Pumpkin Bars

Aug 16, 2021

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These pumpkin bars, topped off with a creamy homemade cream cheese frosting, are full of flavor, moist, and perfect for fall. They will heat up your kitchen and have it smelling like a heavenly pumpkin patch!

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These Pumpkin Bars, topped off with a creamy homemade cream cheese frosting, are full of flavor, moist, and perfect for fall. They will heat up your kitchen and have it smelling like a heavenly pumpkin patch!

Easy Pumpkin Bars Recipe With Cream Cheese Frosting

Nothing screams fall like pumpkin and these delicious pumpkin bars and they are the perfect kick-off into the season of pumpkin everything. With just six steps to make the bars themselves and two steps to make the homemade cream cheese frosting, these bars are simple. This is a dessert that you’ll be coming back to again and again.

The pumpkin bars themselves are so moist and full of flavor. The pumpkin and cinnamon flavors come through just enough, but not too much to the point of being overbearing. They are topped off with a homemade cream cheese frosting that is the perfect creamy compliment to the pumpkin flavors.

Why We Love This Pumpkin Bars Recipe

The homemade cream cheese frosting is amazing
Super easy to make
Ready in 35 minutes
Soft and chewy bars

Ingredients for Pumpkin Bars and Cream Cheese Frosting

all-purpose flour
pumpkin pie spice
baking powder
baking soda
ground cinnamon
ground ginger
salt
sugar
vegetable oil
pumpkin
eggs
vanilla extract
cream cheese
salted sweet cream butter
powdered sugar
milk
clear vanilla flavoring

Substitutions and Additions

Nuts: If you’d like to add a bit of crunch to your pumpkin bars, you can garnish them with nuts, by sprinkling them over top of the cream cheese frosting. I love to add pecans to mine!
Cinnamon: I like to add a very light dusting of cinnamon to the top of my frosted pumpkin bars. It adds a nice appeal visually, and enhances the cinnamon flavor overall.
Make it “spicier”: If you are wanting a “spicier” pumpkin pie bars, you can increase the pumpkin spice to 1 Tablespoon.

Tips

You can overlap the parchment paper on the ends to aid in removing the bars, if you wish to remove the bars from the baking pan.
If you wish, you can substitute the whole cup of vegetable oil with ½ cup applesauce and ½ cup vegetable oil.
If you are wanting a “spicier” pumpkin pie bars, you can increase the pumpkin spice to 1 Tablespoon.

SEE FULL PRINTABLE RECIPE CARD BELOW

How to Make Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting

Whisk together flour, pumpkin pie spice, baking powder, baking soda, ground cinnamon, ground ginger and salt.
Beat together the vegetable oil, granulated sugar, canned pumpkin puree and vanilla extract until the ingredients are combined. Add the eggs 1 at a time.
Slowly add the dry ingredients to the pumpkin mixture.
Evenly pour the batter into the prepared pan. Bake for 22 – 25 minutes, until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
Cream together the cream cheese, butter and clear vanilla flavoring.
Slowly alternate the powdered sugar and milk. Mix until the frosting is smooth.
Evenly spread the cream cheese frosting over the cooled pumpkin bars.

How to Store

Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. You can freeze the bars before frosting for up to 3 months. Allow the bars to come to room temperature before frosting.

I can’t wait for you to add these pumpkin bars to your arsenal of fall desserts. They are so delicious. From the pumpkin flavor of the bars to the homemade cream cheese frosting, every bite is full of moist flavor. You are going to love these!