Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting

These Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting are a cozy fall dessert that delivers big flavor with minimal effort. Incredibly soft, perfectly spiced, and topped with a rich, creamy frosting, they’re everything you love about pumpkin season in one bite. Whether you're baking for a holiday, potluck, or just a chilly weekend at home, these bars are always a crowd-pleaser.
Made with real pumpkin puree and warm spices like cinnamon and nutmeg, the bars stay moist and tender. The silky cream cheese frosting adds just the right touch of sweetness and tang, making every bite irresistible. They're easy to bake ahead, store well, and are just as delicious straight from the fridge as they are at room temp.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Chill Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings: 20 bars

Ingredients
For the Pumpkin Bars:

1 cup vegetable oil
4 large eggs
2 cups granulated sugar
1 (15 oz) can pumpkin puree
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
½ tsp salt
2 tsp ground cinnamon
½ tsp ground nutmeg

For the Cream Cheese Frosting:

8 oz block cream cheese, softened
½ cup unsalted butter, softened
2 cups powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9x13-inch baking pan.
In a large bowl, beat together the oil, eggs, sugar, and pumpkin until smooth.
Sift in flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Mix until well combined.
Pour batter into the prepared pan and spread evenly. Bake for 25–30 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Let cool completely.
In a medium bowl, beat cream cheese and butter until fluffy. Add powdered sugar and vanilla, and beat until smooth.
Spread frosting over cooled pumpkin bars. Chill in the fridge for at least 30 minutes before cutting into squares.
Serving Suggestion: Serve chilled or at room temperature with a dusting of cinnamon on top and a warm cup of coffee or chai latte.

Tips:

For a fall twist, top with chopped pecans or a light drizzle of maple syrup before serving.
You can use a hand mixer or stand mixer for smoother frosting texture.
These bars can be frozen for up to 2 months, frosted or unfrosted.

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🖨️ Printable recipe/ Download PDF