You’ll welcome the summer zucchini glut once you try these homey little zucchini crumble bars. The layer of spiced zucchini is unusual, to be sure, but one taste and you’ll be in your comfort zone…think zucchini bread meets apple crumble!
I took a chance on these zucchini bars, and it paid off. I wasn’t sure how the shredded zucchini would perform in place of the regular sweet layers in my classic crumble bars, but it worked out perfectly.
The flavor? If you close your eyes and bite into one of these bars, you’d never guess it was zucchini, the flavor reads more like apple! Weird, but true.
what you’ll need
- butter
- sugar
- both dark brown and white
- salt
- vanilla
- cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger
- flour
- walnuts
- zucchini
- lemon juice
After shredding my zucchini I squeezed out the excess moisture and tossed it with a little lemon juice, sugar and spice. I spread it out on my shortbread crust just like I do with lemon curd, berries, or other fruit fillings. I crumbled the topping over the zucchini, crossed my fingers, and popped them in the oven.
My basic buttery shortbread dough puts the crumble in zucchini crumble bars. It never fails me, and I’ve really put it through its paces over the years. Sometimes I spice the dough, I’ll use different flours, different sugars, add nuts, etc. The filling can be anything from curds and jams to whole chopped fruit. I’ve customized them to every season and every occasion, this is a tried and true formula.
Other crumble bars to explore
- Blood Orange Crumble Bars
- Cardamom Plum Crumble Bars
- Creamy Lemon Crumble Bars
- Meyer Lemon Macadamia Squares
- Sour Cherry Almond Bars
The verdict on these unique zucchini crumble bars is a big thumbs up! If you’re ‘assigned’ to bring something to an office party, book group, brunch, etc, these would be perfect. They’re not too sweet, beautifully spiced, and yummy (the brown sugar and walnuts give them a definite fall-ish vibe.) They’re a total conversation starter, too.
Zucchini Walnut Crumble Bars
Equipment
- 9×9 square baking pan
Ingredients
shortbread dough
- 1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 2/3 cup dark brown sugar, firmly packed
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp ginger
- 1/4 tsp freshly grated nutmeg
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
filling
- 1 1/2 packed cups shredded zucchini
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- 1 Tbsp sugar
- 1/4 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp freshly grated nutmeg
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350F. Lightly spray a 9×9 square baking pan
- Cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Beat in the salt, vanilla, and spices.
- Add in the flour, a cup at a time, and mix just until it is combined.
- Take about 2/3 of the dough and press it into the bottom of a 9×9 square baking pan. I like to line the pan with parchment paper with long ends so that I can lift it out after it cools…it makes cutting easier and prettier, but this is optional. Cover the whole bottom surface, using your hands to lightly pat the dough down. It helps to flour your hands.
- Put the grated zucchini in a clean kitchen towel and wring out the moisture. Toss with the lemon juice, sugar, and spices.
- Spread the zucchini out over the bottom crust as evenly as possible.
- Take the rest of the dough and mix it with the chopped walnuts. Crumble it between your fingers over the zucchini, making an even layer of small crumbles. It's fine if some of the zucchini shows through.
- Bake for about 35 minutes until the top is starting to turn light brown around the edges.
Notes
Make these zucchini walnut crumble bars your own ~
- Make them nut free ~ substitute rolled oats for the nuts.
- Make them with whole grains ~ use half oat flour or half whole wheat flour.
- Make them fruity ~ add some thinly sliced or chopped apple to the zucchini filling. A little applesauce might even work.
Sue, I just found your blog! It is lovely! This is the first recipe I tried and the bars are amazing! My daughter and husband love them too. He even texted me at work to tell me how good they are. 🙂 The recipe was very quick to put together and I really enjoy the zucchini filling flavor. I’ve made lots of desserts with zucchini and this may be my fav. I have a feeling I’ll be making these bars again before the end of the year. I look forward to perusing your blog and recipes in the future.
Welcome in Marisa 🙂 I’m so glad this was a hit with your family!
These are sooooooo delicious! How should I store these and how far ahead do you think they can be made?
Thanks,
Jan
I’d suggest a day ahead at most, Jan.
These are delicious. I made them vegan using earth balance vegan butter. I froze them after eating a couple at room temperature. I am eating them right out of freezer, and actually think they taste better cold and firm. Great new recipe to make again and again. Thanks
Thanks Susan! I wouldn’t have thought to eat them cold, I guess I’m going to have to make a fresh batch to test that out 😉
What a great use for zucchini, I love the golden crumble!