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    Home » Recipes » Brownies & Bars

    August 16, 2021 · Updated April 21, 2023

    Pumpkin Bars with Homemade Cream Cheese Frosting

    5 from 8 votes
    13 Comments

    · by Amanda Gajdosik

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    This post may contain affiliate links. This blog generates income via ads.

    A pin to share the recipe for pumpkin bars.
    A pin to share the recipe for homemade pumpkin bars.

    These pumpkin bars with homemade cream cheese frosting are a must-make fall treat! Perfectly spiced and moist pumpkin cake is topped with a sweet and tangy cream cheese frosting. Cut into squares and share with fellow pumpkin lovers!

    A pumpkin bar topped with cream cheese frosting on a piece of parchment paper.

    Looking for the ultimate pumpkin bar recipe? Look no further! These are the best you’ll ever find! Here’s why:

    • Dense, moist bar layer made with canola oil and brown sugar.
    • Loaded with fresh pumpkin taste from real pumpkin puree.
    • Perfectly spiced with all the warm flavors of fall like cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg.
    • Topped with tangy cream cheese frosting that’s the best recipe ever!
    • The bars can be made by hand. No mixer required if you don’t have one!
    • They stay fresh forever. This is thanks to the pumpkin puree and canola oil!

    WATCH THE RECIPE VIDEO!

    A pumpkin spice bar cake topped with cream cheese frosting sits on a piece of parchment paper set over a cooling rack.

    Ingredients for this recipe

    • Brown Sugar
    • Granulated Sugar
    • Canola Oil
    • Vanilla Extract
    • Pumpkin Puree (NOT canned pumpkin pie filling)
    • Flour
    • Baking Soda
    • Baking Powder
    • Kosher Salt
    • Ground Cinnamon, Ginger, Nutmeg, Allspice, and Cloves
    All of the ingredients for homemade pumpkin bars are arranged in various glass bowls and measuring cups on a rimmed baking sheet.

    How to make Pumpkin Bars

    1. Whisk the dry ingredients. The flour, leaveners, kosher salt, and pumpkin pie spices.
    2. Mix the wet ingredients. Both sugars, the oil, vanilla extract, and pumpkin puree.
    3. Combine the wet and dry ingredients. This can all be done by hand!
    4. Bake the pumpkin bars. In a greased pan until beautiful and fragrant.
    5. Frost the bars. With your favorite cream cheese frosting recipe.
    A hand whisks the dry ingredients for pumpkin bars.
    Whisk the dry ingredients.
    Wet ingredients are blended together.
    Mix the wet ingredients.
    A hand mixes up pumpkin bar batter in a large glass mixing bowl.
    Combine the wet and dry ingredients.
    Pumpkin bar batter being spread into a prepared baking pan.
    Bake the pumpkin bars.

    Homemade Pumpkin Spice Blend

    While I measure out all the ingredients for the spices individually, you can absolutely substitute a pumpkin pie spice blend in this recipe if desired. Just use 1 heaping tablespoon of pumpkin pie spice in lieu of the other spices listed in this recipe.

    A piece of homemade pumpkin bars with cream cheese frosting on a piece of parchment paper.

    If you want to make your own pumpkin pie spice blend at home simply combine:

    • 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
    • 1 tablespoons ground ginger
    • 2 teaspoons ground nutmeg
    • 1 teaspoon ground allspice
    • 1 teaspoon ground cloves

    Whisk to combine and store in a small mason jar for up to six months.

    The Best Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe

    If you’re looking for the best cream cheese frosting to slather over your homemade pumpkin bars look no further than this recipe right here!

    A batch of pumpkin bars topped with cream cheese frosting are cut into small squares on a piece of parchment paper.

    It’s tangy and sweet and so perfectly spreadable. And is there any better pairing than pumpkin and cream cheese? I think not!

    If you’re really feeling fancy, add some grated orange zest into the frosting for a delicious citrus kick!

    A frosted, perfect pumpkin bar sits on a small white plate.

