Pumpkin Bars are full of spice, incredibly moist and topped with a luscious cream cheese frosting. This is one of my favorite pumpkin recipes for potlucks and get togethers.

pumpkin bars

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PUMPKIN CAKE

It’s that time of year. It’s pumpkin season! These easy pumpkin bars are are soft, moist, and delightful. The name is deceptive though because they definitely fall more into the “cake” category than a bar.

I’ve tried a lot of pumpkin bar recipes over the years and I loved the flavor of this one. I added some pumpkin spice to pump up the pumpkin flavor a bit.

And look at that frosting…it’s definitely just good by the spoonful.

CAKE OR BAR?

Pumpkin Cake

Is this fall recipe a cake or a bar? Well I guess that’s up to you and the pan size you decide to use. If you bake it in a 9×13 pan it is thicker like the cake above.If you cook it in a 12×17 inch jelly roll pan it’s a little thinner but still oh so fluffy. I prefer this method a little bit over the cake because I feel like it cooks more even. It’s kind of like a pumpkin sheet cake texture.

The rich cream cheese frosting is perfection if I do say so myself. Spread on with an offset spatula.


The hardest part is letting the cake cool on a wire rack so you can frost it. Frost it with this tangy cream cheese frosting.

pumpkin barsI usually don’t mind chocolate chips in classic pumpkin bars but I really like these plain.

Cut them into bars.

pumpkin bar with bite

CAN YOU FREEZE THESE?

Yes. You can freeze these up to 3 months.

OTHER PUMPKIN DESSERTS


pumpkin bars

Pumpkin Bars

4.20 from 20 votes
These are the best pumpkin bars and full of pumpkin spice flavor, incredibly moist and topped with a luscious cream cheese frosting. This one of our fall favorites and every pumpkin lover dies over these delicious pumpkin bars.
Print Pin Rate
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Servings: 16 servings

Ingredients

Bars:

Frosting:

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and grease or line your pan with parchment paper. For a thick cake-like bar use a 9x13-inch baking dish. For a thinner bar use a jelly roll pan (12x17 or 15x10).
  • In a large bowl, using an electric mixer at medium speed, combine the eggs, sugar, oil and pumpkin. Stir together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, salt and baking soda. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix at low speed until thoroughly combined and the pumpkin mixture is smooth.
  • For a 9x13 baking dish: Pour batter into baking pan and bake for 35-40 minutes. Test the center with a toothpick to check for doneness. For a jelly roll pan (my preferred method): Spread batter into a greased jelly roll pan and bake for 18-20 minutes, checking for doneness with a toothpick.
  • Let cool completely before frosting.
  • To make the frosting: Combine the cream cheese and butter in a medium bowl with an electric mixer until smooth. Add the sugar and mix at low speed until combined. Stir in the vanilla and mix again. Add a little milk or cream to make it to your desired consistency. Beat until fluffy. Spread on cooled pumpkin bars and cut into squares or cut bars first and frost individually. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge.

Notes

Source: adapted slightly from Becoming Betty ; original recipe by Paula Deen
Cuisine: American
Course: Dessert
Author: Christy Denney
pumpkin bars
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Christy Denney
Christy is the voice behind The Girl Who Who Ate Everything! She is no stranger to making meals that kids and adults will love. She grew up in Mesa, Arizona as the youngest of ten kids. She can always be found in her kitchen with music playing and cooking with her kids. She published her first cookbook in 2014. She loves party food that gets the conversations going!
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