Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting

These pumpkin bars with cream cheese frosting are soft, warmly spiced, and wonderfully moist, with tangy vanilla frosting that balances every bite. They bake in one pan and make an easy fall dessert for parties or Thanksgiving.

Why You’ll Love These Pumpkin Bars

• Soft pumpkin crumb with cozy spice.
• One-pan dessert for a crowd.
• Rich, tangy frosting.
• Easy to bake ahead.

Ingredients

• 2 cups flour
• 2 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
• 1 tsp each baking powder and baking soda
• ½ tsp salt
• 4 eggs
• 1 cup sugar
• ¾ cup brown sugar
• 1 cup neutral oil
• 15 oz pumpkin puree
• 2 tsp vanilla
• 8 oz cream cheese
• ½ cup butter
• 3 cups powdered sugar

How to Make Pumpkin Bars

1. Prepare the pan. Heat oven to 350°F and line a 10×15-inch pan.
2. Mix dry ingredients. Whisk flour, spices, leaveners, and salt.
3. Mix wet ingredients. Whisk eggs, sugars, oil, pumpkin, and vanilla.
4. Make the batter. Fold dry into wet just until combined.
5. Bake the bars. Bake 23–27 minutes and cool completely.
6. Beat the frosting. Beat cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, and salt.
7. Frost and slice. Frost, chill briefly, and cut into 24 bars.

Useful Baking Notes

• Use pumpkin puree, not pie filling.
• Measure flour carefully.
• Cool completely before frosting.
• Chill before slicing neatly.

Serving and Storage

Serve chilled or at cool room temperature. Refrigerate covered for up to 5 days. Freeze unfrosted bars up to 3 months or frosted squares up to 1 month.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a 9×13-inch pan?

Yes; the thicker bars may need 30–38 minutes.

Why are my bars dense?

Too much flour or overmixing can make them dense.

Do they need refrigeration?

Yes, because the frosting contains cream cheese.

Can I add nuts?

Fold in up to 1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts.

Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting

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• Author: Emma & Ella
• Total Time: 1 hour 45 minutes
• Yield: 24 bars 1x

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Description

Moist spiced pumpkin bars with vanilla cream cheese frosting.

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Ingredients

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• 2 cups flour
• 2 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
• 1 tsp each baking powder and baking soda
• ½ tsp salt
• 4 eggs
• 1 cup sugar
• ¾ cup brown sugar
• 1 cup neutral oil
• 15 oz pumpkin puree
• 2 tsp vanilla
• 8 oz cream cheese
• ½ cup butter
• 3 cups powdered sugar

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Instructions

1. Prepare the pan. Heat oven to 350°F and line a 10×15-inch pan.
2. Mix dry ingredients. Whisk flour, spices, leaveners, and salt.
3. Mix wet ingredients. Whisk eggs, sugars, oil, pumpkin, and vanilla.
4. Make the batter. Fold dry into wet just until combined.
5. Bake the bars. Bake 23–27 minutes and cool completely.
6. Beat the frosting. Beat cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, and salt.
7. Frost and slice. Frost, chill briefly, and cut into 24 bars.

Notes

Use pure pumpkin puree. Cool completely before frosting. Store refrigerated.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cooling Time: 1 hour
• Cook Time: 25 minutes
• Category: Dessert
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 1 bar