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Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting
4.9 from 51 votes

Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting

Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting present a spiced, moist pumpkin batter baked thin in a sheet pan, topped with a rich, smooth cream cheese frosting. The recipe uses pumpkin puree, cinnamon, and pumpkin pie spice to build classic autumn flavors. The bars bake to a tender consistency ideal for slicing and serving as a sweet treat or dessert.

Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
30 mins
Cooling Time
1 hr
Total Time
1 hr 40 mins
Servings: 18
Calories: 299 kcal
Course: Baked Goods
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Bars
  • 1 cup vegetable oil or canola oil
  • 4 egg large
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • ⅔ cup light brown sugar packed
  • pumpkin puree one 15-ounce can
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 tablespoon molasses
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon or to taste* (See Notes)
  • 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice or to taste* (See Notes)
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 baking powder 1/2 teaspoons
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon salt
Cream Cheese Frosting* (See Notes)
  • 8 ounces cream cheese softened to room temperature, full-fat block-style
  • ¼ cup butter softened to room temperature, unsalted
  • 3 cups confectioners’ sugar or as needed; sifted if yours is particularly lumpy
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract pure
  • ¼ teaspoon salt or to taste
  • Sprinkles optional, as desired for garnishing

Instructions

Make the Bars:
    Cup of Yum
  1. Preheat oven to 350F and spray a nonstick 10x15-inch jelly roll pan with cooking spray; set aside. Note - You could make this recipe in a 9x13-inch pan noting that the bars will be thicker and take a bit longer to bake.
  2. To a large bowl, add the oil, eggs, sugars, pumpkin, vanilla, molasses (technically can be omitted but I love the flavor and recommend it), cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, and whisk well to combine until smooth.
  3. Add the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and stir until just combined; don't overmix.
  4. Turn batter out into prepared pan and bake approximately 30 minutes, or until bars are set and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs but no batter. Start checking on your bars by 22-25 minutes since all ovens vary.
  5. Allow bars to cool in the pan for 1 hour, or until cool to the touch, before frosting them. Don't add frosting to warm bars or it will melt.
  6. While bars are cooling, make the frosting.
Make the Frosting:
  1. To the mixing bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment or a large mixing bowl and handheld electric mixer, add the cream cheese, butter, and beat for about 2 minutes, or until well combined and smooth. Tip - Make sure the both are well softened to room temp otherwise it will be much harder to mix them.
  2. Add 3 cups confectioners' sugar, vanilla, salt (helps balance the sweetness of the frosting), and beat first on low speed, and then on high for about 2 minutes, or until combined and fluffy. Tips - I don't sift my confectioners' sugar generally speaking but that being said, it will be harder for your mixer to smooth out the little lumps and so if you want perfectly smooth frosting, sift your sugar before adding it. If you want thicker frosting, add an extra 1/4 to 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar.
  3. Evenly spread the frosting over the bars, using a knife or spatula to smooth it.
  4. Optionally, garnish with sprinkles to taste (I used some I found in my box of sprinkles that I bought years ago from Target) and serve.

Notes

  • Adjust spices to taste; reduce cinnamon and pumpkin pie spice quantities for a milder flavor.
  • For convenience, store-bought cream cheese frosting can be used instead of making homemade frosting.
  • Store frosted bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week; unfrosted bars can be stored at room temperature for five days or refrigerated for one week.

Nutrition Information

Serving 1 Calories 299kcal (15%) Carbohydrates 51g (17%) Protein 4g (8%) Fat 9g (14%) Saturated Fat 5g (25%) Polyunsaturated Fat 4g (24%) Cholesterol 61mg (20%) Sodium 293mg (12%) Fiber 1g (4%) Sugar 38g (76%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 18 Serving

Amount Per Serving

Calories 299

% Daily Value*

Serving 1
Calories 299kcal 15%
Carbohydrates 51g 17%
Protein 4g 8%
Fat 9g 14%
Saturated Fat 5g 25%
Polyunsaturated Fat 4g 24%
Cholesterol 61mg 20%
Sodium 293mg 12%
Fiber 1g 4%
Sugar 38g 76%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.