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You are here: Home / Recipes / Dessert

Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting

By Susie Weinrich ยท Date Oct 26, 2022ยท 3 Comments ยท May contain affiliate links.

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pumpkin bar recipe pin image with text
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These Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting are the perfect moist cake bar that has delicious spiced pumpkin flavor, it is topped with the best Cream Cheese Frosting recipe I have ever had (which is my grandmaโ€™s frosting recipe, it is also used on this carrot cake recipe.). It makes a great dessert or snack cake with a cup of coffee!

pumpkin bar with icing on a  plate with a cup of coffee

I swear as soon as it moves from August to September everyone is ready for sweaters, fireplaces and all things pumpkin! This is a SUPER easy recipe to fill that pumpkin craving!

This recipe is based off of Paula Deenโ€™s Pumpkin Bars.

Table of Contents hide
1 Canned Pumpkin
2 How to Make Pumpkin Bars
3 Cream Cheese Frosting
4 Tips for Frosting the Bars
5 Storing
6 Other Bar Recipes to Try
7 Did you make this recipe?
8 Pumpkin Bar Recipe with Cream Cheese Frosting

Canned Pumpkin

For this recipe you will be using canned pumpkin. Make sure that you get 100% pure pumpkin puree. You do not want to buy Pumpkin Pie Mix.

How to Make Pumpkin Bars

Start with a hand mixer or stand mixer and combine the eggs, sugar, oil, and pumpkin puree.

In a separate bowl or on a sheet of parchment sift together the flour, cinnamon, baking powder, salt, and baking soda

Pro Tip: if you sift onto a sheet of parchment you can pick it up by grabbing both sides and make a little slide/tube to easily pour the dry ingredients into the wet ingredient bowl.

Mix the dry ingredients into the pumpkin mixture.

a bowl of pumpkin bar batter
a 9x13 baking dish with pumpkin batter

Pour the pumpkin batter into a 9ร—13 greased pan.

Bake at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes, until done in the center.

Let the bars cool completely.

baked pumpkin bars in a 9x13 pan

Cream Cheese Frosting

Pro Tip: It is very important that your cream cheese frosting ingredients are at room temperature, or you will have lumpy frosting that has chunks of butter and/or cream cheese.

In a stand mixer with a paddle attachment or a hand held mixer combine all the ingredients: room temp butter, room temp cream cheese, powder sugar, and vanilla.

Tips for Frosting the Bars

The easiest way to frost bars and cakes is with an offset spatula.

A great tip when frosting really moist bars or cake is starting with about โ…“ of the frosting. This will be called the โ€œcrumb layerโ€. It may get a few crumbs in it, but that is ok because you will cover it with the remaining frosting in the pretty layer.

frosting pumpkin bars with an offset spatula

To get the big swoops and swishes in your frosting first frost the bars with an offset spatula or knife, then finish with the back of a spoon to create beautiful texture (see photo below).

making swoops in frosting with the back of a spoon

Storing

Store covered at room temp for up to 4-5 days.

Other Bar Recipes to Try

Whether you are having house guests, itโ€™s the holidays, or your are just feeling snacky, here are some other great bar desserts to try:

  • Apple Pie Bars
  • Cherry Pie Bars
  • Chocolate Sheet Cake with Pour Over Frosting

Susie leaning on the kitchen counter

๐Ÿ’›๐Ÿ’›๐Ÿ’›๐Ÿ’›๐Ÿ’›

Did you make this recipe?

