Homemade Zucchini And Carrot Bars are fantastic finger foods for babies, kids and adults! These bars are easy to make and so delicious.
Homemade Zucchini And Carrot Bars
There is something special about homemade treats that are both delicious and nourishing. These zucchini and carrot bars are soft, moist, and filled with wholesome ingredients that parents can feel good about serving and kids will happily devour. Whether tucked into a lunchbox or enjoyed with an afternoon cup of tea, they’re one of those simple recipes that quickly become a family favorite.
Eat real food made with fresh ingredients and offer your family healthy choices. Stay away from processed food, and cook your own snacks at home. Most commercial snacks are full of preservatives and refined sugars. There is nothing better for your family’s health than making your own food.
I started making these bars for my son when he was a toddler. They are just perfect for babies who are ready for some finger foods. My daughter enjoys these bars since she was approximately 9 months old.
If you are interested in other recipes for babies learning to eat solid foods, please see my 15 Minute Banana Oatmeal Pancakes and Homemade Yogurt Melts recipes. For now, let’s check out some of the benefits of zucchini (I think we all already know about the benefits of carrots, so I’ll spare you those details), then we’ll get to the recipe.
Health Benefits of Zucchini
Zucchini, also known as courgette, is a versatile and delicious summer squash that is packed with numerous health benefits. This low-calorie vegetable is a rich source of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that can support overall health and well-being. In this blog post, we’ll take a closer look at some of the health benefits of zucchini.
- Lowers Risk of Chronic Diseases
Zucchini is a great source of antioxidants, such as vitamin C and beta-carotene, which can help to reduce the risk of chronic diseases like heart disease, cancer, and type 2 diabetes. The high fiber content of zucchini can also support healthy digestion and help to regulate blood sugar levels.
- Promotes Weight Loss
Zucchini is a low-calorie and low-carbohydrate vegetable that can be a great addition to any weight loss diet. It is high in fiber, which can help to keep you feeling full for longer periods of time and reduce cravings for unhealthy snacks.
- Boosts Immune System
The vitamin C content in zucchini can help to support a healthy immune system by stimulating the production of white blood cells. Additionally, the anti-inflammatory properties of zucchini can help to reduce inflammation in the body and support overall immune function.
- Improves Eye Health
Zucchini is a rich source of the antioxidant beta-carotene, which is converted to vitamin A in the body. Vitamin A is essential for maintaining healthy eyesight
How to choose the perfect ripe zucchini
When choosing zucchini for this recipe, look for ones that are firm, smooth, and feel heavy for their size. Smaller to medium-sized zucchini usually have the best flavor and texture, with fewer seeds and less water than oversized ones. Avoid zucchini that feel soft, have wrinkled skin, or show bruises or blemishes, as fresh, ripe zucchini will give your bars the best taste and texture.
For the best flavor and texture, choose organic zucchini whenever possible, especially since zucchini can sometimes carry pesticide residues on the skin. Because this recipe uses grated zucchini with the peel left on, organic zucchini helps ensure you’re getting all the nutrients without unwanted chemicals.
Look for zucchini that are small to medium in size (about 6 to 8 inches long), as they tend to be sweeter, firmer, and contain fewer seeds than oversized ones. A good zucchini should feel heavy for its size, have smooth, shiny skin, and be free from soft spots, wrinkles, cuts, or bruises. Avoid very large zucchini, which are often watery and can make your bars soggy.
Fresh zucchini should feel firm when gently squeezed and have a vibrant green color. If possible, buy local or farmers market zucchini during peak season for the best flavor. Choosing high-quality zucchini may seem like a small detail, but it can make a big difference in the taste, texture, and nutritional value of your homemade zucchini and carrot bars.
Healthy Zucchini and Carrot Bars Kids Actually Love
For more ideas please see 5 Processed Kids Snacks You Should Avoid. You will find homemade recipes packed with nutrition and creativity.
You can store Homemade Zucchini and Carrot Bars in the refrigerator for several days. I prefer to eat mine warm, right out of the oven…..yum…..I love baking with zucchini. If you are also a zucchini lover and interested in other easy-to-make recipes, please see The Best Homemade Zucchini Parmesan Chips. They’re really the best healthy chips!
