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side shot of frosted pumpkin bar on a plate with a fork next to it
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5 from 5 votes

Pumpkin Bars

Pumpkin Bars make for a delicious yet simple Fall treat, featuring a cake flavored with pumpkin puree and warm spices, and all topped off with a light, whipped cream cheese frosting.
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Cooling Time2 hours
Total Time3 hours
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: best cream cheese frosting, easy pumpkin bars, pumpkin cake, pumpkin pie bars
Servings: 24 bars
Calories: 249kcal

Ingredients

For the Bars

For the Frosting

  • 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
  • ½ cup butter, softened
  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • 4 to 6 cups powdered sugar

Instructions

For The Bars

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F.
  • Lightly butter a 9x13 or 15x10 inch baking dish. Set aside.
  • In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, baking soda, salt, cloves, and nutmeg; whisk until well combined.
  • Using a spoon, stir in the eggs, pumpkin, oil, and vanilla until thoroughly incorporated.
  • Pour the batter into the baking dish; spread evenly.
  • Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
  • Remove from oven and transfer the pan to a wire rack; cool in pan for 2 hours.
  • Spread the prepared cream cheese frosting on top.
  • Cut into bars and serve.
  • Cover leftovers and keep refrigerated for 3 to 4 days.

For The Frosting:

  • While the pumpkin cake is cooling, combine the cream cheese, butter, and vanilla in a large mixing bowl; using an electric mixer set on medium, beat until light and fluffy.
  • Add powdered sugar, little by little, and beat until incorporated. Start with 4 cups, and if the consistency is too thin, add more sugar until you’ve reached the desired consistency and sweetness.

Notes

  • Softened Butter and Cream Cheese: When making this recipe, it's important to use butter and cream cheese that have been softened to room temperature. If they're too cold, you will end up with lumpy frosting that doesn't have the perfect, smooth texture we're aiming for. So, give these ingredients some time out of the fridge before you start baking. Trust me, it makes all the difference!
  • Swaps: Feel free to play around with the recipe, like switching it to gluten-free or trying different sweeteners. Just a heads up, though – it might mix things up in terms of flavor and texture.
  • Cooling: Make sure that the cake is completely cool before adding cream cheese frosting. 
  • Chocolate and Nuts: Sprinkle some chocolate shavings on top for an extra treat, or toss in some chocolate chips when mixing the batter. Add chopped nuts, like pecans or walnuts, to the batter for a bit of a crunch.
  • Storing: Keep the bars in the refrigerator, covered in an airtight container, for up to 4 days.

Nutrition

Calories: 249kcal | Carbohydrates: 43g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 47mg | Sodium: 202mg | Potassium: 74mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 33g | Vitamin A: 3043IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 42mg | Iron: 1mg