Get ready to welcome fall with the most incredibly moist and flavorful pumpkin bars you’ve ever tasted, crowned with a tangy, sweet cream cheese frosting. These bars are incredibly easy to make and are sure to become a cherished recipe you’ll bring out year after year.
These tender pumpkin bars, infused with warm spices and topped with a dreamy cream cheese frosting, are the perfect way to celebrate the season.
Recipe Details
- Flavor Profile: Sweet, warmly spiced pumpkin balanced with a zesty, creamy frosting.
- Textures: Incredibly moist and cake-like bar with a smooth, luscious frosting.
- Total Active Time: Approximately 25 minutes.
- Bake Time: 30–35 minutes.
- Difficulty Level: Easy, perfect for bakers of all skill levels.
What You’ll Need
To create these delightful pumpkin bars, you’ll need a few pantry staples for the bars themselves, including pumpkin puree, eggs, oil, and flour, along with a blend of warm spices that give them their signature autumnal flavor. For the luscious cream cheese frosting, we’ll use cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar, and a touch of vanilla.
Ingredient Notes
- Pumpkin Puree – Make sure you are using 100% pure pumpkin puree, not pumpkin pie filling, as the latter contains added sugar and spices. Pure pumpkin puree is essential for achieving the perfect pumpkin flavor and texture.
- Spices – A blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves creates that classic pumpkin pie spice aroma and taste. You can use individual spices or a pre-made pumpkin pie spice blend.
- Eggs – They act as a binder and contribute to the richness and tenderness of the bars.
- Cream Cheese – This is the base for our dreamy frosting. Ensure it’s softened to room temperature for a smooth, lump-free consistency.
- Powdered Sugar – Also known as confectioners’ sugar or icing sugar, this is key to achieving a smooth, melt-in-your-mouth frosting.
Add-ins and Substitutions
- Spices – If you love a more pronounced spice flavor, feel free to increase the amount of cinnamon or add a pinch of ground ginger or allspice to the pumpkin bar batter.
- Nuts – For a delightful crunch, you can stir in 1/2 cup of chopped pecans or walnuts into the pumpkin bar batter before baking.
- Chocolate Chips – A handful of white chocolate chips or butterscotch chips can add a wonderful sweetness and texture contrast.
- Citrus Zest – A little bit of orange or lemon zest in the cream cheese frosting can add a lovely brightness to cut through the sweetness.
How to Make Luscious Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting
Creating these delightful pumpkin bars is a straightforward process that yields incredibly rewarding results. You’ll start by mixing the wet ingredients for the bar batter, then incorporating the dry ingredients. Once baked and cooled, you’ll whip up a simple cream cheese frosting to spread generously over the top.
- Prepare the Batter: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9×13 inch baking pan. In a large bowl, whisk together the pumpkin puree, eggs, vegetable oil, and vanilla extract until well combined.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, ground cloves, and salt.
- Mix Wet and Dry: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Be careful not to overmix the batter.
- Pro Tip: Overmixing can develop the gluten in the flour, leading to tougher bars. Mix until you no longer see streaks of dry flour.
- Bake the Bars: Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan and spread it evenly. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until a wooden skewer or toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Cool Completely: Let the pumpkin bars cool in the pan on a wire rack for at least 30 minutes before attempting to make the frosting. They need to be completely cool before frosting.
- Make the Cream Cheese Frosting: While the bars are cooling, prepare the frosting. In a medium bowl, beat the softened cream cheese and butter together with an electric mixer until smooth and creamy.
- Add Sugar and Vanilla: Gradually add the powdered sugar to the cream cheese mixture, beating until smooth. Stir in the vanilla extract.
- Frost the Bars: Once the pumpkin bars are completely cool, spread the cream cheese frosting evenly over the top.
- Chill and Serve: For easier slicing and a firmer frosting, chill the frosted bars for at least 30 minutes before cutting and serving.
Recipe Tips
- Don’t Overbake: Keep an eye on the bars towards the end of the baking time. They are done when a toothpick comes out clean, but overbaking can make them dry.
- Room Temperature Ingredients for Frosting: Using softened cream cheese and butter for the frosting ensures a smooth, creamy texture without lumps.
