Description
Soft, spiced, and slathered with rich cream cheese frosting, these pumpkin bars are the perfect fall dessert. They’re easy to make, bake up tender and moist, and fill your kitchen with warm autumn aromas. Perfect for potlucks, Thanksgiving, or a cozy weekend treat!
Ingredients
For the Pumpkin Bars
2 cups all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled)
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 (15-ounce) can pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling)
1 cup granulated sugar
½ cup brown sugar, packed
1 cup vegetable oil
4 large eggs, room temperature
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
For the Cream Cheese Frosting
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
2 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Pinch of salt
Instructions
Preheat & Prep: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease or line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper.
Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.
Combine Wet Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk pumpkin puree, sugars, oil, eggs, and vanilla until smooth.
Combine Mixtures: Gradually stir dry ingredients into wet ingredients just until combined — don’t overmix.
Bake: Pour batter into the pan, spreading evenly. Bake for 25–30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
Cool: Let bars cool completely in the pan on a wire rack before frosting.
Make Frosting: Beat cream cheese and butter until smooth. Add powdered sugar, vanilla, and salt; beat until light and creamy.
Frost & Serve: Spread frosting evenly over cooled bars. Slice into squares and enjoy!
Notes
Storage: Keep frosted bars refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
Make Ahead: Bake bars a day ahead and frost before serving.
Variations: Add chocolate chips, nuts, or swap vanilla for maple syrup in the frosting for a seasonal twist.
Freezer-Friendly: Freeze unfrosted bars for up to 2 months; thaw overnight before frosting.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 230
- Sugar: 21g
- Sodium: 160mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 35mg
