Description
Soft, cake-like pumpkin bars topped with a luscious cream cheese frosting. These easy-to-make bars are packed with warm autumn spices and perfect for potlucks, holiday gatherings, or everyday fall treats.
Ingredients
2 cups all-purpose flour (240 grams) – Use high-quality flour for the best texture.
2 teaspoons baking powder (8 grams) – Don’t skip this; it raises your bars!
1 teaspoon baking soda (6 grams) – This balances out the acidity of the pumpkin.
½ teaspoon kosher salt – Enhances flavour.
1½ teaspoons ground cinnamon (5 grams) – The warm fall spice.
1½ teaspoons pumpkin pie spice (5 grams) – For that quintessential pumpkin flavour.
2 cups granulated sugar (400 grams) – Sweet as can be!
1 cup canola oil (100 grams) keeps your bars moist and flavorful.
4 large eggs (200 grams) – Room temperature eggs incorporate better.
15 ounces pumpkin puree (425 grams, 1 can) – Make sure it’s pure pumpkin, not pie filling.
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 15×10-inch jelly roll pan.
- In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, baking soda, salt, ginger, cloves, and nutmeg.
- In another bowl, beat eggs, pumpkin puree, and oil until well combined.
- Gradually add dry ingredients to wet ingredients, mixing just until incorporated.
- Spread batter evenly in prepared pan. Bake 25-30 minutes until toothpick comes out clean.
- Cool completely in pan on wire rack.
- Make frosting: Beat cream cheese and butter until smooth. Gradually add powdered sugar, then vanilla and cinnamon.
- Frost cooled bars. Cut into squares and serve.
Notes
- For cleaner cuts: Chill frosted bars 30 minutes before slicing
- Storage: Keep refrigerated up to 5 days due to frosting
- Make ahead: Bake bars 1 day ahead, frost before serving
- Nut variation: Add 1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts to batter
- Prep Time: 20 mins
- Cook Time: 30 mins
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 25g
- Sodium: 180mg
- Fat: 16g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 32g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 50mg