Zucchini cupcakes with cream cheese frosting are just the thing to use up your end-of-summer veggies. They’re delicious and a treat for anyone with a sweet tooth!
Hey people! How are things? How’s your summer going?
Well, it’s about to get even better.
Because today not only am I bringing you a delicious recipe for zucchini cupcakes with cream cheese frosting, but I’m bringing you a giveaway AND a roundup of some other AHHHmazing cupcake recipes from some of my blogger friends.
You might have noticed that I’ve been posting gazillions of cupcake recipes recently.
That’s ’cause my friend Zainab from A Classic Twist and I have been celebrating our love of cupcakes (and our opposite-of-love for Mondays) with this little hashtag: #CupcakeMondays.
Every Monday we (and anyone else who wants to participate hint hint) post pictures of cupcakes on Insta and use that hashtag. It’s a delicious start to the week!
Today, we bring that fun to our blogs. My contribution to our party is these amazingly delicious zucchini cupcakes.
They’re lightly spiced, perfectly soft and moist, and topped with a mountain of tangy-sweet cream cheese frosting.
Why you’ll love these zucchini cupcakes:
- They’re SO EASY to make
- You don’t need a stand mixer!
- You feel a little less guilty eating a zucchini cupcake than one made without veggies (or I feel less guilty, anyway)
These cupcakes are super simple to whip together; you just need a bowl and a spatula. It’s like making muffins or quick bread—but the result is more cupcake than muffin so don’t worry that you’ll end up with breakfast food rather than dessert.
More cupcake recipes!
To continue the #CupcakeMondays party, be sure to check out these cupcake recipes from my blogger friends. You’re in for some serious goodness!
Tropical Passion Fruit Cupcakes from A Classic Twist
Salted Caramel Cupcakes from A Table Full of Joy
Better Than Box Mix Cupcakes from Kelly Lynn’s Sweets and Treats
Peach Moscato Cupcakes from Blue Bowl Recipes
Candy Apple Cupcakes from Love in My Oven
White and Dark Chocolate Raspberry Cupcakes from Pies and Tacos
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 1 large egg at room temperature
- 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
- 1 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1 1/2 cups lightly packed grated zucchini from 6 to 7 ounces of zucchini
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter at room temperature
- 6 ounces cream cheese at room temperature
- 2 to 2 1/2 cups powdered sugar sifted
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line 10 muffin cups with paper liners and set pan aside.
- Whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and spices in a medium mixing bowl until well combined.
- In a second bowl, whisk together the oil, eggs, vanilla, and lemon zest until smooth. Whisk in the sugar until well combined and no lumps of sugar remain. Stir in the grated zucchini, then fold in the dry ingredients until just combined.
- Divide batter evenly between the prepared muffin cups. Bake 20 to 24 minutes, until a cake tester inserted into the center of the cupcakes comes out clean. Cool in pans for 20 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before frosting.
- Beat the butter and cream cheese in a medium mixing bowl with an electric mixer very light and creamy. With mixer on low, gradually add the powdered sugar, mixing until combined. Beat in the vanilla and salt. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl, then turn mixer to medium and beat until smooth. Add more powdered sugar if necessary to achieve desired consistency. Frost cupcakes as desired and serve.
Be sure your frosting ingredients are at room temperature, otherwise it's difficult to mix them together properly.
Cupcakes adapted from Martha Stewart’s Cupcakes
Abbe@This is How I Cook says
I just picked three huge zucchini today so I’m in need of any zucchini recipe. However I’m partial to cupcakes! Fun giveaway!
Kelsie says
Thank you, Abbe!
kitchenriffs says
Who doesn’t like cupcakes? Because who doesn’t like saying “I ate a whole cake!” Love the idea of #CupcakeMondays. And love these zucchini cupcakes — what a wonderful idea. Perfect way to eat my veggies. 🙂 Thanks!
Kelsie says
Haha! Thank you!
Lisa says
YES! These sound amazing! #CupcakeMondays was so much fun and you brought some awesome cupcakes to the party haha!
Kelsie says
Thanks Lisa!
Kelly @ Kelly Lynn's Sweets and Treats says
Since there’s zucchini in these, I can eat three or four at a time, right?! Hehehehe. Thanks again for helping put the #CupcakeMonday event together! It has been so much fun 🙂 It is motivating me to try and make more cupcakes!! Your frosting swirl is perfection BTW!!!
Kelsie says
Absolutely! They’re practically a health food :). Thanks, Kelly! And thank you for all YOUR help!
Katherine | Love In My Oven says
Yay #CupcakeMondays!! I’m so happy I could be a part of this fun little event. These are such a lovely contribution, Kelsie! Zucchini in baking is SO good! And that cream cheese frosting!? Yum!
Kelsie says
Thank you, Katherine! Glad you could join us!
