Our super easy zucchini cake is also topped with a soft, easy-to-spreadcream cheese frosting.

It’s the perfect sweet for tea parties, showers, or just a late-summer afternoon.

you could also reach for some optional mix-ins.

Southern Living Zucchini Cake sliced on plates to serve

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Let cool in pan 10 minutes before turning out onto a cooling rack to cool completely.

To prepare frosting, beat 4 oz.

softened cream cheese, 2 Tbsp.

Southern Living Zucchini Cake ingredients

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softened butter, 1 tsp.

vanilla, and a pinch of salt until smooth and combined.

Add 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar; beat until smooth.

Southern Living Zucchini Cake whisking together dry ingredients

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milk or half and half; just enough to make the icing thick but pourable.

Pour over cake in a thick layer.

Can You Freeze Zucchini Cake?

Southern Living Zucchini Cake whisking together the eggs, oil, and sugar

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Then, you could thaw it overnight in the fridge and finish the frosting just before serving.

)package cream cheese, softened

1/4cup(2 oz.

Spray a 13- x 9-in.

Southern Living Zucchini Cake adding the zucchini to the batter

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pan with baking spray with flour.

Stir in grated zucchini.

Stir in flour mixture until evenly combined, but do not overmix.

Southern Living Zucchini Cake adding the flour to the batter

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Stir in chopped pecans, if using.

Bake cake:

Pour batter into prepared pan.

Let cool completely in the pan on a cooling rack, about 2-3 hours.

Southern Living Zucchini Cake stirring in the chopped pecans

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Add powdered sugar and mix until smooth.

Finish cake:

Spread frosting onto cooled cake.

Store leftovers, covered, in the refrigerator.

Southern Living Zucchini Cake pouring the batter into the pan

Credit:Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Frequently Asked Questions

Theres no need to peel the zucchini before shredding it.

The skin on the zucchini is thin enough that it will blend into the batter without peeling first.

For this recipe, theres no need to drain the zucchini after its been shredded.

Southern Living Zucchini Cake after baking

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The extra moisture in the zucchini helps keep the cake nice and moist.

Zucchini doesn’t exactly replace an ingredient the way applesauce might replace fat.

Instead, zucchini adds moisture and volume to baked goods, turning them more tender and fluffy.

Southern Living Zucchini Cake frosting ingredients

Credit:Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Southern Living Zucchini Cake beating the cream cheese and butter until smooth

Credit:Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Southern Living Zucchini Cake frosting after adding the powdered sugar

Credit:Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Southern Living Zucchini Cake with frosting spread over cake

Credit:Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox