Description
Celebrate fall with these delightful pumpkin bars, featuring a tender, moist cake topped with a lusciously smooth cream cheese frosting. They are the perfect sweet treat for any autumn gathering or a simple moment of bliss.
Ingredients
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1/2 tsp salt
4 large eggs
1.5 cups granulated sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
1 can (15 oz) pure pumpkin puree
8 oz cream cheese, softened (frosting)
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened (frosting)
3 cups powdered sugar (frosting)
1 tsp vanilla extract (frosting)
Instructions
1. Preheat your oven to 350F (175C) and prepare a 10×15-inch jelly roll pan or a 9×13-inch baking pan by greasing it.
2. In one bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, and salt.
3. In a separate large bowl, beat the eggs, granulated sugar, vegetable oil, and pumpkin puree until the mixture is smooth.
4. Gently fold the dry ingredients into the pumpkin mixture until just combined, then spread this batter evenly into your prepared pan.
5. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Allow the bars to cool completely.
6. For the frosting, beat together the softened cream cheese and butter until they are fluffy. Then, gradually beat in the powdered sugar and vanilla extract until a smooth frosting forms.
7. Generously spread the cream cheese frosting over the cooled pumpkin bars, then slice them into squares and enjoy.
Notes
For both the cake batter and the frosting, using ingredients at room temperature (especially the eggs, cream cheese, and butter) helps them incorporate smoothly, leading to a better texture.
Ensure your pumpkin bars are entirely cooled before applying the cream cheese frosting. Warm bars will cause the frosting to melt and become messy.
For a professional look, use an offset spatula or the back of a spoon to spread the frosting evenly across the cooled bars.
To achieve neat squares, wipe your knife clean between each cut, especially after slicing through the frosting.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 25-30 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Calories: N/A
- Fat: N/A
- Carbohydrates: N/A
- Protein: N/A