Description
Delicious and moist pumpkin bars topped with a creamy cream cheese frosting, perfect for autumn gatherings and holiday celebrations.
Ingredients
Scale
For the bars
- 1 15-oz can pumpkin puree
- 3 large eggs
- 1 cup neutral oil
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup light brown sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- ½ tsp kosher salt
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 2 tsp ground cinnamon
For the frosting
- 8 oz cream cheese, room temperature
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter, room temperature
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- 2 cups sifted powdered sugar
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F. Grease a 10 x 14-inch jelly roll pan and set it aside to prepare for baking.
- Make the batter: Crack the eggs into a large bowl and beat until combined. Add the pumpkin puree, neutral oil, granulated sugar, brown sugar, and vanilla extract, then whisk to incorporate all ingredients thoroughly. In a separate bowl, mix the flour, kosher salt, baking soda, baking powder, and ground cinnamon. Gradually add the dry ingredients into the wet mixture and whisk until fully combined without overmixing.
- Bake the bars: Pour the batter evenly into the greased pan. Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Once baked, remove from the oven and allow the bars to cool completely before frosting.
- Make the frosting: Beat the room temperature cream cheese and unsalted butter together until light and fluffy. Add the vanilla extract and sifted powdered sugar gradually, adjusting the sugar to reach your desired frosting consistency.
- Frost the bars: Spread the cream cheese frosting evenly over the cooled pumpkin bars. Cut into 18 bars and serve.
Notes
- Do not overmix the batter when adding dry ingredients to prevent toughness from gluten development.
- Use a skewer or toothpick to test doneness by inserting near the center of the pan; it should come out clean for fully baked bars.
- Sift powdered sugar carefully to avoid lumps in the frosting; discard any lumps that cannot be sifted.
- Ensure the bars are completely cooled before frosting to prevent the frosting from melting.
- If desired, the spice level can be adjusted by adding nutmeg or ginger for extra warmth.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 250 kcal
- Sugar: 20 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg
