Description
Nothing says fall quite like a tray of homemade Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting. These moist, spiced bars combine the earthy sweetness of pumpkin with the rich tang of a silky-smooth cream cheese topping, making each bite an autumn celebration. Perfect for gatherings, holiday potlucks, or simply as a cozy treat with coffee, this recipe brings out all the best seasonal flavors in an easy, crowd-pleasing dessert.
Ingredients
1 cup canned pumpkin puree
1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
4 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3 cups powdered sugar
Instructions
1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper or grease lightly.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together pumpkin puree, granulated sugar, brown sugar, vegetable oil, and eggs until smooth. Stir in vanilla extract.
3. Add flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves to the wet mixture. Stir until just combined—do not overmix.
4. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top. Bake for 25–30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool completely in the pan on a wire rack.
5. For the frosting: Beat together cream cheese, butter, and vanilla until creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar, beating until smooth and fluffy.
6. Spread the cream cheese frosting evenly over the cooled bars. Decorate as desired. Slice into 20 bars and serve.
Notes
Make sure to use plain pumpkin puree, not pumpkin pie filling, for best results.
For perfectly smooth frosting, ensure both the cream cheese and butter are softened before beating.
Bars can be made ahead and stored in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, or frozen for up to 2 months.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar (1/20th of recipe)
- Calories: 285
- Sugar: 27g
- Sodium: 200mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 36g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 45mg
Keywords: Pumpkin bars, cream cheese frosting, fall dessert, easy recipe, quick dessert