Description
This Zucchini Spice Cake is a deliciously moist and flavorful dessert perfect for fall baking. The cake is packed with warm spices, grated zucchini, and optional nuts, topped with a creamy cream cheese frosting.
Ingredients
Scale
Cake:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1½ teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
- ½ cup unsalted butter (softened)
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup brown sugar (packed)
- 3 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 cups finely grated zucchini (moisture slightly squeezed out)
- ¾ cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)
Cream Cheese Frosting:
- 8 ounces cream cheese (softened)
- ¼ cup unsalted butter (softened)
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Prepare dry ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves.
- Mix wet ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter, oil, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, then stir in vanilla extract.
- Combine and bake: Gradually mix in the dry ingredients just until combined. Fold in grated zucchini and nuts if using. Spread the batter into the pan and bake for 35–40 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean. Let cool.
- Make frosting: Beat together cream cheese and butter until smooth. Add powdered sugar and vanilla extract, beat until fluffy. Spread frosting over the cooled cake.
Notes
- This cake stays moist for days and tastes even better the next day.
- For a lighter option, skip the frosting and dust with powdered sugar.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 410
- Sugar: 31g
- Sodium: 230mg
- Fat: 23g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 47g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 70mg
