Carrot And Zucchini Bars

Here's an easy way to get your family to eat more vegetables!

Carrots are rich in beta-carotene - an important component of Vitamin A.

Zucchini (also known as courgette) is a popular summer squash that is usually light or dark green in color and looks a lot like a cucumber.

We treat zucchini as a vegetable because it is usually cooked before eaten, but technically, it is a fruit because it derives from a flowering plant and contains seeds.

You might also find golden zucchini which is a related hybrid that is dark yellow in color.

But this recipe calls for the more traditional green zucchini whic is easy to find in most grocery stores.

Carrot and Zucchini Bars

These bars are a moist sweet treat that are topped with citrus cream cheese frosting - a perfect combination of flavors.

Carrot and Zucchini Bars Recipe

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Bake Time: 25 minutes

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1 1/2 cups shredded carrot (about 3 medium carrots)
1 cup shredded zucchini (about 1 medium)
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1/2 cup cooking oil
1/4 cup honey
1 teaspoon vanilla
Citrus Cream Cheese Frosting

Preheat oven to 350F degrees.
In a large bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, ginger and baking soda.
In another large bowl, stir together eggs, carrot, zucchini, brown sugar, raisins, walnuts, oil, honey and vanilla.
Add carrot mixture to the flour mixture and stir until just combined.
Spread batter evenly in an ungreased 13x9-inch baking pan.
Bake about 25 minutes or until a wooden toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Cool in pan on wire rack.
Spread cooled bars with Citrus Cream Cheese Frosting.
Cut bars into desired size and shape.

Citrus Cream Cheese Frosting
In a mixing bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed, beat one 8-ounce package softened cream cheese and 1 cup powdered sugar until fluffy. If desired, stir in 1 teaspoon finely shredded lemon peel and/or orange peel.

This recipe makes about 36 Carrot and Zucchini Bars.

Recipe Sources:

Martha Stewart's Cookies

Cookies: Food Writers' Favorites