Soft Zucchini Cookies Recipe

Fluffy Garden-Fresh Soft Zucchini Cookies Recipe

Baking zucchini cookies brings unexpected delight to summer’s harvest, turning this versatile summer squash into a delectable sweet zucchini cookies recipe.

Vegetables rarely make such a compelling dessert transformation.

Zucchini adds moisture and subtle earthiness to these tender treats.

Each bite delivers a perfect balance of soft texture and gentle sweetness.

Packed with wholesome ingredients, these cookies offer a delightful way to sneak extra nutrients into a classic dessert.

The simple recipe promises to become a go-to favorite for anyone seeking a unique twist on traditional cookies.

Prepare to savor every crumbly, moist morsel of this irresistible homemade delight.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 12 minutes

Total Time: 27 minutes

Calories: 150 kcal

Servings: 24

Ingredients for Moist Zucchini Cookies

For Wet Ingredients:
  • Butter: Provides rich, creamy base that creates tender cookie texture with deep flavor undertones.
  • Granulated Sugar: Delivers sweetness and helps cookies achieve crisp golden edges.
  • Brown Sugar: Adds moisture and creates chewier cookie texture with caramel-like depth.
  • Egg: Binds ingredients together and contributes to cookie's soft structure.
  • Vanilla Extract: Enhances overall flavor complexity with warm aromatic notes.
For Dry Ingredients:
  • All-Purpose Flour: Creates cookie's fundamental structure and provides essential framework.
  • Baking Soda, Baking Powder: Ensures proper cookie rising and maintains light, delicate texture.
  • Salt: Balances sweetness and amplifies other ingredient flavors.
  • Cinnamon, Nutmeg: Introduces warm, comforting spice profile with subtle background warmth.
For Mix-Ins and Special Ingredients:
  • Zucchini: Adds unexpected moisture, subtle vegetable sweetness, and nutrition to cookies.
  • Oats: Introduces hearty texture and wholesome, nutty undertone.
  • Chocolate Chips, Raisins, Nuts: Optional add-ins that create delightful flavor and textural variations.
For Optional Glaze:
  • Powdered Sugar: Creates smooth, sweet drizzle with elegant finishing touch.
  • Milk: Thins glaze to perfect consistency for delicate drizzling.
  • Large Mixing Bowl: Essential for creaming butter and mixing ingredients thoroughly.
  • Electric Mixer or Whisk: Perfect for achieving light, fluffy butter and sugar mixture.
  • Measuring Cups and Spoons: Crucial for accurate ingredient quantities.
  • Baking Sheets: Needed for baking the cookies evenly.
  • Parchment Paper or Silicone Baking Mats: Prevents cookies from sticking and ensures easy cleanup.
  • Separate Mixing Bowl: Used for combining dry ingredients.
  • Whisk: Great for blending dry ingredients smoothly.
  • Wire Cooling Rack: Helps cookies cool without getting soggy on the bottom.
  • Small Bowl: Useful for preparing optional glaze.
  • Spatula or Wooden Spoon: Helps fold in zucchini and mix-ins gently.

Making Zucchini Cookies From Scratch

  • Warm Up the Oven

Crank the oven to a toasty 350F and line your baking sheets with parchment paper for easy cleanup.

  • Create Creamy Base

Whip butter and sugars together until they transform into a fluffy cloud of deliciousness.

  • Blend Moisture Makers

Crack in an egg and splash of vanilla, mixing until everything looks smooth and inviting.

  • Combine Dry Elements

Gently mix flour, baking soda, spices, and other dry ingredients in a separate bowl, creating a magical powder blend.

  • Marry Wet and Dry Mixtures

Slowly fold dry ingredients into the creamy base, then introduce shredded zucchini and any fun extras like chocolate chips or nuts.

  • Shape Cookie Dreams

Scoop dollops of dough onto prepared baking sheets, leaving space for cookie expansion.

  • Bake to Golden Perfection

Pop the sheets into the oven and bake until edges turn a gorgeous golden brown, around 10-12 minutes.

  • Cool and Decorate

Let cookies rest briefly on the baking sheet, then transfer to a cooling rack. Optional: drizzle with a sweet glaze for extra yumminess.

  • Baking Magic Tricks: Zucchini Cookies Pro Tips
  • Moisture Management: Squeeze excess water from shredded zucchini using a clean kitchen towel to prevent soggy cookies and ensure perfect texture.
  • Chocolate Lover's Dream: Swap regular chocolate chips for dark or white chocolate varieties to create unique flavor profiles that complement the zucchini's subtle sweetness.
  • Gluten-Free Option: Replace wheat flour with almond or coconut flour for a celiac-friendly version that maintains the cookies' delightful soft texture.
  • Healthy Boost: Add chia seeds or ground flaxseed to increase nutritional value and create a slight nutty undertone without compromising the cookie's deliciousness.
  • Freezer-Friendly Hack: Prepare cookie dough balls and freeze them for up to 3 months, allowing you to bake fresh cookies whenever a sweet craving strikes.

