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    Home » Fall Favorite Recipes

    Pumpkin Bars Cream Cheese Frosting

    Published: Oct 30, 2019 · by Elizabeth Waterson · This post may contain affiliate links, which may pay me a small commission for my referral at no extra cost to you! Thank you for supporting Confessions of a Baking Queen!

    261 shares
    Jump to Recipe
    close up of a half eaten pumpkin bar with cream cheese frosting

    Pumpkin Bars frosted with a Cream Cheese Frosting are irresistible and super easy and quick to make! The perfect fall treat. Step-by-step photos help you make these tasty bars!

    pumpkin bars with cream cheese frosting on white plates on a grey background

    It's fall here in California.. at least that's what I keep telling myself but this damn weather here is not letting up! 85! My lord! Anyways I had some leftover pumpkin from my Pumpkin Pie Bars and decided to make some more bars. Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting to be exact!

    These bars were great as my sister put it " A super, super, super amazing-ness piece heaven in your mouth"

    They are so dense and moist.

    cream cheese frosted pumpkin bars in a white baking dish

    Let's get to the recipe.

    Jump to:
    • What are the ingredients for pumpkin bars?
    • How do you make pumpkin bars?
    • How to make Cream Cheese Frosting for Pumpkin Bars?
    • Looking for more Pumpkin Recipes? Try These:
    • Recipe Card
    • Recipe Ratings & Comments

    What are the ingredients for pumpkin bars?

    For the bar part of the recipe you'll need:

    • Greek Yogurt, plain or vanilla
    • Vegetable Oil
    • Large Eggs, at room temperature
    • Granulated/ Caster Sugar
    • Pure Pumpkin Puree
    • All-Purpose/ Plain Flour
    • Baking Powder and Baking Soda
    • Pumpkin Pie Spice
    • Salt

    I think everything is better with cream cheese frosting. In this frosting, I added a touch of pumpkin pie spice for fun. For the frosting recipe you'll need:

    • Cream Cheese and Unsalted Butter softened to room temperature, it's imperative that both are at room temperature so they can evenly combined and not be lumpy.
    • Confectioners/Powdered Sugar
    • Heavy Cream
    • Vanilla Extract
    • Pumpkin Pie Spice
    fork taking a bite of a pumpkin bar with cream cheese frosting

    How do you make pumpkin bars?

    Preheat oven to 350F/180C and grease an 8X8 or 9X9 baking pan.

    In a large bowl with an electric mixer or whisk combine the oil, greek yogurt, eggs, sugar, and pumpkin puree, mixing until evenly combined.

    pumpkin bar wet ingredients in a large glass bowl

    In a small bowl whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, pumpkin pie spice, and salt.

    dry ingredients for a pumpkin bar in a large glass bowl

    Mix dry ingredients into the wet batter just until fully combined.

    pumpkin bar batter in a large glass bowl

    Pour into pan and bake for 35-45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean (no wet batter).

    pumpkin bar batter in a white ceramic baking dish

    Let cool on a wire rack for at least 45 minutes.

    pumpkin bars cooling in the pan

    Once the bars are completely cooled begin making the frosting.

    How to make Cream Cheese Frosting for Pumpkin Bars?

    In a large bowl sift the powdered sugar to eliminate a lumpy frosting.

    In the bowl of an electric mixer combine cream cheese, butter, and pumpkin pie spice until light and fluffy (2-3 minutes).

    Powdered sugar sifted into a bowl and butter and cream cheese in a metal bowl

    Add in sifted powdered sugar, heavy cream, and vanilla. Beat on low until powdered sugar is combined then turn the speed up to high and beat for another 3-5 minutes.

    cream cheese and butter frosting in a metal bowl_

    The frosting should be very light and fluffy.

    cream cheese frosting in a metal bowl

    Use an angled spatula spread the frosting over cooled bars. Store bars in the fridge for up to 5 days.

    hand spreading cream cheese frosting on pumpkin bars

    Due to the cream cheese frosting, the bars are best stored in the refrigerator, they are good for up to 5 days.

    close up of a half eaten pumpkin bar with cream cheese frosting

    I have no personally doubled the recipe but would assume doubling the recipe would be just fine!

    Looking for more Pumpkin Recipes? Try These:

    • Chewy Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies
    • Cream Cheese Pumpkin Bread
    • Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins
    • Pumpkin Pie Bars
    • Fluffy Pumpkin Pancakes
    pumpkin bars with cream cheese frosting in a white ceramic dish

    ★★★★★ Please let me know if you make this recipe by leaving a star rating and comment below!

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    Recipe Card

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    pumpkin bars with cream cheese frosting on white plates on a grey background

    Pumpkin Bars w/ Cream Cheese Frosting

    ★★★★

    4 from 1 review

    Print Recipe
    Pin Recipe

    Pumpkin Bars frosted with a Cream Cheese Frosting are irresistible and super easy and quick to make! The perfect fall treat. Step-by-step photos help you make these tasty bars!

