2026

Zucchini Bars with Brown Butter Frosting

recipesbynani.com

Prep

20 minutes

Cook

40 minutes

Total

1 hour

Serves

These zucchini bars are a household favorite whenever the garden starts overflowing. They are incredibly soft and moist, and since you do not need to squeeze the liquid out of the zucchini, they come together very quickly for a treat that feeds a crowd.

The real secret to this recipe is the brown butter frosting. Browning the butter gives it a deep, nutty flavor that pairs perfectly with the spiced zucchini base. If you have any leftovers, they stay soft for days.

🧺 Ingredients

2 cups all purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 cups granulated sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
3 large eggs
2 cups shredded zucchini
1/2 cup chopped pecans (optional)
1/2 cup unsalted butter
3 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
8 tablespoons milk, plus more as needed

👩‍🍳Instructions

1
Preheat your oven to 350°F and grease a 15x10x1 inch jelly roll pan with nonstick spray.
2
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon. Set this aside.
3
In a large mixing bowl, whisk the sugar, vegetable oil, and eggs until the mixture is smooth.
4
Add the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients and mix just until combined. Be careful not to overmix, or the bars will be dense.
5
Fold in the shredded zucchini and pecans, then spread the batter evenly into your prepared pan.
6
Bake for 30 to 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let the bars cool completely before frosting.
7
To make the frosting, melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat, stirring frequently for 5 to 8 minutes until it turns golden brown and smells nutty. Remove from heat immediately.
8
In a bowl, use a hand mixer to combine the browned butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract. Gradually add the milk until you reach a smooth, spreadable consistency, then frost your cooled bars.

💡 Tips

Store these bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three days. If you prefer, you can swap the pecans for walnuts or even chocolate chips to change up the flavor.

#dessert #zucchini #bars #baking #vegetarian

Made this recipe? Let us know how it went.