    You May Also Enjoy

    • Pumpkin Spice Bundt Cake
    • Pumpkin Pie Cheesecake Dip
    • Soft Pumpkin Cookies with Maple Glaze
    • Pumpkin Cream Cold Foam Cold Brew
    • Glazed Apple Slices
    Cream cheese frosted pumpkin bars on a piece of parchment paper.
    Print Recipe
    5 from 8 votes

    Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting

    These pumpkin bars with homemade cream cheese frosting are a must-make fall treat! Perfectly spiced and moist pumpkin cake is topped with a sweet and tangy cream cheese frosting. Cut into squares and share with fellow pumpkin lovers!
    Prep Time10 mins
    Cook Time25 mins
    Total Time35 mins
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: pumpkin bars, pumpkin bars with cream cheese frosting, pumpkin cake
    Servings: 24 servings
    Calories: 181kcal
    Author: Amanda Gajdosik

    Equipment

    • 9x13 baking pan

    Ingredients

    • 2 cups flour
    • 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
    • 1 teaspoon baking soda
    • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
    • 1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
    • ¾ teaspoon ground ginger
    • ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
    • ¼ teaspoon ground allspice
    • ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
    • 1 cup brown sugar
    • ½ cup granulated sugar
    • 1 cup canola oil
    • 3 eggs at room temperature
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • 1 can pumpkin puree not pumpkin pie filling!

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly coat a 9x13 baking pan with baking spray and set aside.
    • Whisk together the flour, baking powder, soda, kosher salt, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, allspice, and cloves. Set aside.
    • Using a hand mixer or whisk, mix the sugars and the oil together until fully combined. Scrape down bowl and stir in the eggs, vanilla extract, and pumpkin puree until well combined and smooth.
    • Gently fold in dry ingredients, scraping bottom of the bowl to ensure everything is fully incorporated.
    • Pour batter into prepared pan and bake in preheated oven for 25 – 30 minutes, or until edges are just golden brown and toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
    • Remove bars from the oven and let cool on rack to room temperature.
    • When bars are cool, cover with a half-batch of my favorite cream cheese frosting.

    Notes

    • Bars can be stored in an airtight container on the counter for five days or refrigerated for up to eight.
    • Add the zest of one orange to the frosting, if desired.
    • 1 heaping tablespoon of pumpkin pie spice can be substituted for the spice blend in this recipe, if desired.
    • Refer to post for notes on making your own pumpkin pie spice blend.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1square | Calories: 181kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 20mg | Sodium: 131mg | Potassium: 33mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 13g | Vitamin A: 37IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 29mg | Iron: 1mg

    Browse More Recipes!

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    Comments

      Leave a rating and review! Cancel reply

      Did you love the recipe? Let me know! And let others know too by leaving a comment and star rating. Reviews are so useful in helping other people find my site and make my recipes. Your support means the world to me!

      Amanda

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Tonia says

      October 11, 2018 at 1:24 am

      I absolutely LOVE your style of writing! So fresh! So genuine! So transparent (don't I sound hip?!)! You have an AMAZING gift that I thought this world had lost. Thanks for delighting us with the written word, and including bonus recipes to make it that much better!!!!

      Reply
      • Amanda says

        October 17, 2018 at 12:01 pm

        <3

        Reply
    2. mistimaan says

      October 12, 2018 at 6:54 am

      Loved it.

      Reply
    3. Melissa says

      September 17, 2021 at 1:55 am

      5 stars
      Amanda is always a go-to for all things delicious, and this recipe certainly did not disappoint. It cooks up quick, and is SCRUMPTIOUS. Did I mention it'll make your house smell great? Win-win in my book!

      Reply
    4. Jeanna says

      October 04, 2021 at 11:25 pm

      Hi,
      What size can of pumpkin please? Our stores carry 15 oz and 29 oz.
      Thanks !!

      Reply
      • Amanda says

        October 05, 2021 at 2:34 pm

        Hi Jeanna! You'll want to use a 15 ounce can of pumpkin. I will amend the recipe card to make sure it is more specific. Thanks for the question. Happy baking 🙂

        Reply
    5. Jenny says

      February 08, 2022 at 9:36 pm

      Delicious Amanda!

      Reply
    6. Tori says

      October 05, 2022 at 12:56 am

      5 stars
      Was a huge hit at a potluck tonight, will be making this many more times this fall! Thanks Amanda!

      Reply
      • Amanda Gajdosik says

        October 05, 2022 at 3:42 pm

        Thanks for sharing my recipe with others, Tori! So kind of you 🙂

        Reply

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    Hi! I'm Amanda, and I believe in good food for good people. I hope you enjoy the homemade recipes you'll find on my site.
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