How to Serve Zucchini Cookies with Style

  • Sweet Tea Time Companion: Pair these zucchini cookies with a refreshing glass of chilled sweet tea or hot herbal tea for a delightful afternoon snack.
  • Dessert Buffet Star: Create a cookie platter with these zucchini cookies alongside other homemade treats like chocolate chip or oatmeal raisin cookies for a diverse dessert spread.
  • Breakfast Sidekick: Enjoy these cookies crumbled over Greek yogurt or alongside a morning smoothie for a quick and tasty breakfast boost that sneaks in some extra veggies.
  • Gifting Goodness: Package these cookies in cute mason jars or decorative boxes with a ribbon for a homemade gift that shows you care, perfect for teachers, neighbors, or weekend hosts.

Store and Save Zucchini Cookies Properly

  • Tasty Cookie Stash Strategy: Keep cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days, ensuring maximum freshness and deliciousness.
  • Refrigeration Rescue: When stored in the refrigerator with parchment paper between layers, zucchini cookies maintain their soft texture for 7-10 days.
  • Freezing Fantastic Option: Seal cookies in freezer-safe bags or containers, lasting up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature for quick enjoyment without losing flavor quality.
  • Make-Ahead Magic: Prepare cookie dough in advance and refrigerate for 24 hours or freeze unbaked dough balls for spontaneous baking adventures, giving you flexible dessert preparation.
Print
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Soft Zucchini Cookies Recipe

Soft Zucchini Cookies Recipe


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4.9 from 18 reviews

  • Total Time: 27 minutes
  • Yield: 25 1x

Description

Delightful Chocolate Chip Zucchini Cookies offer a surprising twist on classic treats. These moist, tender cookies blend garden-fresh zucchini with rich chocolate for a surprisingly delectable dessert you’ll crave.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 ½ cups (190 g) all-purpose flour
  • ½ cup (115 g) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup shredded zucchini (squeezed to remove excess moisture)
  • 1 large egg
  • ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar
  • ½ cup (110 g) brown sugar, packed
  • ½ cup rolled oats (optional, for added texture)
  • ½ cup chocolate chips, raisins, or chopped nuts (optional)
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • ½ tsp baking soda
  • ½ tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ¼ tsp ground nutmeg (optional)
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 cup (120 g) powdered sugar
  • 12 tbsps milk or cream
  • ½ tsp vanilla extract

Instructions

  1. Preheat Oven: Calibrate the oven to 350F (175C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
  2. Cream Mixture: Whip butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy, then seamlessly incorporate egg and vanilla essence.
  3. Dry Ingredients: Sift together flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a separate mixing bowl.
  4. Combine Components: Delicately merge wet and dry ingredients, folding in zucchini, optional oats, chocolate chips, raisins, or nuts until just combined.
  5. Shape and Bake: Carefully drop cookie dough onto prepared sheets, spacing generously, and bake for 10-12 minutes until edges turn golden and centers stabilize.
  6. Cool and Finish: Transfer cookies to a cooling rack, allowing complete temperature reduction, and optionally drizzle with a glaze made from powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract.

Notes

  • Moisture Management: Squeeze excess water from shredded zucchini using a clean kitchen towel to prevent soggy cookies and maintain ideal texture.
  • Flour Flexibility: Substitute all-purpose flour with gluten-free alternatives like almond or oat flour for those with wheat sensitivities.
  • Sweetness Control: Reduce sugar content by using natural sweeteners like honey or maple syrup, adjusting liquid ingredients slightly to maintain cookie consistency.
  • Storage Strategy: Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for 3-4 days, separating layers with parchment paper to prevent sticking and preserve softness.
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 12 minutes
  • Category: Desserts, Snacks
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 25
  • Calories: 150
  • Sugar: 10 g
  • Sodium: 100 mg
  • Fat: 7 g
  • Saturated Fat: 4 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 20 g
  • Fiber: 1 g
  • Protein: 2 g
  • Cholesterol: 25 mg
Emily Lawson

Emily Lawson

Content Creator & Culinary Specialist

Expertise

  • Creative Content Writing and Blogging​
  • Plant-Based and Alternative Grilling Recipes​
  • Food Styling and Visual Storytelling​
  • Nutritional Analysis and Healthy Cooking

Education

Oregon Culinary Institute
Diploma in Culinary Arts
Focus: Emphasis on farm-to-table cooking, sustainable practices, and the fusion of global flavors with traditional grilling methods. ​


Emily Lawson is the content creator at Daves Grill, turning tasty ideas into clear, easy recipes. Based in Portland, she trained at the Oregon Culinary Institute and loves cooking with fresh, seasonal ingredients, especially grilled veggies and global flavors.

Emily mixes food writing with hands-on cooking to bring you recipes that feel fun, not stressful. Her goal is to make every dish simple, flavorful, and worth coming back to. Together, she and Dave serve up real food, one recipe at a time.

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