Zucchini Banana Bars Recipe – Shugary Sweets

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Grab some fresh zucchini from your garden, the farm stand or your grocery store. These Zucchini Banana Bars with a creamy cinnamon glaze are begging to be made!

Looking for more alternatives to plain zucchini bread? These Chocolate Zucchini Muffins are a must try too!

Why this Recipe Works

With so many zucchini recipes on this site, you’d think I would have had enough. Not true.

I’m always looking for more ideas for ways to bake with zucchini! The shredded vegetable adds so much moisture to breads, cakes, and muffins.

These Zucchini Banana Bars are based on my Cinnamon Frosted Zucchini Bars.
Cinnamon glaze topping adds a layer of perfect sweetness and a pretty finish.
This recipe is a delicious way to use up overripe bananas and extra zucchini!

Today’s recipe combines my love for Zucchini Banana Bread with my love for easy-to-share dessert bars!

Ingredient Notes

Shredded Zucchini. It’s up to you whether or not you peel the zucchini first. I’ve made this recipe both ways! Use our guide on how to shred zucchini for best tips and tricks.
Bananas. The riper (without being rotten) the better! Bananas with brown spots are perfect. If your bananas are yellow like mine above, use our tips on how to ripen bananas in minutes!
Vanilla. Use a pure vanilla extract for best flavor. I love the taste of my homemade vanilla extract here.

Easy Instructions

Beat butter and sugar together. Mix in egg and vanilla. Add the bananas and mix with the electric mixer until mashed and combined.

Beat in the dry ingredients, then fold in shredded zucchini.

Pour the batter into a greased baking pan. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, then let cool completely.

Whisk together the ingredients for the cinnamon glaze. Pour over the cooled bars.

Slice into squares and enjoy!

Tips and Tricks

How to shred zucchini. Place the bottom of a box grater into a large bowl. Press the zucchini into the grater and pull downward creating long shreds.
Food processor option. A food processor with a grating attachment can also be used to shred zucchini. Just be careful not to over process or you’ll end up with zucchini puree!
Storing zucchini. Use shredded zucchini right away or transfer to a freezer bag to store in the freezer for later use.

Recipe FAQs

Can you use frozen shredded zucchini in this recipe?

Yes, frozen zucchini can be used. Thaw it first and squeeze out any excess water with a paper towel.

Do you need to squeeze the water out of fresh zucchini first?

If your zucchini looks very watery after shredding, it’s a good idea to squeeze it with a paper towel over the sink to remove some of the extra liquid. Otherwise, I just add it straight to the batter.

How do you store these bars? Do they need to be chilled?

No chilling is required in this recipe. Store a pan of bars loosely covered in plastic wrap. It’ll keep well at room temperature for about three days.

Do you mash the banana separately?

That depends on how you mix the batter. I use an electric stand mixer with the paddle attachment. It’s plenty strong enough to mash the banana as it mixes it into the batter. If you’re mixing the batter by hand, I’d mash the banana in a separate bowl with a fork or potato masher first.

Grab some fresh zucchini from your garden, the farm stand or your grocery store. These Zucchini Banana Bars with a creamy cinnamon glaze are begging to be made!

Ingredients

For the Bars:

½ cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 large bananas
2 cups shredded zucchini
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
¼ teaspoon nutmeg

For the glaze:

1 ½ cups powdered sugar
½ teaspoon cinnamon
2 Tablespoons milk

Instructions

In a large mixing bowl, beat butter with sugar, egg and vanilla. Add in bananas, and mix until mashed (I use the beater blade on my electric mixer). Add flour, baking powder, soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Beat until combined (about 1-2 minutes). Fold in zucchini.

Pour batter into a 13×9 baking pan that has been sprayed with non-stick baking spray.

Bake in a 350 degree oven for 25-30 minutes (until edges brown and pull from sides).

Cool completely before adding glaze.

For the glaze, whisk together the sugar, cinnamon and milk until smooth. Pour over cooled cake. Store loosely covered for up to 3 days at room temperature.

Notes

How to shred zucchini. Place the bottom of a box grater into a large bowl. Press the zucchini into the grater and pull downward creating long shreds.

Food processor option. A food processor with a grating attachment can also be used to shred zucchini. Just be careful not to over process or you’ll end up with zucchini puree!

Storing zucchini. Use shredded zucchini right away or transfer to a freezer bag to store in the freezer for later use.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

Serving Size:

1 slice

Amount Per Serving:

Calories: 222Total Fat: 6gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 27mgSodium: 156mgCarbohydrates: 40gFiber: 1gSugar: 25gProtein: 3g