Our zucchini cake recipe is super easy to make and is crazy moist with the loveliest hint of spice taste. Whether you have to go pick up some zucchini or if you are overflowing with fresh zucchini from the garden, you need to make this easy zucchini cake recipe!

Zucchini Cake Recipe - baked and frosted zucchini cake shown with walnuts and ingredients in the background
Zucchini cake is such a fun and yummy way to sneak veggies into your little one’s diet!

WHAT CAN I MAKE WITH ZUCCHINI?

Do you ever wonder what to do with zucchini? It’s such a versatile veggie with tons of possibilities and it will make recipes with a rich texture that almost melts in your mouth.

One of my family’s favorite zucchini recipes is zucchini cake, with zucchini bread, and zucchini parmesan chips being a close second and third! You can’t go wrong with any veggie that can be turned into a yummy cake!

Frosted with nuts Zucchini Cake Recipe fully baked and cooling on a wire rack
The best part of this zucchini cake is the homemade cream cheese frosting!

Easy ZUCCHINI CAKE recipe

This easy zucchini cake recipe is something the entire family will love. It is a great idea to take to a potluck or family gathering since it has that taste of nostalgia too!

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This Easy Zucchini Cake Recipe:

  • Serves 16-20
  • Prep Time: 15 min
  • Cook Time: 30-40 min
Zucchini Cake Recipe
Make sure you crack your eggs in a separate bowl. This way, if tiny egg shells slip through, you can catch them without ruining your zucchini cake batter!

Ingredients Needed for Zucchini CAKe Recipe

Ingredients to Make the Cake 

Ingredients to Make the Cream Cheese Frosting

  • 2 (8 oz) packages cream cheese, softened
  • ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
  • 6-8 cups powdered sugar, sifted
  • 1-2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Instructions to Make Zucchini Cake

STEP 1

First, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

STEP 2

Next, spray a 13×9 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray, and then lightly dust with flour.

Step 3 Grate zucchini for your Zucchini Cake Recipe with all supplies on the counter- flour, spices, eggs, spatula, oil, zucchini, cutting board, butter, sugar, and nuts and vanilla
Watch your fingers as you grate the zucchini!

STEP 3

Grate zucchini, and then set aside.

Step 4- Mix the wet ingredients for your Zucchini Cake Recipe in a bowl with a whisk
Mixing my wet ingredients separately from the dry ingredients while baking helps me keep track of it all so much easier!

STEP 4

Then, in a large bowl, stir together sugar, vanilla extract, oil, and eggs.


STEP 5

In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves.

Step 5- Zucchini Cake Recipe- whisk flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon together
Make a gluten-free zucchini cake with gluten-free flour!

STEP 6

Next, add dry ingredients to wet ingredients, and then mix, until smooth.

Step7- Zucchini Cake Recipe- stir in nuts and zucchini
You can make this zucchini cake recipe nut-free if you prefer!

STEP 7

Stir in zucchini and nuts, if using.

Step8 - Zucchini Cake Recipe- stir batter into baking dish
Get ready, your kitchen is about to smell awesome!

STEP 8

Then, pour mixture into prepared baking dish.

STEP 9

Bake for 35-40 minutes or until toothpick inserted comes out clean.

STEP 10

Remove from oven to cooling rack.

STEP 11

Cool completely.

step 11- Zucchini Cake Recipe- cool completely on a wire rack finished product with icing and walnuts
Refrigerate your zucchini cake to maximize freshness–not that you will have much leftover!

Instructions to Make HOMEMADE CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

STEP 1

In a large mixing bowl, add cream cheese, and beat until smooth.

STEP 2

Then, add in butter, and beat until smooth and creamy.

STEP 3

Gradually add powdered sugar, mixing in between each addition.

STEP 4

Beat until smooth.

STEP 5

Next, beat in vanilla extract, until smooth.

STEP 6

Spread frosting onto the cake with an offset spatula (you may have some frosting leftover–so grab a spoon and enjoy!).

Finished Zucchini Cake Recipe on a wire rack with frosting and walnut
With a couple of ingredient changes, you can still enjoy this zucchini cake recipe if you have a gluten allergy or sensitivity!

STEP 7

Serve immediately, or store in airtight container in the refrigerator.

How to Make GLUTEN-FREE ZUCCHINI CAKE RECIPE

If you want to make gluten free zucchini cake, you will have to replace a couple of ingredients. 

  • Swap out the regular flour for a gluten free all-purpose flour.
  • Also, double check that the baking powder, as well as all of you other processed ingredients are gluten-free, to be safe.

That’s it, enjoy! 

Delicious Zucchini Cake with frosting and walnut on parchment paper
It’s so easy to make yummy vegan zucchini cake, using an egg replacer and plant-based dairy ingredients!

How to Make VEGAN ZUCCHINI CAKE RECIPE

To make a vegan zucchini cake:

  • Swap out all of your dairy ingredients for plant-based versions, so use vegan cream cheese and vegan butter, instead. 
  • You can replace eggs with an egg replacer from the store, or you can make your own! I love using this applesauce “egg” in all of my baked goods! Mix 1/4 cup of unsweetened applesauce, along with 1/2 tsp. of baking powder. This equals (1) “egg”. 
  • Another option is using a flaxseed meal “egg”. Combine 1 tablespoon of ground flaxseed meal with 3 tablespoons of water. I usually mix this up and then let it sit in my fridge for about 15-20 minutes so it can thicken. 
Yield: 16-20

Zucchini Cake Recipe

Zucchini Cake Recipe

Do you have a bunch of zucchini to use up from your garden? Make a yummy zucchini cake!

Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes 30 seconds
Total Time 55 minutes 30 seconds

Ingredients

  • 2 cups zucchini, finely grated
  • 1 ¼ cups granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ½ cup vegetable or canola oil
  • 3 large eggs, room temperature
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 ¼ teaspoons baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1 cup walnuts, chopped, optional
  • Cream Cheese Frosting:
  • 2 (8 oz) packages cream cheese, softened
  • ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
  • 6-8 cups powdered sugar, sifted
  • 1-2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Instructions

    1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
    2. Spray 13x9 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray and lightly dust with flour.
    3. Grate zucchini, set aside.
    4. In a large bowl, stir together sugar, vanilla extract, oil and eggs.
    5. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves.
    6. Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and mix until smooth.
    7. Stir in zucchini and nuts if using.
    8. Pour mixture into prepared baking dish.
    9. Bake for 35-40 minutes or until toothpick inserted comes out clean.
    10. Remove from oven to cooling rack.
    11. Cool completely.
    12. To make the frosting, in a large mixing bowl add cream cheese, and beat until smooth.
    13. Add in butter, and beat until smooth and creamy.
    14. Gradually add powdered sugar, mixing in between each addition, and beat until smooth.
    15. Beat in vanilla extract until smooth.

More Easy Dessert Recipes from Kids Activities Blog 

  1. Candy loaded campfire brownies will be the hit of your next camping trip! 
  2. These five ingredient s’mores bars are all the yumminess of s’mores with less mess.
  3. Strawberry dessert lasagna looks very fancy, but it is incredibly easy to make.
  4. Mug cakes are my favorite solution when I want to bake something yummy, but I’m short on time. 
  5. If you’re craving Samoas once Girl Scout cookie season is over, whip up a batch of these delicious Samoas style butter cookie bars
  6. Try making this Jello Poke Cake recipe!
  7. Make an Pineapple Upside Down Cake here!

When was the last time you made zucchini cake? I am getting hungry just thinking about it…



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