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Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting

Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting

Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting are a delightful fall dessert featuring moist pumpkin bars, spiced with cinnamon and nutmeg, and topped with rich cream cheese frosting. Perfect for any autumn gathering!

  • Total Time: 45 minutes
  • Yield: 12-16 bars 1x

Ingredients

Scale
  • 4 large eggs
  • 1 2/3 cups granulated sugar
  • 1 cup vegetable oil
  • 1 can (15 ounces) pumpkin puree
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

For the Cream Cheese Frosting:

8 ounces cream cheese, softened

  1. 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
  2. 2 cups powdered sugar
  3. 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

  1. Preheat the Oven: First things first, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). To make sure the bars don’t stick, grease and flour a 9×13-inch baking pan, or line it with parchment paper if you prefer a mess-free option.
  2. Mix the Wet Ingredients: In a large bowl, beat together the eggs, granulated sugar, vegetable oil, and pumpkin puree. Whisk until the mixture is smooth and free of lumps. This step is key to ensuring your pumpkin bars have the right moist texture.
  3. Combine the Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves. These spices will bring out the warm, earthy flavors that pair perfectly with pumpkin.
  4. Mix the Wet and Dry Ingredients: Slowly add the dry ingredients into the wet mixture, stirring until everything is just combined. Be careful not to overmix, or your pumpkin bars could turn out dense instead of light and fluffy.
  5. Bake the Pumpkin Bars: Pour the batter into your prepared baking pan, spreading it out evenly. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Once done, let the bars cool completely in the pan on a wire rack.
  6. Prepare the Cream Cheese Frosting: While the bars are cooling, it’s time to whip up that dreamy cream cheese frosting! In a medium bowl, beat the softened cream cheese and butter until smooth and creamy. Gradually add the powdered sugar and vanilla extract, continuing to beat until you get a smooth and creamy texture.
  7. Frost the Pumpkin Bars: Once your pumpkin bars are fully cooled, spread the cream cheese frosting over the top. Cut them into squares or bars, and you’re ready to serve!

Notes

  • Room temperature ingredients: It’s always a good idea to use room temperature eggs and cream cheese. They mix better and create a smoother texture in your batter and frosting.
  • Don’t rush the cooling: Allow the bars to cool completely before adding the frosting. If they’re still warm, the frosting might melt and become runny.
  • Spice variations: Feel free to adjust the spices to your taste. For example, if you love cinnamon, you can add an extra pinch!
  • Storage: These bars can be stored in the fridge for up to a week. Just make sure they’re in an airtight container to keep them fresh.
  • Author: Elina
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 30 minutes
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: America
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1bar
  • Calories: 245kcal
  • Sugar: 20g
  • Sodium: 220mg
  • Fat: 12g
  • Saturated Fat: 6g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 4g
  • Trans Fat: 0g
  • Carbohydrates: 30g
  • Fiber: 1g
  • Protein: 3g
  • Cholesterol: 60mg

Keywords: Pumpkin dessert recipe, Cream cheese frosting, Fall baking recipe, Spiced pumpkin bars