This is one of my favorite easy Fall desserts! Pumpkin Bars With Cream Cheese Frosting are a moist, light, and fluffy pumpkin sheet cake topped with a delicious cream cheese frosting. Pumpkin bars are one of the most requested pumpkin recipes in our house this time of the year. They are perfect for serving to guests or sharing with all of your neighbors.
When it come to baking I can’t get enough of all the delicious Fall treats that we all enjoy this time of the year. Pumpkin Bars With Cream Cheese Frosting don’t last long in our home. I can barely get them frosted before I have kids begging for a slice. Pumpkin squares are the perfect dessert to take to any get together, and will be requested time and time again. If you love these pumpkin dessert bars, you are going to love our Pumpkin Whoopie Pies and The Best Pumpkin Roll Recipe.
Ingredients for Pumpkin Bars With Cream Cheese Frosting
- All Purpose Flour: Is suitable for all types of baked goods. If you prefer to use almond flour, add an extra egg to your batter.
- Baking Powder: Is used to increase the volume and lighten the texture of baked goods.
- Baking Soda: Is added to neutralize the acids in the recipe plus to add tenderness and some leavening.
- Cinnamon: Cinnamon is a staple ingredient in Fall desserts.
- Salt: Salt is used in baked goods to enhance the flavors of other ingredients.
- Eggs: Eggs can provide structure, leavening, richness, color, and flavor to baked products
- Sugar: I used white sugar in this recipe, but you can use half white sugar and half brown sugar.
- Vegetable Oil: Used in baked goods will keep them moist. To make the recipe healthier, you can substitute unsweetened applesauce for the oil.
- Pumpkin Puree: I like to use Libby’s canned pumpkin puree when I bake pumpkin recipes.
- Cream Cheese: Allow cream cheese to become completely softened before use.
- Unsalted Butter: Unsalted butter allows you to control the salt content in a recipe. Allow butter to be softened before use.
- Vanilla: I prefer to use pure vanilla while I am baking.
- Powdered Sugar: This recipe calls for 5-6 cups of powdered sugar. Add 1 cup at a time until frosting becomes smooth.
How to make the best pumpkin bars
- Preheat oven to 350F and prepare a 17×12 jelly roll pan by lining it with parchment paper. Set aside.
- In a medium size mixing bowl add flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, salt, and whisk ingredients together until combined.
- In a large mixing bowl beat eggs, sugar, oil, and pumpkin puree until light and fluffy.
- Add dry ingredients into the wet ingredients and beat with a hand mixer until fully combined.
- Pour batter evenly into a prepared sheet pan and bake in a preheated oven for 20-25 minutes or until the edges begin to brown and a toothpick comes out clean when inserted.
- Cool Pumpkin bars completely before adding frosting.
How to make cream cheese frosting
- Combine softened cream cheese, softened butter, and vanilla. Beat ingredients with a hand mixer until fully combined. Add powdered sugar 1 cup at a time until frosting becomes smooth.
- Spread cream cheese frosting evenly on top of the cooled pumpkin bars.
- Cut bars into 24-32 squares. Serve and Enjoy!
How to store pumpkin bars
If this pumpkin dessert lasts long enough to store, place them in an air tight container on the counter for up to 3 days. You can also store them covered in the fridge for 3-4 days, however these pumpkin dessert bars are best when they are brought to room temperature before serving.
Can I freeze pumpkin bars
Yes, you can make and freeze pumpkin squares to serve at a later time. Simply prepare the pumpkin bars according to the directions, but do not prepare the frosting. Let the cake cool from the oven and wrap tightly with saran wrap. When you are ready to serve, thaw the cake, prepare the frosting, and serve.
Pumpkin Bars With Cream Cheese Frosting
Ingredients
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 2 tsp. baking powder
- 1 tsp. baking soda
- 2 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
- 1 tsp. salt
- 4 eggs
- 1 2/3 cup sugar
- 1 cup vegetable oil, (substitute with applesauce for a healthier version)
- 1 can pumpkin puree
Cream Cheese Frosting
- 8 oz., cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2 tsp. vanilla
- 5-6 cups powdered sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F and line a 17×12 inch sheet pan with parchment paper.
- In a medium size mixing bowl add flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, salt, and whisk ingredients together until combined.
- In a large mixing bowl beat eggs, sugar, oil, and pumpkin puree until light and fluffy.
- Add dry ingredients into the wet ingredients and beat with a hand mixer until fully combined.
- Pour batter evenly into a prepared sheet pan and bake in a preheated oven for 20-25 minutes or until the edges begin to brown and a toothpick comes out clean when inserted.
- Cool Pumpkin bars completely before adding frosting.
Cream Cheese Frosting
- Combine softened cream cheese, softened butter, and vanilla. Beat ingredients with a hand mixer until fully combined. Add powdered sugar 1 cup at a time until frosting becomes smooth.
- Spread cream cheese frosting evenly on top of the cooled pumpkin bars.
- Cut bars into 24-32 squares. Serve and Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Have you tried this recipe?
RATE and COMMENT below! I would love to hear your experience. Getting feedback from you helps me and other readers too!
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These pumpkin bars with cream cheese frosting look so moist and fluffy! I bet they’re even better than pumpkin pie! A perfect fall treat!
So much better than pumpkin pie in my opinion!
Man these sound incredible! I can’t wait to give them a try!
I can’t wait to hear what you think!
These came out so moist and the frosting is amazing!
That’s great to hear! The frosting is my favorite part.
These bars were so good! they were gone in no time. I’ll make a double batch next time.
Im so glad you enjoyed them!
What size pumpkin puree did you use? 29 oz or smaller? Love pumpkin bars & can’t wait to make these!
Hi Mary, you will only need one cup of pumpkin puree for this recipe. I usually buy the 15 oz. can, and save the leftovers in the fridge for another recipe. Hope this helps.