Description
If autumn had a flavor, it would taste exactly like these old fashioned pumpkin bars. Moist, warmly spiced, and topped with a luscious layer of cream cheese frosting, they’re the ultimate fall dessert.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
- 2 tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp ground nutmeg
- ¼ tsp ground cloves
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup light brown sugar, packed
- 1 cup vegetable oil
- 4 large eggs
- 1 (15 oz) can pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract (for frosting)
- Optional: pinch of cinnamon for dusting
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves.
- In a large bowl, beat together oil, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until smooth. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each.
- Stir in pumpkin puree and vanilla.
- Gradually fold in the dry ingredients until just combined.
- Pour batter into the prepared pan, spreading evenly. Bake 25–30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Cool completely in the pan on a wire rack before frosting.
- For the frosting: Beat cream cheese and butter until smooth and fluffy. Add powdered sugar gradually, then mix in vanilla until creamy.
- Spread frosting evenly over cooled pumpkin bars. Dust lightly with cinnamon if desired.
Notes
Add chopped walnuts or pecans to the batter for crunch. Store bars covered in the fridge for up to 5 days or freeze for up to 2 months.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 290
- Sugar: 26g
- Sodium: 180mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 37g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 40mg
Keywords: pumpkin bars, fall dessert, cream cheese frosting, old fashioned pumpkin bars