Either way warm or cold these homemade zucchini and carrot bars are yummy and perfect for a quick healthy snack. I was inspired to create this great recipe from Jan Purser.
Simple recipes are often the ones that become family favorites, and these homemade zucchini and carrot bars are no exception. Packed with wholesome ingredients, easy to make, and loved by both kids and adults, they’re proof that healthy food can also be delicious. If you give them a try, I’d love to hear how your family enjoyed them and any fun twists you added to make them your own!
Print
Homemade Zucchini And Carrot Bars
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 -6 1x
Description
Great finger food idea! Perfect for breakfast or snack.
Ingredients
- Ingredients:
- 1 cup grated zucchini
- 1/2 cup grated carrot
- 2 shallots finely chopped
- 3 eggs, lightly whisked
- 1/3 cup of grated cheese
- 2 tbs finely chopped parsley*optional
- 1 tbs almond flour (you can use all purpose flour if you prefer)
- Olive oil
Instructions
- Heat a little olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. A tablespoon is enough.
- Add the zucchini, carrot, and shallots, and cook, stirring, for 4-5 minutes or until the vegetables soften.
- Remove from heat and set aside to cool for a few minutes.
- Combine the vegetables with the eggs, cheese, parsley (*optional) and flour in a large bowl and mix all the ingredients well.
- Put the mixture into a baking square pan (lightly spread some butter or ghee before) and smooth the surface.
- Bake in oven for about 12 minutes @375 degrees, or until set. Remove from oven and set aside to cool. Take them out of the pan cutting into bars.
- Enjoy
- Category: Finger Food
- Method: Bake
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: zucchini, healthy, carrot, snack bars, kids, toddlers
If you enjoyed these Homemade Zucchini And Carrot Bars and are interested in reading more about my blog, please take a look at my latest articles. I am a mom blogger who loves to share creative and healthy fun food ideas, family activities, natural remedies, parenting advice, and tips for living a healthy lifestyle.
Where is the recipe? All I see are ads.
I am sorry. I recently updated the mobile version of my blog and the recipe got lost in the process. It should be back by now.
I don’t see nutritional information on any of the recipes. Is there a place I should be looking?
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I used to have it but now you can look it up here: https://www.webmd.com/diet/healthtool-food-calorie-counter
Hope this helps.
Good substitute for cheese
What temp should the oven be set to?
Hi Lindsay, 375 should be fine.
Are these bars good for freezing?
I haven’t tried freezing them but I don’t see why not.
I do a very similar version of this that doesn’t require the first ‘cook in pan’ step, thus saving both time and washing up! Admittedly, mine doesn’t have parsnip, and has onion instead of shallots… but I bet it would work without that first cooking step. Worth trying?
Hi, yes it would work too. It is up to you to try it for a different version with parsnip. If you also want to try my zucchini carrot muffins, please check http://creativeandhealthyfunfood.com/healthy-zucchini-carrot-muffins/ I really like them and they are really easy to make.
Can I use whole wheat flour?
Yes, you can use whole wheat flour. Hope you enjoy the recipe!
What size pan do you use?
Hello, for this recipe I used a small/medium pan 8×10 aprox. Hope this helps. Thanks.
You didn’t say what temp to cook the zucchini and carrot bars
So sorry! Bake at 375. I will edit the recipe ASAP! Thanks for letting me know.
Delicious and easy!!
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Thanks!
Good recipe. However it needs salt and pepper. Also I used a 8×8 pan and they were very thin so the recipe would need to be doubled unless the pan was smaller.
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Thank you for your comment and suggestion.
Smells and looks great but the portions called for barely fill a square pan. This left me with razor thin bars unfortunately.
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So sorry to hear that. Will adjust the measurements.
Grated cheese?? What kind of cheese? Cheddar?
You can use Cheddar or any other type you like.
Delicious! Made in a mini muffin tin and cooked for a few extra minutes. Great find, thank you for the recipe!
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Glad you enjoyed it 🙂
I doubled it and made 2 8×8 pans. Slightly thin for an adult maybe but not a toddler! Easy, simple and delicious. Thank you for sharing. I am going to try freezing them… wish me luck! Haha