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The Best Pumpkin Bars I’ve Ever Had

The Best Pumpkin Bars I’ve Ever Had

Neha
These pumpkin bars are a fall favorite, blending spiced warmth with a moist, tender crumb that melts in your mouth. With just 15 minutes of prep and 30 minutes in the oven, you’ll have a dessert that’s as easy as it is delicious.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 3 hours
Course Bars
Cuisine American
Servings 0

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour spooned & leveled
  • 1 and 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 and 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 2 teaspoons store-bought or homemade pumpkin pie spice
  • 1 cup vegetable oil
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 cup packed light or dark brown sugar
  • 1/3 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 Tablespoons pure maple syrup
  • 1 15 ounce can pumpkin puree
  • 1 and 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

Cream Cheese Frosting

  • 8 ounces full-fat brick cream cheese softened to room temperature
  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter softened to room temperature
  • 3 cups confectioners’ sugar
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1/4 teaspoon store-bought or homemade pumpkin pie spice
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • sprinkles for decorating optional

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F (177°C) and grease a 10×15-inch baking pan. Or line the pan with parchment paper with enough overhang on the sides to easily lift the bars (as a whole) out.
  • Whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and pumpkin pie spice together in a large bowl. Set aside. Whisk the oil, eggs, brown sugar, granulated sugar, maple syrup, pumpkin, and vanilla extract together until combined. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and use a mixer or whisk until completely combined. Batter will be thick.
  • Spread batter into the prepared pan. Bake for 28-35 minutes. Baking times vary, so keep an eye on yours. The bars are done when a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. If you find the top or edges of the bars browning too quickly, loosely tent with aluminum foil.
  • Remove the bars from the oven and set the pan on a wire rack. Cool bars completely. (After about 45 minutes of cooling, you can place the bars in the refrigerator to speed things up!)
  • Make the frosting: In a large bowl using a handheld or stand mixer fitted with a paddle or whisk attachment, beat the cream cheese and butter together on high speed until smooth and creamy. Add confectioners’ sugar, vanilla, pumpkin pie spice, and salt. Beat on low speed for 30 seconds, then switch to high speed and beat for 2 minutes. If you want the frosting a little thicker, add an extra 1/4 cup of confectioners sugar. Spread the frosting on the cooled bars. To help “set” the frosting, refrigerate for 30 minutes before slicing and serving. This makes cutting easier and less messy.
  • Enjoy with or without a fork, but definitely grab a napkin!
  • Cover leftover bars tightly and store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. If you skipped the frosting, cover and store plain pumpkin bars at room temperature for up to 3 days or in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
Keyword autumn, bars, dessert, pumpkin, recipe
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