These Easy Pumpkin Bars are the perfect treat for autumn! Topped with a delicious cream cheese frosting and ready in 30 minutes, these may just become your favorite fall dessert.
In this Article:
Making these pumpkin bars is super easy! Simply mix all the ingredients in a stand up mixer, toss them in the oven, and then frost them with the delicious cream cheese frosting. That's all there is to it!
This recipe is perfect for a fall party because it's super quick and easy to prepare and makes enough for 20 people.
This pumpkin bar recipe is...
- Easy to make with simple ingredients.
- Ready in 30 minutes.
- A delicious fall dessert!
- An easy pumpkin dessert.
Serve these pumpkin bars with a mug of Coconut Milk Hot Chocolate or make it the ending to a cozy fall dinner like this hearty turkey chili.
How to Make Easy Pumpkin Bars
- Beat the eggs and sugar together. Add the oil.
- Add the pumpkin and beat.
- Sift the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, salt, baking soda together. Add to the wet ingredients.
- Pour the batter into a greased baking pan.
- Bake.
- Top with cream cheese frosting.
Scroll down for the full printable recipe with measurements and detailed instructions.
Tips & Tricks
Use a Stand Mixer
This recipe is easiest to make with a traditional stand mixer, as it really does the best job of creaming together the butter and sugar, and then beating the pumpkin mixture into a fluffy texture.
If you don't have a stand up mixer, you can use an electric hand mixer or mix by hand. A stand up mixer might just help you cut down on mixing time, though.
Canned Pumpkin
Be sure you are buying a canned pumpkin variety that has only one ingredient - pumpkin. You want the type that is just pureed pumpkin.
You do not want the type that is labeled pumpkin pie filling - that will have sweeteners and other ingredients already added. (I use this exact brand.)
Variations
Add Decorations
To make your pumpkin bars a little more festive, you can decorate them! Sprinkles are always an easy way to do this! You can use fall-colored sprinkles (yellow and orange) or use these adorable little leaf-shaped sprinkles.
You can also use Halloween candy to decorate, such as candy corn or pumpkin-shaped candy corn.
If you like nuts, try topping these pumpkin bars with crushed pecans.
Add Chocolate
I mean chocolate makes every dessert better, right? For something truly indulgent, try adding a drizzle of homemade chocolate ganache!
Storing & Freezing
Because of the cream cheese frosting, store leftover pumpkin bars in the refrigerator in an airtight container, such as a lidded 9x13 baking dish. If you need to stack them, put a sheet of parchment paper between the layers so the frosting doesn't smudge. Make sure the lid is on tight, since uncovered bars dry out quickly. They'll keep well for up to a week, and they taste best if you let them sit out for 10 to 15 minutes before serving.
To freeze pumpkin bars, cut them into squares and set them on a parchment-lined baking sheet in the freezer for about an hour, until the frosting is firm. Then wrap the squares individually or layer them in a freezer-safe container with parchment between each layer, and freeze for up to one month. Freezing the squares individually means you can pull out just one or two whenever a pumpkin craving strikes. Thaw them overnight in the refrigerator, or on the counter for about an hour, before serving.
FAQs
Do pumpkin bars need to be refrigerated?
If you're going to eat all the pumpkin bars in one sitting, you don't have to refrigerate them overnight. But, if you want them to last a little longer, they can be refrigerated for up to a week.
Do pumpkin bars freeze well?
Yep! You can freeze your pumpkin bars for up to a month. Before you eat them, make sure that you give them ample time to thaw, or you'll be biting into a pumpkin brick!
More Pumpkin Recipes
If you love these pumpkin bars, be sure to check out these other tasty recipes:
- Sweet & Savory Pumpkin Recipes
- The Best Pumpkin Desserts
- Pumpkin Snickerdoodle Cookies
- Pumpkin Donuts with Buttermilk Glaze
- Pumpkin Cheesecake Milkshake
Recipe
Easy Pumpkin Bars
Ingredients
BARS
- 4 eggs
- 1 ⅔ cups sugar
- 1 cup vegetable oil
- 16 oz pumpkin puree canned
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoon baking powder
- 2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
FROSTING
- 8 oz cream cheese softened
- 1 cup butter softened
- 2 teaspoon vanilla
- 4 cups powdered sugar
Instructions
BARS
- Beat the eggs and sugar together in a stand up mixer.
- Slowly add the oil.
- Add the pumpkin and beat until light and fluffy.
- Sift dry ingredients together.
- Slowly add to wet ingredients.
- Bake at 350°F for 20 minutes in a 12x16 ungreased cookie sheet.
- Cool completely before frosting.
FROSTING
- Beat cream cheese and butter with an electric mixer until soft and fluffy.
- Add the vanilla and beat.
- Add the powdered sugar one cup at a time and beat until very light and fluffy.
Nutrition
Nutrition details are an estimate, per serving.
Michelle says
Delicious! But with the name bar, I expected a more brownie your thickness. Mine came out very cake-like. I am at altitude so I'll play around with the next batch, also used only half the powdered sugar for frosting. We like less sweet cream cheese frosting, but oh so good! Thanks!
Moe says
I made these gluten free with 2 cups of Bob's Red Mill gluten free biscuit and baking mix and they are delicious!!! I plan to slice and freeze.
Grace H. says
Tastes very yummy and super easy to make! The simple ingredients were such a lifesaver compared to other pumpkin recipes! I would consider it more of a “cake” instead of “bars” though!
Alterations: I subbed 1 cup of oil for 1 cup of melted butter. I also had to bake mine for 40 minutes instead of 20 minutes. Not sure why!
(I didn’t make the frosting that was listed!)
Emily says
This was really delicious! We put mini chocolate chips in the batter and put a topping on instead of frosting! Yum! Perfect for a quick baked treat!
Kellen says
This was so freaking good - my new dessert for Thanksgiving.