Frosted Carrot Zucchini Bars

My husband LOVED these and could not wait for a second helping.

These are made like a big pan of brownies with frosting and are like a cookie/cake bar  you can cut and enjoy with a napkin and your fingers.  I like that kind of springtime no muss no fuss treat.  I also like the idea of serving up veggies disguised in treats! Yummy idea don't you think.....

These bars easily sit on a napkin to be nibbled away...and up your vegetable tally for the day.

Ingredients for Frosted Carrot Zucchini Bars:

2 C. flour
2 C. sugar
2 t. cinnamon
1/2 t. salt
1 t. baking powder
2 t. soda
3/4 C. vegetable oil
4 eggs
1 t. vanilla
2 C. raw shredded zucchini
1 C. raw shredded carrots
1/2 C. chopped nuts, optional
1/2 C. golden raisins, optional

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.  Butter and flour well a half sheet or jelly roll pan and set aside.

Measure the flour into a bowl and if you are using the optional nuts and raisins, toss them into the flour and stir them around. Dump into a large sieve and shake the flour through.  *Set the nuts and/or raisins aside on a paper towel for now. Return the flour to the mixing bowl.

Mix the rest of the dry ingredients into the flour and whisk together to combine.  Add the oil, eggs, and vanilla and beat well.  Stir in the zucchini, carrots, nuts, and raisins.  Spread evenly into the prepared pan.  Bake for 35 minutes or until a tooth pick inserted into the center of the pan of bars comes out clean.  Cool completely and frost.

*Helpful Hint:  Tossing the nuts and raisins helps to keep these additions from from sinking to the bottom of the pan.  I did not use them today, I was in a hurry and they were great anyway.

Ingredients for Frosting:

1 stick of room temperature butter
8 ounces of room temperature cream cheese
3 1/2 C. powdered sugar
1 t. vanilla

Mix butter and cream cheese beating until fluffy.  Slowly add the powdered sugar and the vanilla and mix until smooth and spreadable.  Frost and cut into easy to serve bars.  Yield 24 to 36 bars depending on the size you like to serve.