Use those extra zucchinis from the garden to make a pan of these Frosted Butterscotch Zucchini Bars. Once you eat a few, you will wonder who you can share them with before you devour the entire pan.
Plants and I do not get along. I love to have nice house plants in cute pots. The problem...I have a very black thumb.
My idea of having a plant is to water it when I remember. Then I usually give it extra water because it has been so long since the last time. Not a healthy cycle for a green plant's life. Most of the time this works for a while, then the plant starts to droop and lose leaves. Then gradually it gives up the fight and dies. This has happened more times than I would like to admit.
A few years ago we decided we would plant a garden. It turns out out door gardening is slightly better for my black thumbs. We actually enjoyed a few tomatoes, zucchinis, and melons. The kids loved going out to the garden to pick and eat the couple cherry tomatoes that made it. And I did a happy dance around the zucchini plants as they grew a few big zucchinis. I bet if we had been better at watering the gardens, we could have enjoyed even more produce. My guess is that I should stick to the farmer's market. This is one of those times I don't mind paying someone who is better at something than me.
I have been on the lookout for someone to have extra zucchinis they want to get rid of. The other day I was at the grocery store so I went ahead and bought a few small ones. A few years ago I made these Caramel Apple Granola Bars, and I knew that I wanted to change it up with some shredded zucchini.
I like to shred the zucchini into fine pieces. You can shred them larger if you want to. My kids would go crazy though if they found pieces of green in their sweets. I like to make the pieces tiny, so they don't know I hid healthiness in their treats.
These bars really are very easy to make up. Cream the butter, sugar, and eggs. Then stir in the dry ingredients and the zucchini. A quick look in my cupboard and I also found a partial bag of butterscotch chips to stir in. I told you I was going to be looking for more ways to include butterscotch in things.
While the bars bake, you can whip up the frosting. Just set it aside while you wait for the bars to cool. Do not put the frosting on warm bars. We do not want the frosting to melt into them.
An oatmeal bar with fluffy vanilla frosting + a cup of hot coffee = the best way to start out the day. Well, at least that's what everyone who got one at church the other day told me.
Frosted Butterscotch Zucchini Bars
Fresh zucchini and butterscotch chips give these homemade oatmeal bars a fun summer twist.
Ingredients
For the Bars
- ¾ cup butter, softened
- ¾ cup brown sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 ½ cups flour
- 2 ½ cups rolled oats
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon nutmeg
- 1 ½ cup shredded zucchini
- 1 cup butterscotch chips
For the Frosting
- ½ cup butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 4 Tablespoons whipping cream
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 2 cups powdered sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9x13 pan with nonstick spray.
- Beat the butter and brown sugar until creamy. Add the eggs and vanilla and beat again.
- Stir together the flour, oats, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Slowly add it to the butter mixture until it is all mixed in.
- Stir in the zucchini and butterscotch chips by hand. Spread the mixture in a greased 9x13 glass baking dish.
- Bake for 25 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool completely.
- Beat the butter, vanilla, whipping cream, and salt until creamy. Slowly beat in the powdered sugar until mixed in. Beat on medium high for 1-2 minutes.
- Spread over the cooled bars. Store in a sealed container on the counter.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 24 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 259Total Fat: 14gSaturated Fat: 9gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 44mgSodium: 158mgCarbohydrates: 32gFiber: 1gSugar: 20gProtein: 3g
A few more fun ways to hide zucchini into your treats:
Banana Chocolate Chip Zucchini Cookies
Patricia
Hi....I want to make this recipe, but I have a silly quesiton..... are rolled oats the quick oats or the old fashioned oats? Please reply. Thanks.
Jocelyn
Rolled oats are the old fashioned oats. Either will work in this recipe though. I hope you enjoy these bars!
Amy @ Amy's Healthy Baking
I am the SAME way when it comes to plants!! My parents actually gave me an itty bitty cactus for my birthday last year because they figured it was small enough to put on my desk so I'd remember to water it. Well, my blog stuff sort of took over its spot on the desk, so it got moved to the table... And my guy hid it behind his boxes of games, so it died within 2 months. And cacti are supposed to survive without water for ages! Whoops... Anyway, I'd much rather pay someone for zucchini too. These bars look incredible!
Hayley+@+The+Domestic+Rebel
Butterscotch and zucchini? You're a mad dessert genius!
Chels+R.
Mmm, Love these! The butterscotch chips are a fabulous addition.
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thanks Chels! 🙂
Chelsea+@chelseasmessyapron
I have never seen zucchini and butterscotch paired together but I totally love it - this is fantastic! pinned 🙂
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thanks Chelsea! 🙂
Heather+@+Shards+of+Lavender
Oooh, I am definitely making these! Zucchini abounds in my garden and I absolutely love Butterscotch... It's amazing how little attention you can give zucchini and it still loves you back:)
Julianne+@+Beyond+Frosting
Green thumb? It's not a trait that I was bestowed with. These Zucchini bars sound awesome though!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thanks Julianne! 😉
Shannon+@+Bake.Frost.Repeat
Perfect! You sound like me, trying to find other things to put butterscotch in 🙂
There is a guy at work who has a garden and brings in zucchini by the bag full. I definitely need to make a batch of these and take them to the office.
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thanks Shannon! 🙂
Dorothy+@+Crazy+for+Crust
I love the idea of the butterscotch with the zucchini! Genius!
Aimee@ShugarySweets
Yep, you just described my perfect morning 🙂 Love these!!!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thanks Aimee! 😉
Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice
I always have extra zucchinis around in the summer, so I'm definitely going to try this out! I love that you gave these bars a fresh twist with butterscotch. And that frosting looks amazing, I'm sure I could eat the whole bowl! 🙂
Jessica @ A Kitchen Addiction
Love the butterscotch! These bars definitely look like a great way to start the day!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thanks Jessica! 🙂
Laura @ Laura's Culinary Adventures
I need to find some zucchini to make this delicious cake!
Wendy
I think we subconsciously over plant or over buy zucchini just so that we can "justify" turning vegetables into delicious treats like these bars! 🙂 The more zucchini treats, the better! Butterscotch with cinnamon is so good together!
Jocelyn Brubaker
So true! 🙂 Thanks Wendy!
Zainab @ Blahnik Baker
I love zucchini and just really go overboard in buying it!! Mixing it with butterscotch is a whole new level I need to explore. These bars look amazing!!
Mir
I can't grown anything to save my life. I am so jealous of people who are good at it!
The butterscotch is such a good idea. These bars are so inventive!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Haha, thanks Mir! 🙂
Chelsea+@+Gal+on+a+Mission
I have always loved having a garden and picking the tomatoes and all of the veggies. It's very rewarding! By the way, these zucchini bars look AMAZING! I love anything with zucchini! Hope you had a great weekend! 🙂
Jocelyn (Grandbaby Cakes)
Zucchini and butterscotch sound like a great combo! Smart for sure! Love these bars!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thanks Jocelyn! 🙂
Nancy P.@thebittersideofsweet
Our garden did fabulous this season, our zucchini did not but I still want these bars!
Tieghan
I am loving the use of zucchini here. These bars look delicious and a great way to sneak in some zucchini!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thanks Tieghan!