Pumpkin Bars With Cream Cheese Frosting (Printer-friendly)

Moist spiced pumpkin bars with creamy frosting for fall gatherings

# What You Need:

→ For the Pumpkin Bars

01 - 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1 cup granulated sugar
03 - 1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
04 - 1 teaspoon baking powder
05 - 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
06 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
07 - 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
08 - 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
09 - 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
10 - 1/2 cup vegetable oil
11 - 2 large eggs
12 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
13 - 1 1/2 cups pumpkin puree

→ For the Cream Cheese Frosting

14 - 8 oz cream cheese, softened
15 - 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
16 - 2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
17 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
18 - Pinch of salt

# How to Make It:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 9x13-inch baking pan with parchment paper or lightly grease the surface.
02 - In a large bowl, whisk together flour, granulated sugar, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger until well blended.
03 - In a separate bowl, whisk vegetable oil, eggs, and vanilla extract until smooth. Add pumpkin puree and mix until fully incorporated.
04 - Pour the wet mixture into the dry ingredients. Stir gently just until combined; avoid overmixing to prevent dense texture.
05 - Spread batter evenly in the prepared pan. Bake for 22-27 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool completely in the pan before frosting.
06 - Beat cream cheese and butter together until smooth and creamy. Add powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and salt; beat until light and fluffy.
07 - Spread frosting evenly over cooled bars. Cut into squares and serve immediately or refrigerate for later enjoyment.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The cream cheese frosting is thick enough to stay put but soft enough to melt into every bite
  • These bars actually taste better the next day when all those spices have had time to become best friends
  • You get all the cozy feelings of pumpkin pie without the stress of rolling out dough
02 -
  • Room temperature ingredients for the frosting are not optional, they are mandatory
  • Wait at least 2 hours for the bars to cool completely before frosting, or put them in the fridge for 30 minutes if you are in a rush
03 -
  • Use fresh spices and check the expiration date on your baking powder for the best rise
  • Spray your measuring cup with oil before adding the pumpkin puree, and it will slide right out

Return