I would love to hear your review, especially if you have tips and tricks to add! Pop down to the comment section and connect with me

Rate This Recipeโ†’
Pumpkin Bar on a plate with forks to the side

Pumpkin Bar Recipe with Cream Cheese Frosting

Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting are the perfect moist cake bar that has delicious spiced pumpkin flavor, it is topped with the best Cream Cheese Frosting recipe I have ever had (my Grandma's recipe!).
5 from 4 votes
Print Pin Rate Save Saved!
Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes minutes
Cooling before frosting: 1 hour hour
Total Time: 1 hour hour 50 minutes minutes
Servings: 16 pieces
Calories: 481kcal
Author: Susie Weinrich

Equipment

  • stand mixer or hand held mixer
  • 9ร—13 baking dish

Ingredients

Pumpkin Bars

  • 4 eggs
  • 1 โ…” cup white sugar
  • 1 cup vegetable or canola oil
  • 1 15- ounce can pumpkin - (not pumpkin pie mix)
  • 2 cups all purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • non-stick spray

Cream Cheese Frosting

  • ยฝ cup butter - at room temp
  • 8 oz cream cheese - softened at room temp
  • 3 ยฝ cups powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon - OPTIONAL

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 350ยฐ. Prep a 9ร—13 baking dish with baking spray or oil.
  • In a stand mixer with a paddle attachment (or using a hand held mixer), combine the 4 eggs, 1 โ…” cups sugar, 1 cup vegetable oil and the can of pumpkin. Blend until it is creamy and combined.
  • In a separate bowl or on a sheet of parchment paper, sift together the 2 cups flour, 2 teaspoon cinnamon, 2 teaspoon baking powder, 1 teaspoon salt and 1 teaspoon baking soda.
    Add to the pumpkin mixture and blend, just until it all comes together. Don't overmix.
  • Pour into the prepared 9ร—13 baking pan.
  • Bake for about 35-40 minutes at 350ยฐ.
  • Let the bars cool completely before frosting, or the frosting will melt right off!

Cream Cheese Frosting

  • In a stand mixer with a paddle attachment or with a hand mixer, combine all the cream cheese frosting ingredients and mix until it is completely blended and smooth.
    Note- it is very important that your butter and cream cheese are at room temp!!!
  • Make sure the cake is completely cooled before frosting!

Storing

  • Store your pumpkin bars at room temperature, covered, for up to 4-5 days.

Recipe Tips and Notes:

Frosting Tip: Start with โ…“ of the frosting and using an offset spatula frost the bars, this will be a โ€œcrumb layerโ€. Then finish with the remaining โ…” frosting for the pretty layer.
To get the pretty swoops and swooshes in your frosting use the back of a spoon to create beautiful texture!
Softening Butter and Cream Cheese: The best way to soften both is leaving out at room temp for a couple hours. Cream Cheese will soften pretty quicklyโ€ฆ maybe within an hour depending how warm your kitchen is.ย 
Butter will soften MUCH faster if you cut it into ยฝ inch cubes!
Did you make this recipe?Connect with me and let me know by commenting below!
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Serving: 1serving | Calories: 481kcal | Carbohydrates: 60g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 26g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 12g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 70mg | Sodium: 374mg | Potassium: 55mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 47g | Vitamin A: 438IU | Vitamin C: 0.02mg | Calcium: 58mg | Iron: 1mg

About Susie Weinrich

Susie Weinrich is the recipe developer, food photographer, and content creator behind Mom's Dinner. She has over 20 years experience in the food industry. Currently, Susie shares all her recipes and food knowledge on Mom's Dinner. You will find her recipes are easy to follow and full of tips and tricks to make sure the recipe you are making turns out perfect!

Comments

    5 from 4 votes (1 rating without comment)

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  1. Lauren says

    November 21, 2022 at 10:51 am

    5 stars
    I made these for my Friendsgiving and they were SUCH a hit! Moist, flavorful, and that cream cheese frosting is ridiculous. Planning to bring these to both family gatherings now!

    Reply
  2. Jounayet Rahman says

    November 15, 2022 at 4:07 am

    5 stars
    Looks sweet & yummy.

    Reply
  3. Andrea Howe says

    October 20, 2022 at 11:24 am

    5 stars
    So moist and tender and a perfect flavor that isn’t too overpowering with pumpkin! And the cream cheese frosting was TO DIE FOR! Loved this recipe and will make again!

    Reply
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Meet The Author:

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