Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting
User Reviews
4.9
51 reviews
Excellent
-
Prep Time
10 mins
-
Cook Time
10 mins
-
Cooling Time
1 hr
-
Total Time
1 hr 40 mins
-
Servings
18
-
Calories
299 kcal
-
Course
Baked Goods
-
Cuisine
American
Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting
Report
These super soft and moist pumpkin bars are the perfect EASY fall dessert!! Tangy cream cheese frosting is a wonderful complement to these perfectly pumpkin-spiced bars!!
Share:
Ingredients
Bars
- 1 cup vegetable or canola oil
- 4 large eggs
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ⅔ cup packed light brown sugar packed
- one-15 ounce can pumpkin puree
- 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 and 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
Cream Cheese Frosting* (See Notes)
- 8 ounces full-fat block-style cream cheese softened to room temperature
- ¼ cup unsalted butter softened to room temperature
- 3 cups confectioners’ sugar or as needed; sifted if yours is particularly lumpy
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon salt or to taste
- sprinkles as desired for garnishing optional
Instructions
Make the Bars:
- 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.
- 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.
- Add the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and stir until just combined; don't overmix.
- 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.
- 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.
- While bars are cooling, make the frosting.
Make the Frosting:
- 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.
- 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.
- Evenly spread the frosting over the bars, using a knife or spatula to smooth it.
- 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
- * I prefer richly and boldly spiced pumpkin desserts so I use two teaspoons of cinnamon and two teaspoons of pumpkin pie spice, which tends to be a mixture of cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, and cloves. If you're not a fan of cinnamon, or prefer more mildly spiced recipes, dial back the quantity of spices and add them to your tastes.
- *Frosting: To save time, buy a tub of shelf-stable cream cheese frosting found in the baking aisle of your grocery store.
- To store: Because of the frosting, I recommend storing the bars airtight in the fridge for up to 1 week. Unfrosted bars may be stored at room temp for up to 5 days at room temp or in the fridge for up to 1 week.
Nutrition Information
Show Details
Serving
1
Calories
299kcal
(15%)
Carbohydrates
51g
(17%)
Protein
4g
(8%)
Fat
9g
(14%)
Saturated Fat
5g
(25%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
4g
Cholesterol
61mg
(20%)
Sodium
293mg
(12%)
Fiber
1g
(4%)
Sugar
38g
(76%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 18Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 299 kcal
% 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.
Genuine Reviews
User Reviews
Overall Rating
4.9
51 reviews
Excellent
Other Recipes
You'll Also Love
Banana Cake with Brown Butter Cream Cheese Frosting
European, North American, American, Canadian
5.0
(6 reviews)
Red Velvet Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
European, North American, American, Canadian
5.0
(3 reviews)
