Easy Holiday Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting

I love Christmas baking and I do a lot of it, but with my busy days I need recipes that are quick, delicious, and foolproof.

Luckily, I’ve found quite a few of those over the years, and these Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting are the perfect example!

pumpkin-bars-vertical

The fabulous thing about baking with pumpkin is that it creates a very moist and dense dessert that’s sure to satisfy the most discriminating sweet tooth…without a ton of sugar!

But despite the reasonable amount of sugar, these Pumpkin Bars have a rich flavor that kids and adults will both love.

As an added bonus, that means you can cut it into smaller pieces and still leave everyone satisfied!

These pumpkin bars can be eaten on their own, but they’re even better once you spread on a simple cream cheese frosting.

And for those that love a little crunch, just add a cup of chopped walnuts or pecans to the batter right before baking!

pumpin-bars-on-wooden-tray

Looking for more tasty pumpkin recipes? Try this Pumpkin Cream Cheese Roll for a show-stopping dessert that’s so easy to put together!

Or if you prefer pumpkin for breakfast, these Pumpkin White Chocolate Muffins are sure to impress.

After all, once fall weather arrives, there’s no better dessert or treat than one that features the sweet, moist flavor of pumpkin!

Pumpkin Bars Cream Cheese Frosting Pin
pumpkin-bars-with-cream-cheese-frosting

Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting

Yield: 54
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour

These easy and moist bars are full of rich pumpkin flavour with a delicious cream cheese frosting on top!

Ingredients

Pumpkin Bars:

  • 1 cup (250 mL) all purpose flour
  • 1 tsp (5 mL) cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp (1 mL) nutmeg
  • 1/4 tsp (1 mL) ginger
  • 1 tsp (5 mL) baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp (2 mL) baking soda
  • 1/4 tsp (1 mL) salt
  • 1/2 cup (125 mL) butter, softened
  • 1/2 cup (125 mL) granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup (125 mL) firmly packed brown sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 can (14 oz/398 mL) solid-pack pumpkin

Cream Cheese Frosting:

  • 1/2 cup (125 g) cream cheese, softened
  • 1/4 cup (50 mL) butter, softened
  • 1 tsp (5 mL) vanilla
  • 2 cups (500 mL) icing sugar

Instructions

    Pumpkin Bars

    1. Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C). Grease a 13×9-inch baking pan.
    2. Combine flour, spices, baking powder, baking soda and salt in medium bowl; set aside.
    3. Mix together butter and sugar in large bowl on medium-high speed of electric mixer until creamy.
    4. Add eggs one at a time, mixing until blended after each addition.
    5. Turn mixer to low; add pumpkin. Gradually blend in flour mixture.
    6. Spread into pan and bake for 40-45 minutes, until wooden pick inserted in center of cake comes out clean.
    7. Let cool completely before frosting.

    Cream Cheese Frosting

    1. Beat cream cheese and butter in small mixing bowl until smooth and creamy.
    2. Blend in vanilla.
    3. Gradually mix in icing sugar until fully combined.
    4. Spread over pumpkin bars and cut into squares

Notes

Freezes great!

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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 54 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 74Total Fat: 3.5gSaturated Fat: 2.2gTrans Fat: 0gCholesterol: 15mgSodium: 50mgCarbohydrates: 10.2gFiber: .3gSugar: 7.8gProtein: .7g

22 thoughts on “Easy Holiday Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting”

  1. Pumpkin is one of my favourites as well. But, for some reason I tend to forget about it once Halloween is over. I’ve been making gingerbread loaves this week, and of course I’ve been spraying my pans with PAM.

  2. Christine @MommyMatter

    I am an absolute pumpkin nut! I so want to make this and I too would have taken out raisins. I can only stomach raisins in tarts & oatmeal, beyond that NOT HAPPENING! I so wish I could make this right now. Hate not having any of my baking stuff with me.

      1. Christine @MommyMatter

        I bought some pillsbury cookie dough so I could do them at least. And of course purchased a Marie Callendar’s pie just because I wanted a pie that tasted homemade! When I get home, I will bake for weeks!

      1. Someone has to stick up for the silent minority. As an Arbiter of Justice, the RDL keeps an eye out on malicious acts towards Raisn-kind.

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