- Cooling is Crucial: Resist the urge to frost warm bars. The heat will melt the frosting, making it messy and difficult to spread. Allow them to cool completely.
- Even Spreading: When spreading the frosting, use an offset spatula or the back of a spoon for a smooth, even layer.
FAQs
- Can I use pumpkin pie filling instead of pumpkin puree? No, it’s best to use 100% pure pumpkin puree. Pumpkin pie filling contains added sugar and spices, which will alter the flavor and sweetness of the bars and the frosting.
- How should I store leftover pumpkin bars? Store leftover pumpkin bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3–4 days.
- Can I freeze pumpkin bars? Yes, you can freeze the unfrosted pumpkin bars. Wrap them well in plastic wrap and then in aluminum foil. They can be frozen for up to 2–3 months. Thaw them in the refrigerator and then frost as directed. The frosted bars can also be frozen, though the frosting might soften upon thawing.
- How do I know if my pumpkin bars are done? Insert a toothpick or a wooden skewer into the center of the bars. If it comes out clean or with just a few moist crumbs attached, they are done.
Serving Suggestions
These luscious pumpkin bars are wonderful served on their own as a delightful dessert or a sweet afternoon treat. They pair beautifully with a cup of hot coffee, tea, or a glass of cold milk. For an extra festive touch, you could sprinkle a few chopped pecans over the frosting before it sets. They make a perfect addition to any fall gathering, potluck, or holiday dessert table.
Make This Recipe in Advance
You can make the pumpkin bars themselves a day in advance. Once they are completely cooled, you can store them loosely covered at room temperature. Frosting them a few hours before serving is ideal, or even the morning of. If you frost them the night before, store them in the refrigerator, but let them come to room temperature for about 20–30 minutes before serving for the best texture. The cream cheese frosting can also be made a day ahead and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Give it a quick re-whisk before spreading it onto the cooled bars.
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Luscious Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting
- Total Time: Approximately 1 hour
- Yield: 24 servings 1x
Description
Get ready to welcome fall with the most incredibly moist and flavorful pumpkin bars you’ve ever tasted, crowned with a tangy, sweet cream cheese frosting. These bars are incredibly easy to make and are sure to become a cherished recipe you’ll bring out year after year. These tender pumpkin bars, infused with warm spices and topped with a dreamy cream cheese frosting, are the perfect way to celebrate the season. Flavor Profile: Sweet, warmly spiced pumpkin balanced with a zesty, creamy frosting. Textures: Incredibly moist and cake-like bar with a smooth, luscious frosting.
Ingredients
Cake:
4 large eggs
2 cups white sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin puree
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking soda
¾ teaspoon salt
Cream Cheese Frosting:
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
4 cups confectioners’ sugar
¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon, or to taste
Instructions
1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Prepare a large baking sheet by greasing it, lining it with parchment paper, and then greasing the paper.
2. In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to beat the eggs until they are foamy. Then, add the sugar, oil, and pumpkin puree. Beat on medium speed for about 2 minutes until everything is well combined.
3. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add this dry mixture to the wet ingredients on low speed with your mixer until just combined, about 1 minute. Pour the batter evenly into your prepared pan.
4. Bake in the preheated oven for about 25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let the cake cool completely, which should take around 30 minutes.
5. While the cake cools, beat the softened cream cheese, softened butter, and vanilla extract in a bowl with an electric mixer until it’s creamy. Slowly mix in the confectioners’ sugar until the frosting is smooth.
6. Spread the frosting evenly over the completely cooled cake. Sprinkle with cinnamon, if desired.
7. Cut the bars into 24 pieces.
Notes
Don’t Overbake: Keep an eye on the bars towards the end of the baking time. They are done when a toothpick comes out clean, but overbaking can make them dry.
Room Temperature Ingredients for Frosting: Using softened cream cheese and butter for the frosting ensures a smooth, creamy texture without lumps.
Cooling is Crucial: Resist the urge to frost warm bars. The heat will melt the frosting, making it messy and difficult to spread. Allow them to cool completely.
Even Spreading: When spreading the frosting, use an offset spatula or the back of a spoon for a smooth, even layer.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 30-35 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
