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Pumpkin Bars With Cream Cheese Frosting

These Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting are the ultimate fall treat. Packed with warm autumn spices and bursting with extra pumpkin flavor, these bars are the perfect easy dessert!

Finished Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting.
These pumpkin bars are moist, sweet, and packed with extra pumpkin flavor making them the perfect fall treat.

Video: Watch Us Make This

Pumpkin Bars With Cream Cheese Frosting

Why This Recipe Stands Out

If seeing all the plump pumpkins on display has you longing for your favorite autumn desserts, you’re not alone. We’re more than ready for fall baking, and this Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting recipe is one of our favorite dessert bar recipes for a number of reasons:

  • It uses double the amount of real pumpkin so you can’t miss that amazing pumpkin flavor.
  • It’s perfectly moist. We use coconut oil in this recipe to create a soft dessert bar that melts in your mouth.
  • It’s easy to make. Just mix the ingredients and bake – the kids will love baking along with you.
  • It freezes well. These pumpkin bars freeze wonderfully making them the perfect option for a make-ahead dessert.
  • Your family will devour this for dessert and breakfast, if you let them.
Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting on a Fork.
Pumpkin bars freeze wonderfully, and are the perfect make-ahead dessert.

Key Ingredients

These pumpkin bars are made mostly of simple pantry staples that you may already have on hand. The silky cream cheese frosting also uses just 4 simple ingredients. Take a look at the key ingredients for this recipe:

  • Coconut Oil – Coconut oil has a naturally sweet taste making it perfect for baking. It gives these bars a tender, moist texture.
  • Eggs – Eggs help these pumpkin bars hold together so they’re easy-to-enjoy.
  • Pumpkin Puree – Make sure to use pure pumpkin puree and not pumpkin pie filling for this recipe to ensure the freshest pumpkin flavor.
  • Pumpkin Pie Spice – Pumpkin Pie Spice is the perfect mix of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, allspice, and cloves that makes this treat warm, and comforting.
  • Cream Cheese – We couldn’t have cream cheese frosting without this crucial ingredient! Cream cheese’s acidic flavor perfectly balances the sweetness of the sugar in the frosting which is why cream cheese frosting is one of our number one favorites.
  • Vanilla Extract – We add a teaspoon of vanilla extract to the frosting for the perfect burst of vanilla flavor.

Substitutions and Variations

While we love cream cheese frosting on these pumpkin bars, there are so many toppings that go well with them. Here are a few variations to try:

  • Try adding this 4-Ingredient Salted Caramel Sauce on top of fully cooled pumpkin bars for a festive topping idea.
  • For a light, fluffy, and creamy topping for these bars, we love adding this Stabilized Whipped Cream.
  • If you aren’t a fan of cream cheese frosting, feel free to replace with a classic buttercream frosting.
  • Sprinkle your pumpkin bars with some cinnamon and sugar like the coating in these Cinnamon Apple Baked Donuts.
  • Bonus: Try incorporating chopped pecans, apples, dried cranberries, or chocolate chips into these pumpkin bars. Experiment with any mix-ins you love.

Step-By-Step Instructions

  1. Whisk butter and cream cheese together then add vanilla and powdered sugar and mix until creamy. Set frosting aside at room temperature or in the fridge.
  2. Combine eggs, sugar, coconut oil, and pumpkin until smooth.
  1. Sift flour, baking soda. baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. Then add dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until thoroughly combined.
  2. Spread batter into rimmed baking pan and bake at 350F for about 23 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.
  1. Cool bars completely. Then cut into squares and frost with cream cheese frosting.

For full list of ingredients and instructions, see recipe card below.

How To Prep Ahead

These pumpkin bars are already a super quick and easy dessert, but we have some tips to make preparing this fall treat even easier.

  • Feel free to mix the dry ingredients in advance and store in an airtight container at room temperature until ready to use.
  • The cream cheese frosting can be made the night before and stored in the fridge or stored in the freezer for up to a month. Just thaw to room temperature before using.
  • These pumpkin bars freeze wonderfully. If you want to make these in advance, simply freeze cooled and cut bars in an airtight container until you’re ready to use them. We recommend freezing the frosting separately for best results.

Commonly Asked Questions

How long do pumpkin bars with cream cheese frosting keep?

Store pumpkin bars in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Pumpkin bars can also be frozen in an airtight container for up to 3 months.

What is pumpkin puree?

Pumpkin puree is simply mashed pumpkin. Note that pumpkin puree and pumpkin pie filling are different. Pumpkin pie filling has added ingredients like sugar. Make sure to use simple pumpkin puree for best results with this recipe.

Can I use a 9×13 pan for these bars?

Yes! You can use a smaller pan for these bars. Just note that the cooking time will vary. When a toothpick comes out clean, you’ll know they’re done.

Can I make this recipe gluten free?

We can’t guarantee that the results will be the same gluten free. However, feel free to replace the flour with a 1:1 Gluten Free All Purpose Flour and tell us how they turn out!

Did you make this?

Please give us a rating and comment below. We love hearing from you!

pumpkin bars with cream cheese frosting.

Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting

4.92 from 34 ratings
These Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting are the ultimate fall treat. Packed with warm spices and extra pumpkin flavor, your family will adore these soft dessert bars!
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 23 minutes
Total Time: 38 minutes
Servings: 24
Author: Amy Dong

Ingredients  

For the Cream Cheese Frosting:

For the Pumpkin Bars:

Instructions

  • In a bowl with hand whisk, whisk together the cream cheese and butter. Stir in vanilla. Add confectioners’ sugar a little at a time, beating until mixture is smooth. Cover and set aside at moderate room temp (or chill) until ready to use. If you chill it, be sure to let it soften at room temp before using it.
  • Preheat oven to 350F. In a medium bowl, whisk the eggs, sugar, coconut oil, and pumpkin by hand until smooth.
  • Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt. Stir flour mixture into the pumpkin mixture until thoroughly combined.
  • Spread the batter evenly into a 12×15 inch rimmed baking sheet or jellyroll pan. Bake about 23 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean; don't over bake.
  • Cool completely. Slice into bars and either drizzle or spread cream cheese frosting onto individual bars as desired, it can be hard to slice frosted bars.

Equipment

Notes

  • Make sure to frost these soft dessert bars after you cut them as it can be hard to cut already-frosted bars.
  • Try adding nuts or chocolate chips to the bars or topping with this 4-Ingredient Salted Caramel Sauce.
  • If you choose to make the frosting in advance and chill it, make sure to bring it back to room temperature before using.
  • If you enjoyed this recipe, please come back and give it a rating. We ❤️ hearing from you! 

Nutrition (per serving)

Calories: 213kcal | Carbohydrates: 36g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 0.04g | Cholesterol: 28mg | Sodium: 170mg | Potassium: 100mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 15g | Vitamin A: 5638IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 31mg | Iron: 1mg
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Diet: Vegetarian
Method: Bake, mix

More To Bake And Eat

  • Best Pumpkin Bread Recipe – This spiced pumpkin bread is sweet, moist, and bursting with all the season’s best flavors. A cinnamon-sugar and butter crumble sprinkled on top sets this pumpkin bread recipe far above your classic pumpkin bread.
  • Chewy Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies Recipe – These pumpkin cookies are packed with white chocolate chips, chopped roasted pecans, and (of course) pumpkin! They’re not only deliciously chewy, but the dough freezes well too for quick cookies any time.
  • Pumpkin Cupcakes – These pumpkin cupcakes are full of our favorite autumn spices that will have your house smelling like a dream. Moist and comforting, these cupcakes are a family favorite in the fall.
  • Chewy Monster Cookie Bars – Thick, chewy, and supremely satisfying, these monster cookie bars are the perfect easy dessert that the whole family will love. Only one bowl is needed for this recipe making for super easy clean up!
  • Lemon Bars with Shortbread Crust – Buttery shortbread is topped with a vibrant lemon custard making the best lemon bars you’ll ever taste. They’re the perfect dessert to whip up for potlucks or to enjoy with your family.

Add a comment

Recipe Rating




70 comments

    • Nicole Bertrand
    • 5 stars

    These look delicious! And Im an absolute sucker for cream cheese frosting!

    • Farah Al Zadjaly

    This looks soo good… I am definitely going to have to try this. I might need to change it due to no dairy for me. Love it.

    • Alexis
    • 5 stars

    These pumpkin bars look delicious!

    • Akriti
    • 5 stars

    I love Pumpkin Pie and I’m definitely going to try out this recipe!

    www.itsasweetsweetworld.com

    • Gladys Nava
    • 5 stars

    Oh my goodness! I really love this recipe. I will surely save this and make this recipe on the weekend!

    • Sudipa
    • 5 stars

    Omg this looks delicious. I am going to try these during Fall. We love anything pumpkin during this season

    • Natalie
    • 5 stars

    Oh these look amazing! I never know what to make with our left over pumpkins so will definitely try these x

    • Jasmine M
    • 5 stars

    These pumpkin bars look delicious! I am going to have to make these this Fall season for sure!

    • Dalene Ekirapa
    • 5 stars

    I love pumpkins and your recipe makes such delicious pumpkins…I’m literally salivating. Anyway, the cheese frosting makes it look even better. Yummy!

    • Rosey

    This is right up my alley. It is perfect to break out for the holiday/Fall celebrations going on now too!

    • Yeah Lifestyle
    • 5 stars

    Would love to try making these Double Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting as I never tried baking with pumpkin before. I tend to cook with it more.

    • Geemiz Travel
    • 5 stars

    Pumpkin is a lowkey ingredient here in PH and I think there is much more we can do to it. Thank you to this recipe. And the photos makes me hungry.

    • aisasami
    • 5 stars

    These look super delicious! Iove to make pumpkin dessert during this season because it is easy to make so many things with pumpkin. And, it is cheap!

    • tweenselmom
    • 5 stars

    The pumpkin oatmeal and the pudding make me drool! Yum!

    • Norma
    • 5 stars

    The double Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting are an incredible pumpkin treat for fall. They look super chewy and tasty. Will definitely try!

      • chewoutloud

      You’ll love them 🙂

    • Patricia M.

    I love food that freeze well, this would be great for our camping trip over Halloween. The kids are going to love it.

    • Gervin Khan
    • 4 stars

    Oh, I love this pumpkin bars it looks really delicious and I am sure my kids would definitely love it.

    • From Jess to You Services
    • 4 stars

    I wish my husband wasn’t on a diet right now so I could make this recipe as it looks sooo yummy!

      • chewoutloud

      I sometimes freeze them for one treat at a time! 🙂

    • Kevin Akidi
    • 5 stars

    I have this pumpkin that has been sitting in my kitchen for a while because I couldn’t think of what to make. Now I can do something about it. The double pumpkin bars look delicious.

      • chewoutloud

      They’re honestly so delish. Thanks, Kevin!

    • Heather
    • 5 stars

    I’ve printed this out because I absolutely have to make them for my family. They are huge fans of pumpkin desserts!

      • chewoutloud

      They won’t be mad if you make this 🙂 Thank you, Heather!

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