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Spiced Pumpkin Bars are topped with cream cheese frosting to create the perfect Fall dessert.

Hello, November!

I can’t believe I am admitting this publicly, but I am sitting at my kitchen island with the smell of banana bread wafting through the air while I’m completely surrounded by Christmas bins.

Yep, we’ve started decorating for Christmas. Now before you tell me I’ve skipped Thanksgiving, or I’m all kinds of ridiculous, hear me out.

We’re actually leaving for vacation this month and I have zero desire to rush around trying to get the house ready once we’re back, so we’re those people with a leg lamp in our front window on November 4th.

I promise, I’m not going to bombard you with peppermint and cookie recipes just yet because I’ve got a few more pumpkin recipes on my agenda just like these delish pumpkin bars with cream cheese frosting!

EASY PUMPKIN BARS WITH CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

I love these Pumpkin Bars for so many reasons – first of all, there’s pumpkin involved.

I mean, you all know by now that pumpkin recipes are my jam. And I’m fairly certain I could eat a piece of notebook paper if it had enough cream cheese frosting on it.

Combined, they’re the perfect way to please a crowd of party-goers, end a day of fall activities, eat your feelings…whatever strikes your fancy.

There are not a lot of things in life that define fall more for me than the combination of pumpkin and cream cheese. It’s a favorite in my pumpkin cookies, pumpkin cream cheese muffins, and pumpkin brownies.

In these Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting, the tangy frosting is the perfect accompaniment to the moist pumpkin cake base.

The cake is made using oil instead of butter, so you can whisk everything together pretty quickly. It’ll go faster if you use an electric mixer, but it’s definitely not required for the cake itself!

Once the bars are baked and have cooled, all you have to do is whip up a simple cream cheese frosting to spread on top. Since you leave the bars in the pan to frost them, you don’t have to worry about frosting the sides or even making the top super smooth.

If you’re feeling fancy, you could even sprinkle a little pumpkin pie spice on top of the cream cheese frosting for decoration.

HOW TO FREEZE PUMPKIN BARS

This recipe makes a lot of bars, so they’re also perfect for any upcoming holiday function or potluck.

But you want to make some just for yourself, you can freeze these Pumpkin Bars for later.

Just place the bars in an airtight container. If you need to stack the bars, be sure to separate the layers with parchment paper.

To thaw, pull out as many Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting as you like and let them thaw in the refrigerator overnight.

Because let’s be honest. Having Pumpkin Bars in the freezer, ready to snack on any time is about the best move I can think of.

Continue to Content

Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting

Yield: 24 servings

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 50 minutes

Spiced Pumpkin Bars are topped with cream cheese frosting to create the perfect Fall dessert.

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Ingredients

For the Bars

• 4 large eggs
• 1 2/3 cups granulated sugar
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 1 15-ounce can pumpkin puree
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 tablespoon homemade pumpkin pie spice
• 1 teaspoon salt

For the Cream Cheese Frosting

• 1 8-ounce package cream cheese, room temperature
• softened
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 2 cups confectioners' sugar, sifted

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350&degF. Line a 10x15 inch jelly roll pan with parchment paper and spray lightly with non-stick cooking spray. Set aside.

2. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment or in a large bowl with an electric mixer, combine the eggs, sugar, oil, pumpkin and vanilla until thoroughly combined. Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, pumpkin pie spice and salt. Stir flour mixture into pumpkin mixture until combined.

3. Spread batter evenly into prepared pan. Bake in preheated oven for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Allow pumpkin bars to cool completely before frosting.

4. When pumpkin bars are completely cool, prepare the cream cheese frosting. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment or in a large bowl with an electric mixer, beat the cream cheese, butter and vanilla on medium-high speed for 3 minutes. Turn speed down to low and gradually add in confectioners' sugar until incorporated. Turn speed back to medium-high speed and beat for an additional 2-3 minutes. Use an offset spatula to frost the pumpkin bars.

Notes

Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting can be stored in an airtight container within the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

• 
  Pyrex 8-Piece Mixing Bowl Set
• 
  KitchenAid 9-Speed Digital Hand Mixer

Nutrition Information

Yield 24 Serving Size 1 bar
Amount Per Serving Calories 278Total Fat 15gSaturated Fat 4gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 10gCholesterol 46mgSodium 225mgCarbohydrates 33gFiber 1gSugar 24gProtein 3g

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