BEST Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting

A pumpkin bar with cream cheese frosting on a serving plate.

5 from 16 votes

BEST Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting

This pumpkin bar recipe is a family favorite! Light and moist pumpkin bars are covered in a homemade cream cheese frosting. The perfect fall dessert!

Prep Time15

Cook Time30

Inactive Time30

Total Time1 15

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Servings: Bars

Calories: 326kcal

Author: Meredith

Equipment

Ingredients

Pumpkin Bars

4 large eggs
1 Cup vegetable oil
2 Cup granulated sugar
1 , 15 ounce can pumpkin puree (NOT pumpkin pie filling)
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 + ¼ teaspoons cinnamon
¾ teaspoon salt
2 Cup all-purpose flour

Cream Cheese Frosting

8 ounces whipped cream cheese
½ Cup salted butter, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 Cup confectioners sugar (aka powdered sugar)
optional: pinch of salt

Instructions

Pumpkin Bars

Preheat the oven to 350°F and generously grease a 10"×15" cookie sheet or jelly roll pan with cooking spray and set aside.
Mix together ‘wet’ ingredients. In a large mixing bowl, beat eggs, oil, sugar, and pumpkin puree until combined.
Slowly beat the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until smooth. Option to mix all dry ingredients together in a separate bowl before doing this if desired.
Pour the pumpkin mixture into the greased jelly roll pan and spread into an even layer. Bake for 25-30 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.*
Allow to cool completely before frosting.

Cream Cheese Frosting

In a large bowl beat cream cheese and butter together until smooth.
Add in the vanilla extract, and confectioners sugar (½ Cup at a time) and continue to beat until smooth. If a thicker texture is desired, add an additional ¼ Cup confectioners sugar and beat until combined and smooth.

Frost and Serve

Spread the cream cheese frosting into an even layer over the cooled pumpkin bars.
Cut into squares, serve, and enjoy!

Video

Notes

Recipe Variations and Substitutions

If desired, add a sprinkle of cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice on top of the cream cheese frosting for an added pop of fall flavor (and a nice contrast to the white frosting for a pretty presentation). Remember, a little cinnamon (or pumpkin pie spice) goes a long way. Do not heavily coat your frosting with spices as they will be overpowering.
Use a regular block of cream cheese for the frosting. Be sure that it is softened at room temperature before being whipped with your other frosting ingredients for best results.
Use a 9x13 pan and make these into pumpkin cake bars. If a 9x13 pan is your only option, you can make these into pumpkin cake bars instead! To do so, you will need to cook your bars longer (closer to 45 mins – 1 hour) due to the depth of the batter in the pan.

*Two other ways you can determine if your bars are ready is when the edges spring back when touched or when the edges start to pull away from the side of the pan.

Nutrition