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Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting

Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting

These Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting are a moist and flavorful fall dessert featuring a tender pumpkin-spiced base topped with a smooth, tangy cream cheese frosting. Easy to prepare with simple ingredients, they are perfect for holiday gatherings, cozy treats, and versatile enough to customize for dietary preferences.

  • Total Time: 40-45 minutes
  • Yield: 24 bars 1x

Ingredients

Scale

Pumpkin Bars

  • 1 ¾ cups pumpkin puree (canned or fresh)
  • 1 ½ cups sugar
  • ½ cup vegetable oil or melted butter
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour (or gluten-free blend for gluten-free option)
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
  • ¼ teaspoon ground ginger

Cream Cheese Frosting

  • 8 oz cream cheese, softened (regular or coconut cream cheese for dairy-free)
  • ½ cup unsalted butter, softened (or plant-based butter for dairy-free)
  • 3 cups powdered sugar, adjusted to taste
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Batter: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a baking pan. In a large bowl, combine the pumpkin puree, sugar, oil or melted butter, eggs, and vanilla extract. Mix until just combined, taking care not to overmix to maintain moistness.
  2. Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and ginger. This ensures even distribution of spices and leaveners.
  3. Mix Wet and Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, folding gently until just combined. Avoid overmixing to keep the bars tender.
  4. Bake: Pour the batter into the prepared pan and spread evenly. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan before frosting.
  5. Make Cream Cheese Frosting: While the bars cool, beat the softened cream cheese and butter together until smooth. Gradually add powdered sugar and vanilla extract, beating until the frosting is fluffy. Adjust sweetness to your preference.
  6. Frost and Serve: Spread the cream cheese frosting evenly over the cooled bars. For cleaner slices, chill the frosted bars briefly before cutting and serving.

Notes

  • Use room temperature ingredients for smooth blending and lump-free frosting.
  • Don’t overmix the batter to keep the bars tender and moist.
  • Start checking for doneness at 22 minutes as ovens vary to avoid overbaking.
  • Chill frosting before spreading if cream cheese is very soft to prevent runniness.
  • For clean cuts, warm your knife under hot water and wipe dry before slicing.
  • Author: Lina
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 25-30 minutes
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Gluten Free (with flour substitution)

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 bar (approximate)
  • Calories: 280
  • Sugar: 24g
  • Sodium: 150mg
  • Fat: 15g
  • Saturated Fat: 7g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 7g
  • Trans Fat: 0g
  • Carbohydrates: 34g
  • Fiber: 2g
  • Protein: 3g
  • Cholesterol: 45mg

Keywords: pumpkin bars, cream cheese frosting, fall dessert, holiday treat, moist pumpkin bars, gluten-free pumpkin bars, autumn dessert