Delicious Pumpkin Bars Recipe

As the crisp air of autumn arrives and leaves begin to don their golden hues, there’s no better time to embrace the warm and comforting flavors of the season. Enter these delectable homemade pumpkin bars, a delightful treat that captures the essence of fall in every bite. Bursting with the rich and earthy notes of pumpkin, complemented by a medley of aromatic spices, these bars are the epitome of cozy indulgence.

Whether you’re looking for a dessert to share at a family gathering, a sweet treat for a holiday celebration, or simply a satisfying snack to enjoy with a warm cup of tea, these pumpkin bars are sure to be a crowd-pleaser. Soft, moist, and generously frosted with a luscious cream cheese icing, they embody the very essence of autumn comfort food.

In this recipe, we’ll guide you through the steps to create these scrumptious pumpkin bars from scratch. So, preheat your oven, gather your ingredients, and prepare to embark on a culinary journey that will fill your home with the irresistible aroma of fall spices and leave your taste buds craving more. Let’s get started on making these mouthwatering pumpkin bars that are sure to become a seasonal favorite!

Ingredients:

For the Bars:

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup canned pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling)
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the Cream Cheese Frosting:

8 oz (1 package) cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
4 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions:

For the Pumpkin Bars:

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9×13-inch baking pan or line it with parchment paper for easy removal.
In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. Set this dry ingredient mixture aside.
In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy, using an electric mixer.
Add the canned pumpkin puree, eggs, and vanilla extract to the butter-sugar mixture. Beat until well combined.
Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet ingredients and mix until just combined. Be careful not to overmix; you want the batter to be smooth, but overmixing can make the bars tough.
Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan, spreading it evenly.
Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, and the bars have a nice golden color.
Remove the pan from the oven and allow the bars to cool completely in the pan on a wire rack before frosting.

For the Cream Cheese Frosting:

In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened cream cheese and softened butter together until creamy and well combined.
Add the powdered sugar and vanilla extract and beat until the frosting is smooth and fluffy.

Assembly:

Once the pumpkin bars have cooled completely, spread the cream cheese frosting evenly over the top.
Cut the bars into squares or rectangles.
Optionally, sprinkle a pinch of ground cinnamon or nutmeg over the frosted bars for extra flavor and decoration.
Serve and enjoy your delicious homemade pumpkin bars! Store any leftovers in the refrigerator.