Zucchini Recipes to Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth

Are you wondering what to do with those giant zucchinis?? Here are a couple of yummy sweet recipes--hard to pass off as anything but desserts, but hey, they do contain a vegetable! If neither of these ideas suits your fancy, you may want to consult Cyndi or Althea about their zucchini weight-lifting regimen . . . .

DOUBLE CHOCOLATE ZUCCHINI BREAD (makes 2 loaves)

2 cups shredded zucchini (about 2 medium zucchini)
4 cups flour
1/2 cup cocoa
1 1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. baking powder
3/4 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1 1/2 cups oil
3 eggs
1 1/2 cups milk
2 tsp. vanilla
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350°F.
Butter 2 (8 x 4 or 9 x 5) loaf pans.

In a large bowl, combine flour, cocoa, sugar, baking soda and powder, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg.

In another bowl, combine zucchini, oil, eggs, milk, and vanilla.

Stir zucchini mixture into the flour mixture, just until blended. Mix in the chocolate chips. Pour batter into prepared pans.

Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center of the bread comes out clean, about 1 hour 15 minutes.

Cool on rack for 10 minutes, then remove from pans and cool completely.


FROSTED CINNAMON ZUCCHINI BARS

3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
½ tsp salt
2 cups shredded zucchini (about 2 medium zucchini)
3/4 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

FROSTING:
1 ½ cups confectioners' sugar
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼ tsp nutmeg
1 ½ tablespoon butter, melted
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2-3 tablespoons milk

In a large mixing bowl, cream butter and sugars until light and fluffy Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla.

Combine flour, baking powder, salt; gradually add to the creamed mixture. Stir in zucchini,and nuts. Spread into a greased 9x13 baking pan.

Bake at 350 degrees F for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack.

For frosting, combine confectioners' sugar and cinnamon in a bowl. Stir in the butter, vanilla, and enough milk to achieve spreading consistency. Frost bars before cutting.

Image Attribution: Creative Commons http://www.flickr.com/photos/adactio/3817108671/