Ben|Havocinthekitchen says
Are you kidding me? Have you been posting gazillions of cupcake recipes? I didn’t notice at all! 🙂 As I’ve mentioned before, I’m not a huge fan of cupcakes (with given choices), but I’m intrigued abou these guys. I’ve never tried zucchini cakes, but I’ve hears their texture is amazing. P.S. More cupcakes pleeeease!
Kelsie says
Haha! Don’t worry, more cupcakes are on the way :). Zucchini cake has a lovely texture! I def think you should try it.
Thao @ In Good Flavor says
I love any recipe that requires only a bowl and a spatula. Too bad they all can’t be that way! These cupcakes look so yummy and the cream cheese frosting looks a puff of cloud on top!!
Kelsie says
Me too! Thank you, Thao!
camila says
yummm zucchini in this delicious cupcakes!! I can’t even believe how delicious this looks. Thank you so much for inviting me to be a part of #CupcakeMondays!! It’s truly an honor to work with such amazing and talented bloggers.
Kelsie says
Thank you, Cam!
hummingbirdthyme says
Kelsie – these look and sound like just what I need! I’m all in for Cupcake Mondays, too! Because who doesn’t love a personal cake? Mmmm.. Thanks for the recipe – will pin!
Kelsie says
Thank you, Laura!
chef mimi says
I quit baking quick breads years ago, probably when my kids left home. Now that I have grand kids, I need to start making fun things like muffins that aren’t just about sugar! thanks!
Kelsie says
Yes! And zucchini muffins are always delicious!
Ashika | Gardening Foodie says
These look so yum Kelsie and I love that it has zucchini in it as well. What a great way to use some of the zucchini my garden. Thank you for the great recipe, I cannot wait to try 🙂
Kelsie says
Thank you, Ashika!
Mary Ann @ thebeachhousekitchen says
You and Chey are keeping me zucchini filled this week! I’ll be splitting up my zucchini stash from my brother-in-law’s garden between these little beauties for dessert and Chey’s recipe for dinner! Love these Kelsie!
Kelsie says
You can’t go wrong with zucchini! Thanks, Mary Ann!
Pies and Prejudice says
I love zucchini in cupcakes, so healthy and makes them so moist! Add some cream cheese frosting and these are absolutely perfect. Love that these are super easy to make, too! Would LOVE to start my Monday off with one of these…maybe a few because I probably won’t be able to stop eating them haha Hope you are doing great Kelsie and having a good summer so far! 😀
Kelsie says
Thanks, Dana! Hope you’re having a great week!
crumbtopbaking says
I love cupcake Mondays! And these beauties are a great way to celebrate! I’m a huge fan of zucchini in baked goods, and I also love an easy recipe, so I was meant to try these cupcakes! Happy Monday Kelsie!
Kelsie says
Thank you, Leanne!
annie@ciaochowbambina says
I have a sweet tooth and am always on the lookout for a sweet treat! I’ll take two, please!
Kelsie says
They’re yours!
A Classic Twist says
There’s no better way to start the week, if you ask me! These zucchini cupcakes look incredible and you are right, I’d definitely feel better about eating a few of these.
Kelsie says
Thank you, Zainab!
Milena Perrine says
Yey to #CupcakeMondays! Love zucchini baked goods and your cupcakes will be making and appearance possibly next weekend – our zucchini are almost ready to pick! Also spotted some other fun recipes in your list so on my way to check them out! Pinned!
Kelsie says
Zucchini is SOOO good in baked goods right? Thanks, Milena!
Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary says
Cupcake Monday?! Ummm BRILLIANT! Also brilliant, these cupcakes! I’ve had zucchini bread, but never zucchini cupcakes! These look so dang good I would have never guessed they are also good for you! Because we all know the addition of zucchini cuts out ALL the calories. 😉 And cream cheese frosting just happens to be my favs! Obviously, I’ll take a dozen of these beauties! Cheers, girl!
Kelsie says
Aww thanks, Chey!
Dawn @ Girl Heart Food says
Yep! Because there’s veggies in there, they are totally guilt free 😉 These look super good, Kelsie, and perfectly frosted! And I love cupcake Mondays! Kicks off the week on a delicious note, that’s for sure 🙂 Happy Monday!
Kelsie says
I’m glad we’re on the same page :). Thanks, Dawn!
David @ Spiced says
What a fun hashtag, Kelsie! Anything that takes the edge off of Monday mornings is a winner in my book. And cupcakes sounds like a great way to win Mondays! Speaking of winning, the fact that you used zukes to make these delicious looking cupcakes means you win an award. And pairing ’em with cream cheese frosting? You’ve got my attention now! We’re just starting to pull zukes out of the garden, and I would love to turn some of them into cupcakes!
Kelsie says
Thank you, David!