     

    • Total Time: 55 mins
    • Yield: 12 1x

    Ingredients

    Units Scale

    Pumpkin Bars

    • 2oz (¼ Cup) Greek Yogurt, plain or vanilla
    • 2oz (¼ Cup) Vegetable Oil
    • 2 Large Eggs, at room temperature
    • 150 grams (¾ Cup) Granulated/ Caster Sugar
    • 8oz (1 Cup) Pure Pumpkin Puree
    • 125 grams (1 Cup) All-Purpose/ Plain Flour
    • 1 Teaspoon Baking Powder
    • ½ Teaspoon Baking Soda
    • 2 Teaspoon Pumpkin Pie Spice
    • ½ Teaspoon Salt

    Cream Cheese Frosting

    • 4oz Cream Cheese, softened to room temperature
    • 2oz (¼ Cup) Unsalted Butter, softened to room temperature
    • 250-313 grams (2-2 ½ Cups) Confectioners/Powdered Sugar
    • 1 Tablespoon Heavy Cream
    • 1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract

    Instructions

    1. Preheat oven to 350F/180C and grease an 8X8 or 9X9 baking pan.
    2. In a large bowl with an electric mixer or whisk combine the oil, greek yogurt, eggs, sugar, and pumpkin puree, mixing until evenly combined.
    3. In a small bowl whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, pumpkin pie spice, and salt.
    4. Mix dry ingredients into the wet batter just until fully combined.
    5. Pour into pan and bake for 35-45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean (no wet batter). Let cool on a wire rack for at least 45 minutes.
    6. Once the bars are completely cooled begin making the frosting.

    Cream Cheese Frosting

    1. In the bowl of an electric mixer combine cream cheese, butter, and pumpkin pie spice until light and fluffy (2-3 minutes).
    2. Add in sifted powdered sugar, heavy cream, and vanilla. Beat on low until powdered sugar is combined then turn the speed up to high and beat for another 3-5 minutes, until very light and fluffy. Use an angled spatula spread the frosting over cooled bars. Store bars in the fridge for up to 5 days.

    Equipment

    fat daddios 8 inch square cake pan

    8 Inch Square Baking Pan

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    kitchen aid cordless hand mixer

    Cordless Hand Mixer

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    small angled spatula

    Small Angled Spatula

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    kitchen aid stand mixer

    KitchenAid Stand Mixer 6 Quart

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    9 inch square pan

    9-inch square pan

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    oxo food scale

    OXO Kitchen Scale

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    Notes

    When I put the bars in the oven to bake I take the cream cheese and butter out to come to room temperature.

    • Author: Elizabeth Waterson I Confessions of a Baking Queen
    • Prep Time: 10 mins
    • Cook Time: 45 mins
    • Category: Dessert
    • Method: Baking
    • Cuisine: American

    Keywords: pumpkin bars, pumpkin and cream cheese, pumpkin dessert bars

    Did you make this recipe?

    Tag @confessionsofabakingqueen on Instagram and hashtag it #cbqbakes

    Recipe Card powered byTasty Recipes

    This post was originally published November 7, 2012, as of October 28, 2019, the text and photos have been updated.

    pumpkin bar with cream cheese frosting close up on a white plate

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    1. sally @ sallys baking addiction says

      November 14, 2012 at 5:36 pm

      in my world, there is no better combination that cream cheese and pumpkin. honestly!! i love the two paired together. i made pumpkin bars this b=past weekend and am kicking myself for not making CC frosting!!

      Reply
      • Elizabeth says

        November 15, 2012 at 6:18 pm

        Cream Cheese frosting makes everything better!! 🙂

        Reply
    2. Tahny says

      February 21, 2013 at 8:10 pm

      This recipe looks delish!

      Reply
      • Elizabeth says

        February 21, 2013 at 9:04 pm

        Thank you it is one of my sisters favorite! How can you not love anything with cream cheese frosting? LOL

        Reply
    3. Sydney says

      October 03, 2020 at 2:28 pm

      Definitely would say this is more of a cake rather than a bar. But still good!

      ★★★★

      Reply
      • Elizabeth Waterson says

        October 03, 2020 at 3:44 pm

        Thanks so much for coming back to review the recipe Sydney, the texture is definitely cake-like, not like a chewy texture at all. I am so pleased you enjoyed the bars though!! Take care. XX Liz

        Reply

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    Hiya! I am Elizabeth Waterson, welcome to my treat-filled site. After spending 15 years in the restaurant industry and growing up baking, I wanted to share my love of baking with you all. My step-by-step tutorials will help you learn how to bake at home. Confessions of a Baking Queen (CBQ) has been featured in CBS LA, HuffPost Taste, BuzzFeed, Taste of Home, and more! Here you will find loads of sweet recipes with a few savory ones for good measure. Feel free to message me with any questions! Happy Baking! 

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