Best EVER Pumpkin Bars with cream cheese frosting are moist, soft, and delicious—a perfect dessert or snack.
These pumpkin bars are light and fluffy in texture yet moist. They’re not as dense as pumpkin bread or other pumpkin cakes. They practically melt in your mouth.
They have the most tender crumbs, and cream cheese frosting on top adds the best finishing touch. They might be your new favorite this fall season.
Reflecting back now on my childhood, my “foodie” type attitude started a long time ago, and I just didn’t know it. So many of the things I love are from my time growing up.
As I went to make these bars I started to think about all the times I ate them as a child and can you guess where that was? Camping! My mom’s friend Jean made these every Christmas and for our camping trips.
Why I Love This Recipe
Then with the cream cheese frosting… well, it is making my mouth water even as I type this. It’s flavored with almond extract which gives it a step-up. If you don’t like almond, you can use the same amount of vanilla extract – it’s delicious, too.
This is the perfect pumpkin spice bar for really any occasion and I guarantee you won’t walk away feeling weighed down. Unless you eat the whole pan, that is, like I’m always tempted to do.
The kids love these soft pumpkin bars and Aiden’s first reaction was, “Mom you know I hate frosting, but I just love this, it just has this little yummy kick.” Okay, so I don’t know what he is referring to when he says “kick” but obviously, it’s a winner for him.
They’ll be a winner at your house, too. Make them for the holidays or just because – you won’t regret it, I promise.
Pumpkin Bar Ingredients
- Eggs
- Canola oil
- Sugar
- Pumpkin puree
- All-purpose flour
- Baking powder
- Baking soda
- Cinnamon
- Ginger
- Cloves
- Nutmeg
Recipe Instructions
For this recipe, I grease a 13″x18″ half sheet pan, but you can also use a 9×13″ pan if you want thicker bars.
Whisk the eggs, oil, sugar, and pumpkin in a large mixing bowl. Sift all of the dry ingredients into the pumpkin mixture and then stir just until combined.
Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan. Depending on the size of your pan, bake the bars at 350°F for:
- Jelly roll pan: 20 to 25 minutes
- 9×13″ baking pan: 25 to 30 minutes
Be sure to check with a toothpick that the bars are done and then cool them in the pan before frosting and slicing.
Cream Cheese Frosting
While the bars cool, you can make the frosting.
- Softened unsalted butter
- Softened cream cheese
- Powdered sugar (confectioners’ sugar)
- Almond extract
- Room temperature milk
In a large bowl, beat together the butter and cream cheese with an electric mixer. With the mixer on low speed, add the powdered sugar a cup at a time until the frosting is smooth and creamy. Beat in the almond extract and then it’s ready to use.
Once the cake is cooled, spread the frosting over the top. Slice and then use an offset spatula to lift the individual bars out of the pan easily.
Garnish Ideas
You can add some garnishes to give the bars a special look and more texture and flavor.
- Sprinkle toasted chopped nuts over the top of the frosting. Walnuts or pecans would be delicious.
- A sprinkle of cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice adds a nice touch, too.
- Mini chocolate chips would be a fun decoration.
When these bars are baking in the oven, it’s almost impossible to wait for them to finish. They will fill your house with the most beautiful scent. But the first bite is even better – these soft, fluffy pumpkin bars with cream cheese frosting won’t last long when you make a batch.
More tasty pumpkin desserts?
Pin this to your favorite Pinterest board to save for later!
Best EVER Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting
Ingredients
Pumpkin Bars
- 4 eggs
- 1 cup canola oil
- 2 cups sugar
- 15 ounces canned pumpkin
- 2 cups flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon cloves
- 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
Cream Cheese Frosting
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter softened
- 8 ounces cream cheese softened
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 1 tablespoon almond extract
- 1 tablespoon milk room temperature
Instructions
Pumpkin Bars
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a half sheet pan (13"x18") and set aside.
- Mix eggs, oil, sugar, and pumpkin in a large bowl. Sift remaining ingredients and combine with the pumpkin mixture. Pour into prepared pan.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean and the cake springs back when lightly tapped. Let cool while you prepare the frosting.
Cream Cheese Frosting
- In a large bowl, beat together the butter and cream cheese with an electric mixer. With the mixer on low speed, add the powdered sugar a cup at a time until smooth and creamy. Beat in the vanilla extract.
- Once the cake is cooled, frost, slice, and enjoy!
YUMMY Love me some pumpkin bars!!!
Looks wonderful! I love pumpkin bars. Pinning.
YUM! I love anything pumpkin and the cream cheese frosting looks amazing! 🙂 Thanks for sharing & I pinned to make for later! 🙂
These look amazing! I’m pinning to my baking board. Stopping in from DBB. Stop by when you can. Always nice to stop by & see what you are making.
These look amazing.
Have a great week.
Debi and Charly @ Adorned From Above
http://www.adornedfromabove.com
I have been searching for a really good pumpkin bar recipe, and I think my search is over! These look amazing Sandra!!
Hi Sandra! Thanks for linking up last week to the Sweet Wednesday Link Party! Your delicious recipe is one of my Top Features tonight! Stop by and grab a Featured Button at: http://www.my-sweet-mission.com/2013/11/top-features-from-swlp-12-all-things.html
Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!
Heather
MySweetMission.net
Pumpkin Bars are one of my favorite Fall treats! They sound great! 🙂 Thanks so much for linking to Freedom Fridays! I’ve pinned this and have it scheduled to be shared on FB today 🙂 Have a Happy Thanksgiving – we hope you’ll join us again this week! {hugs}
If I don’t put frosting on, can I freeze this? Would be nice to make some now with fresh apples and have it in the middle of Feb. with hot cocoa.
Vicki –
Yes, if you don’t put the frosting on they are great to freeze! I love the idea of fresh apples!
Enjoy!
Sandra
Perfect fall dessert. I know a lot of people who would love these!
Pumpkin bars are one of my favorite fall treats. That sweet pumpkin with the cream cheese frosting? MmmMMM. Heaven.
HIghly recommended! Tried this with my family and we all loved it!
These Pumpkin Bars would disappear in our house!
Such a fantastic fall treat! I can’t wait to try these! They look incredibly delicious!
I am in love with these pumpkin bars! They are absolutely amazing!
The combo of pumpkin and cream cheese is to die for! loved every bite!!!
The cream cheese icing alone makes it worth making this. Just save some for the bars1
I would like right now these pumpkin bars with a huge cup of tea! It looks amazing!
I’ve made these bars for my family! Everyone loved the texture!