These pumpkin bars with cream cheese frosting are soft, moist and full of pumpkin flavor. The best fall treat!
This fall dessert might be my favorite, although I also love mini pumpkin pies, pumpkin cookies with cream cheese frosting and pumpkin chocolate chip cookies.
Table of Contents
Best Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting
One of my all-time favorite pumpkin recipes is pumpkin bars with cream cheese frosting. If you’re looking for an easy homemade recipe from scratch, look no further than this classic!
I got this recipe when I first got married and it’s very similar to the version by Paula Deen. I make them every year along with my favorite pumpkin lasagna dessert and easy pumpkin pie bars
Why I Love This Recipe
- The perfect texture. What makes these the best pumpkin bars you’ve ever tried is the super soft, moist, and fluffy texture thanks to the pumpkin puree and oil.
- A creamy finish. The cream cheese frosting is what takes these easy pumpkin bars to the next level. It adds a creamy, sweet, rich, and tangy flavor that everyone loves!
Recipe Ingredients
Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.
- Baking staples: All-purpose flour, granulated sugar, eggs, baking powder, baking soda, salt and vanilla extract.
- Pumpkin: It’s important to use 100% pure pumpkin puree with no extra sweetener or spices. This is different from the canned pumpkin pie filling which is not the correct type to use.
- Oil: Using vegetable oil instead of butter will give these bars a super moist and tender texture.
- Spices: Cinnamon and pumpkin pie spice for a warm, fall flavor. Feel free to add more or less depending on how much spice you like.
- Frosting: The best pumpkin bars are topped with a luscious cream cheese frosting! Made with cream cheese, butter, vanilla, and powdered sugar.
How to Make Pumpkin Bars
In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, and salt.
Using a mixer, combine wet ingredients first, then slowly add in the dry ingredients.
Spread the batter out evenly into a greased jelly roll baking dish.
Bake in the oven at 350°F for about 25 minutes, just until lightly browned. You do not want to burn them. Then allow the pumpkin bars to cool.
Cream together the frosting ingredients until the mixture is smooth and creamy with no lumps.
Use an offset spatula to spread the cream cheese frosting on top of the cooled pumpkin bars. Frosting the bars too soon will have the frosting slide off or melt.
Slice into squares, decorate or garnish with whipped cream and enjoy!
Pro Tips and Variations
- Thicker bars. You can use a smaller 9×13″ prepared pan for thicker bars if preferred. You’ll need to cook them longer, about 30 to 35 minutes.
- Sifting. I find that sifting the flour and spices together makes these bars extra fluffy.
- Fluffier. For a lighter, fluffier pumpkin bar use 1/2 cup applesauce and 1/2 cup oil.
- More spice. Sometimes I mix in other fall spices like ginger or cloves, as I do in this gingerbread bars recipe.
- Chill before serving. I like to refrigerate the dessert before serving so that the frosting has time to set.
- Frosting: A sour cream frosting, cinnamon cream cheese frosting, or maple cream cheese frosting would also taste delicious on top of the pumpkin bars.
- Decorate. My kids love to decorate them with candy corn and pumpkins on top. You can always sprinkle a little cinnamon or nutmeg on top as well. Seriously so delicious!
Love pumpkin dessert recipes? Try this pumpkin cheesecake bars recipe, pumpkin spice cupcakes and pumpkin dump cake, too!
More Pumpkin Dessert Recipes
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Pumpkin Bars
Video
Ingredients
Bars
- 4 large eggs
- 1 ⅔ cups (340 g) granulated sugar
- 1 cup vegetable oil , see notes
- 1 (15-ounce) can pumpkin puree , I prefer Libby's
- 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 cups (275 g) all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice , add an extra 1/2 teaspoon if you like spice
- 1 teaspoon salt
Cream Cheese Frosting
- 6 ounces cream cheese , softened
- ½ cup salted butter , softened
- 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 cups powdered sugar
Optional toppings: Cinnamon, Pumpkin pie spice, Candy pumpkins
Instructions
Bars
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Butter a 15×10" jelly roll pan and set aside.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat 4 eggs, 1 2/3 cup sugar, 1 cup oil, 1 can pumpkin puree, and 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla just until combined.
- In a medium bowl, sift together 2 cups flour, 2 teaspoons baking powder, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 2 teaspoons cinnamon, 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice, and 1 teaspoon salt.
- Mix the flour mixture into the pumpkin mixture until just combined. Spread the batter evenly into the pan.
- Bake for 25 minutes, or until lightly browned and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let cool completely.
