These Pumpkin Bars Combine The Best Parts Of Cake And Brownies In One Bite

Golden, tender, and full of autumn’s best flavors, pumpkin bars are the kind of dessert that make the whole kitchen smell like comfort.

Each square is rich with pumpkin and gentle spice, then topped with a cloud of creamy frosting that adds just the right sweetness.

They walk the line between cake and brownie – soft, moist, and impossible to resist.

Serve them at a fall gathering or keep them as your personal seasonal indulgence; either way, they’re the dessert that quietly steals the spotlight every single time.

Ingredients For The Bars

2 c.
all-purpose flour
1 tsp.
baking powder
1/2 tsp.
baking soda
1 tsp.
kosher salt
2 tsp.
cinnamon
1/4 tsp.
ground nutmeg
1/4 tsp.
ground ginger
3
large eggs
1 c.
vegetable oil
3/4 c.
lightly packed brown sugar
1/2 c.
granulated sugar
1
(15-oz.) can pumpkin puree

Ingredients For The Cream Cheese Frosting

1(8-oz.) block cream cheese, softened
1/2 c.
(1 stick) butter, softened
2 c.
confectioners’ sugar
1 tsp.
cinnamon
1 tsp.
pure vanilla extract
Pinch kosher salt

Preparing The Batter

Set your oven to 350°F and lightly coat a 9×13-inch baking pan with cooking spray.

In one large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger. In another bowl, combine the eggs, oil, both sugars, and pumpkin, whisking until smooth.

Gradually add the dry mixture to the wet, stirring only until everything is incorporated.

Transfer the batter to the prepared pan and bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Allow the cake to cool completely before serving or frosting.

Whip Up The Frosting

Meanwhile, prepare the frosting: In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese and butter with a hand mixer (or a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment) until light and fluffy.

Gradually mix in the confectioners’ sugar until smooth, then blend in the cinnamon, vanilla, and salt.

Spread the frosting evenly over the cooled bars using an offset spatula, then slice into squares for serving.

Storage

Your pumpkin bars will stay fresh for about 3 to 5 days when covered and refrigerated.

If you’re planning to make them ahead, hold off on the frosting until the day you serve them.

The unfrosted bars can be kept covered at room temperature for up to 3 days, or stored in the refrigerator for up to a week.