Zucchini Cake Brown Sugar Icing (Printable)
Moist zucchini cake with shredded zucchini and buttery brown sugar icing; a sweet, tender loaf for coffee or tea.
# What You’ll Need:
→ Zucchini Cake
01 - 2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
03 - 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
04 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
05 - 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
06 - 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
07 - 1/2 cup vegetable oil
08 - 3/4 cup granulated sugar
09 - 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
10 - 2 large eggs
11 - 1/2 cup plain yogurt or sour cream
12 - 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
13 - 2 cups finely grated zucchini
14 - 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)
→ Brown Sugar Icing
15 - 1/4 cup unsalted butter
16 - 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
17 - 2 tablespoons milk
18 - 1 cup powdered sugar, sifted
19 - 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
# How To Make:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour a 9x13-inch baking pan.
02 - In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
03 - In a large bowl, beat vegetable oil, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until homogenous. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Mix in yogurt or sour cream and vanilla extract until smooth.
04 - Stir grated zucchini into wet mixture. Gently fold in prepared dry ingredients just until combined. If using, fold in chopped nuts.
05 - Spread batter evenly into prepared pan. Bake 35 to 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
06 - Cool cake completely in the pan on a wire rack.
07 - In a small saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Add brown sugar and milk, stirring constantly until sugar dissolves and mixture gently boils. Continue boiling for 1 minute. Remove from heat and let cool for 5 minutes.
08 - Whisk powdered sugar and vanilla extract into cooled mixture until icing is smooth and spreadable.
09 - Spread icing over cooled cake. Allow icing to set before slicing and serving.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The icing tastes like a buttery caramel secret, tucked atop a moist cake no one guesses has vegetables.
- This one-bowl recipe is unexpectedly simple yet feels like a bakery treat with every slice.
02 -
- If the cake 's a bit dense, it usually means the flour was over-measured or overmixed—mix gently!
- Icing sets up quickly; have it ready to spread before it stiffens in the pan.
03 -
- A quick sift of powdered sugar over the icing adds a bakery finish.
- Toasting nuts before adding gives a golden, rich crunch that wakes up the whole cake.