Pumpkin Bars Recipe

4.56 from 9 votes

Published on May 25, 2023

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Easy Pumpkin Bars have so much pumpkin flavor and the best cream cheese icing. Each bite is so decadent and delicious for an amazing fall treat.

Close up image of pumpkin bar on a plate

Easy Pumpkin Bars:

I love when Fall baking starts and pumpkin recipes are always my favorite. These easy pumpkin bars do not disappoint. The pumpkin bars are moist and delicious and have the best pumpkin flavor.

The icing is super easy but worth the extra steps. The icing with these bars equals amazing! I love that you can cut the squares whatever size you want to. This is perfect for any occasion.

We love making dessert bars as they are easy to grab one or two for your holiday dinner. You must try our Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars and No Bake Pumpkin Dream Bars. These bars are similar to pumpkin cake.

Grab one of these pumpkin bars with cream cheese icing. Enjoy with a hot cup of coffee for the best treat any day of the week. It is so tasty and the perfect Fall recipe.

Ingredients needed - flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, oil, eggs, brown sugar, sugar, pumpkin puree, vanilla extract

Ingredients for Pumpkin Bars Recipe:

All Purpose Flour
Baking Powder
Baking Soda
Salt
Ground Cinnamon
Pumpkin Pie Spice
Vegetable Oil
Large Eggs
Brown Sugar
Granulated Sugar
Pumpkin Puree (learn how to make pumpkin puree.)
Pure Vanilla Extract

Cream cheese frosting is amazing on top and we love this cream cheese frosting recipe.

How to Make Pumpkin Bars from Scratch:

Step 1 – Prepare oven and baking dish – First, go ahead and preheat the oven to 350. Then grease a 10×15 baking pan.

Step 2 – Line Baking Dish – Or line the pan with parchment paper. We recommend to have enough overhang on the sides to easily lift the bars (as a whole) out.

Step 3 – Combine Dry Ingredients – Next, whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Then mix in cinnamon and pumpkin spice together in a large bowl. Set aside.

Step 4 – Combine Wet Ingredients – Whisk the oil, eggs, brown sugar, granulated sugar, pumpkin, and vanilla extract together until combined. Combine these ingredients in a separate bowl.
Step 5 – Mix wet and dry ingredients – Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Then use a mixer or whisk until completely combined. Batter will be thick.

Step 6 – Spread pumpkin mixture into pan – Spread batter into the prepared pan. Bake for 28-35 minutes. Baking times vary, so keep an eye on yours.

Pouring the pumpkin mixture into baking dish

Step 7 – Check for doneness – The bars are done when a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. If you find the top or edges of the bars browning too quickly, loosely tent with aluminum foil. Just keep a check on them while baking.

Step 8 – Cool Bars – Remove the bars from the oven and set the pan on a wire rack. Cool bars completely. (After about 45 minutes of cooling, you can place the bars in the refrigerator to speed things up!)

Close up image of pumpkin bar on a spatula

How to Make Cream Cheese Frosting:

These pumpkin bars are best topped with a cream cheese frosting. This easy frosting is made with 4 simple ingredients.

Cream Cheese
Unsalted Butter
Powdered Sugar – (Confectioners Sugar)
Vanilla Extract

The ingredients are combined with electric mixer. Then can be used to frosting many homemade baked goods.

Skip the store bought frosting, and make homemade.

Substitutions and Additions:

Nuts – These pumpkin bars would be delicious with an added crunch. You can mix in chopped pecans or walnuts. You can add them to the top after frosting the bars.
Chocolate Chips – If you love the pumpkin and chocolate combination, mix in chocolate chips to the pumpkin batter. You can even add some to the top after frosting the bars.
Lighter Option – To lighten up the pumpkin bars, substitute ½ cup of the applesauce with ½ cup of oil. This mixture will still be delicious but lower in calories.

Tips for Easy Pumpkin Bar Recipe:

After Frosting – To help set the frosting, refrigerate for 30 minutes before slicing and serving. This makes cutting easier and less messy. You will get nice clean slices if you do this.
Serving – Even though these are pumpkin bars, they will need to be enjoy with or without a fork. They are delicious but need to served on a plate or napkin.
Baking Dish – Prepare the baking dish by lining it with parchment paper or spraying with cooking spray.
Pumpkin – When making this recipe, make sure to pumpkin puree and not pumpkin pie filling.

Can I prepare ahead of time?

Yes, we love to prepare our holiday desserts ahead of time and this one is perfect for that. Since this dessert needs time to cool before frosting, we recommend preparing the day before serving.

Then when you are ready to serve, frost the bars and then serve. Feel free to top with the frosting with holiday sprinkles.

Can you freeze pumpkin bars?

Yes, you can freeze these pumpkin bars in an airtight container. We love to do this and enjoy the bars anytime we want one. You can take the pumpkin bars out the night before. Then let them thaw and they will be ready to go the next morning.

How to Store Leftovers:

Cover leftover bars tightly and store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. If you skipped the frosting, cover and store plain pumpkin bars at room temperature. They will stay fresh for up to 3 days or in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

Easy and Delicious Pumpkin Bars:

If you are looking for an easy and delicious pumpkin bar to make this holiday, make this recipe. If you are a baker your probably already have the majority of the ingredients.

This recipe rich, decadent and so delicious. It is always a crowd favorite and it is completely made from scratch.