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A sliced lemon zucchini bundt cake with white glaze and citrus zest on a white plate with a fork.
Maryam

Lemon Zucchini Bundt Cake

A moist, tender bundt cake packed with summer zucchini and bright lemon flavor, finished with a simple glaze that crackles as it sets.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Servings: 12 servings
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Calories: 380

Ingredients
  

For the Cake
  • 2.5 cups all-purpose flour spooned and leveled
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 0.5 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp kosher salt
  • 1 cup unsalted butter softened, 2 sticks
  • 1.75 cups granulated sugar
  • 3 large eggs room temperature
  • 2 tbsp lemon zest from about 2 large lemons
  • 3 tbsp fresh lemon juice divided
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 cups zucchini grated, about 10 oz, squeezed dry
  • 0.5 cup whole milk Greek yogurt
For the Glaze
  • 1 cup powdered sugar sifted
  • 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice plus more if needed

Equipment

  • 12-cup Bundt pan
  • Box Grater or Food Processor
  • Microplane or fine grater
  • Wire cooling rack

Method
 

Prep
  1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Thoroughly butter and flour a 12-cup bundt pan, tapping out excess. Grate zucchini on the large holes of a box grater, then wrap in a clean kitchen towel and squeeze firmly to remove excess moisture. You want about 1.5 cups packed, squeezed zucchini. Set aside.
  2. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt until well combined.
  3. In a large bowl with a hand mixer or in a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter and sugar on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Scrape down the bowl. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each. Beat in lemon zest, 2 tablespoons lemon juice, and vanilla until smooth, about 30 seconds.
  4. With mixer on low, add dry ingredients in three additions alternating with Greek yogurt in two additions, beginning and ending with dry ingredients. Mix just until combined. Fold in squeezed zucchini with a rubber spatula. The batter will be thick.
  5. Scrape batter into prepared pan and smooth the top. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean and the top springs back when lightly pressed, 45 to 55 minutes. Cool in pan on a wire rack for 15 minutes, then invert onto rack and cool completely, about 1 hour.
  6. Whisk powdered sugar with remaining 1 tablespoon lemon juice plus 1 to 2 tablespoons water or additional lemon juice until pourable but thick. Drizzle over cooled cake, letting it run down the sides. Let set for 15 minutes before slicing.

Notes

Squeezing the zucchini dry is non-negotiable - excess water will make the cake gummy and dense. For extra lemon punch, brush the warm cake with a simple syrup made from 1/4 cup sugar and 1/4 cup lemon juice before glazing. This cake keeps beautifully at room temperature for 3 days wrapped tightly, or freeze unglazed for up to 2 months.