Cream Cheese Frosting
- In a large bowl, cream together 6 ounces cream cheese, 1/2 cup butter, and 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla with an electric mixer. Gradually add 2 cups powdered sugar. Beat until smooth and creamy. Add a pinch of salt and cinnamon, if desired.
- Spread frosting on top of the pumpkin bars with a spatula. Sprinkle with extra cinnamon or pumpkin spice, if desired.
- Slice into squares. Top with a candy pumpkin, if desired.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
Recipe FAQs
There are so many ways to jazz these up for any fall occasion. For something simple, I might sprinkle pumpkin pie spice or cinnamon over the top. I also love to top each bar with a candy pumpkin, candy corn, nuts or fall sprinkles to make them feel really special.
No need to worry, you can make it at home with just 4 spices I am sure you have on hand. This is my favorite pumpkin pie spice recipe to use.
Cover the bars with a lid or plastic wrap. They will stay fresh for 3 to 5 days covered in the refrigerator.
Yes, if you are planning on freezing them, I would recommend freezing without the cream cheese frosting and then adding that fresh. Let the bars cool completely, then wrap and place in a freezer bag or airtight container. Store in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw when ready to serve and add frosting.
Categorized as: American, Bars, Desserts, Thanksgiving
Jamielyn Nye is the founder and recipe creator at I Heart Naptime. She is the author of the I Heart Naptime Cookbook and shares easy family-friendly recipes and desserts for every occasion.
Can I use pure pumpkin
Yes, you’ll just need to pat it down with paper towels to remove the excess moisture.
I love this recipe and make it every year. I just found out a friend of mine is GF. I was wondering if you know how I could make it GF.
So glad you love the pumpkin bars recipe! You could use a 1 to 1 or cup 4 cup gluten free flour as a substitute and measure out the same.
My adult children requested Pumpkin Bars for Thanksgiving this year so I googled it and went through several recipes and decided on this one. I have to say they were a big hit and my youngest daughter said they definitely win out over pumpkin pie for her. I will be on the menu for next year.
“It will be on next years menu!”
I’m so glad to hear they were a hit! Thanks for the review Deana :)
Awesome recipe!
Made this as quickly as possible. I needed a last minute dessert for a party. Forgot to butter my ceramic dish also. The bars were delish. They were perfect, the icing too. Yum & yum again!!
I’m so glad the recipe was a success for you, Susan! :)
I love the addition of the candy corn pumpkin on top as well, sooo adorable! thank you so much for sharing this cake recipe
These bars turned out so fluffy, with the right amount of sweetness and spice, and the kids loved them! Thank you!
Happy to hear they were a hit!
Super loved this, really flavorful and very easy to make! Great recipe and highly recommended!
So happy to hear you loved the recipe, Allyssa :)
I love the cream cheese frosting topping! So excited to try this again for our next family gathering. YUM!
The frosting is our favorite too! :)
Honestly the BEST pumpkin bars ever! I loved the cream cheese frosting on top too! I’ve made them with chocolate chips mixed in and that was delicious as well!
Love adding chocolate chips too! So happy to hear they were a success, Eva :)
One of our favorites! I make them every year, now, though I somehow got in the habit of making them with whole wheat flour. They’re heavenly!
So happy to hear they are a fall staple for you, Glenda!
I make these every year! I’ve made 3 changes over the years. 1. I use butter not oil 2. I use 3/4 c white sugar and 3/4 cup brown sugar. 3. I use a tablespoon of cinnamon. It makes them more rich tasting.
Thanks for sharing your substitutions, June! Glad to hear you make them on a yearly basis :)
Great recipe! Wondering if I could make mini cupcakes with it instead of bars?
I haven’t tried, but that should work. I would cook about half the time and check with a toothpick for doneness.
I have made these several times for the mechanics who maintain our school buses and am making some right now for my school bus driving compadres, the mechanics love them and so do I🥰
Love to hear that! Thank you for sharing, Julie :)
These are so yummy! They were both tender and fluffy.
I’m so glad you enjoyed them, Morgan :)
The best bars ever. I want to make a 8inch round Layer cake with the recipe. Do I need to add anything? Is this enough batter?
I haven’t tried to make a layered cake with this recipe. My guess is it would make a 2 layer cake. If you wanted more layers, you could double it.
looks good
These bars are amazing! I didn’t have a jelly roll pan so I used a cookie sheet instead at the same temperature and for the same time. The cake is delicious and so is the frosting. I recommend adding 1 tsp of cinnamon or sprinkling some on top. I definitely recommend this recipe!