Zucchini Cake

This delicious yet simple Zucchini Cake is made moist with fresh garden zucchini and walnuts.  The warm spices of cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice along with a brown sugar cream cheese frosting take it over the top.  I love to take this cake to potlucks and family functions as it is always a huge hit.

This time of the year so many garden growers have oodles and oodles of zucchini.  We are zucchini eating fools here.  This treat, Zucchini Bread, Crispy Cheesy Zucchini Fritters and Chocolate Zucchini Muffins are just a few of our favorites. This scrumptious cake will help use up that garden zucchini in the best way possible.

How to make this Zucchini Cake

This cake is made in three easy steps.  First in a medium bowl whisk together the flour, sugar, brown sugar, salt, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice. Then in a separate large bowl stir together the grated zucchini, vegetable oil, eggs and vanilla extract.  Now add the flour mixture to the zucchini mixture in several intervals mixing just until combined.  Then fold in the chopped walnuts.

Next pour the mixture into a 9×13 baking dish that has been greased and floured or sprayed with nonstick baking spray.  Bake just until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or with moist crumbs.

Finally using a mixer beat together the cream cheese, butter, brown sugar and vanilla until light, fluffy and smooth.  Then spread on the fully cooled cake. This cake should be refrigerated because of the cream cheese frosting.

Helpful tips for this Zucchini Cake

• This cake is better the second day so ideally bake the cake a day in advance and ice the cake the day you are going to serve it.
• Grate the unpeeled zucchini with the large end of a box grater.  It really takes just minutes.  It will take you a lot longer to wash and dry your food processor.
• Bring your eggs to room temperature and soften your butter and cream cheese before making the frosting.
• Always load the cake on the middle rack in the center of your preheated oven.
• Check for doneness after 40 minutes and every 5 minutes or so after that.  Insert a toothpick in the center to make sure no wet batter clings to it.  This cake is best not over-baked.
• The cake must be fully cooled before icing.  This can take up to several hours so plan accordingly.

How to freeze grated zucchini

This time of year many of you are gardening and you may have quite the abundance of zucchini.  Did you know that grated zucchini freezes quite well and can be used for future cakes, muffins, breads and even fritters?

Simply grate the zucchini with a food processor or old fashioned box grater (this is where that food processor may come in handy) then allocate a certain amount to each quart freezer bag depending on how much is needed for your favorite recipes (hint, hint, hint).  I like to do some of with 3 cups and some with 2 cups as this seems to cover most of my favorite recipes.  Label and date the freezer bags.

Double wrap by adding several quart bags to gallon bags.  Store in the freezer for up to six months for all your favorite zucchini baking recipes.  To thaw simply place in the refrigerator overnight.

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