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Easy Weeknight Zucchini Brownies with Peanut-Butter Chocolate Frosting for 12 Squares Pinterest recipe pin

Zucchini Brownies with Peanut-Butter Chocolate Frosting

Moist, cakelike zucchini brownies topped with a quick peanut-butter chocolate frosting—an efficient way to use extra zucchini for an easy, crowd-friendly dessert.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 28 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings: 12 squares
Calories: 240

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups packed grated zucchini about 2 medium zucchinis, lightly drained
  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon fine salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon optional
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup light brown sugar packed
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips divided
Frosting
  • 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
  • 2 ounces semisweet chocolate chopped (or 1/3 cup chocolate chips)
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1/2 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 –2 tablespoons milk as needed

Equipment

  • 1 9×13-inch baking pan
  • 1 Box grater or food processor with grating disk
  • 1 Fine-mesh sieve (for draining zucchini)
  • 1 Mixing bowls and rubber spatula
  • 1 Wire rack for cooling

Method
 

Prepare the pan and zucchini
  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F and grease a 9×13-inch pan; line with parchment with an overhang for easy removal.
  2. Grate zucchini on the large holes of a box grater or in a food processor and measure 2 cups packed; if very wet, press briefly in a fine-mesh sieve to remove excess water.
Make the batter
  1. In a medium bowl whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.
  2. In a large bowl whisk the eggs, then add oil, granulated sugar, and brown sugar and whisk until smooth; stir in vanilla.
  3. Fold the grated zucchini into the wet mixture, then fold in the dry ingredients until just combined; fold in 3/4 cup chocolate chips and reserve the rest for topping.
Bake
  1. Spread the batter evenly in the prepared pan and bake at 350°F for 22–28 minutes, rotating halfway; a toothpick should come out with moist crumbs but not wet batter.
  2. Cool the pan on a wire rack for about 20 minutes before frosting.
Make the frosting and finish
  1. Gently melt peanut butter, chopped chocolate, and butter together in a small saucepan over low heat or in 20-second microwave bursts, stirring until smooth.
  2. Off heat, whisk in powdered sugar and add 1 tablespoon milk at a time until spreadable; spread over warm but not hot brownies and sprinkle remaining chocolate chips.
  3. Let frosting set about 30–45 minutes, then lift brownies from the pan using the parchment and cut into 12 squares.

Notes

Press excess water from very wet zucchini for 2–3 minutes to avoid a gummy center. Use a 9×13-inch pan for even, quicker baking; for thicker bars use an 8×8-inch pan and add about 8–10 minutes of bake time. Store unfrosted at room temperature up to 3 days or freeze unfrosted tightly wrapped for up to 2 months.