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A pumpkin bar with cream cheese frosting and a sprinkle of cinnamon on a serving plate with a fork. Sliced pumpkin bars on a bakers rack are in the background.
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Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting

No fail, moist pumpkin bars with tangy cream cheese frosting. Easy, make-ahead friendly, and tested at high altitude in a cozy Mt. Hood cabin kitchen.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Total Time45 minutes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Servings: 24 Bars
Calories: 6424kcal
Author: Heather Hupfer, The Seasoned Cabin

Equipment

  • 1 Mixer hand or stand mixer works
  • 1 10 X 15 inch/ 4.8 quart baking dish

Ingredients

Pumpkin Bars

  • 1 2/3 cup Granulated Sugar
  • 1 cup Neutral Vegetable Oil
  • 4 large Eggs
  • 1 15 oz can Pumpkin Puree
  • 2 cups All-purpose Flour
  • 2 teaspoons Baking Powder
  • 1 teaspoon Baking Soda
  • 2 teaspoon Cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon Salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon Nutmeg

Cream Cheese Frosting

  • 1 8 Ounce Block Cream Cheese
  • 1/2 Cup Unsalted Butter
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
  • 2 1/2 Cups Powdered Sugar

Instructions

Pumpkin Bars

  • Pre-heat oven to 350°F.
  • In large bowl mix sugar, oil, eggs and pumpkin puree together well.
  • In a medium bowl, mix or sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, salt, and nutmeg.
  • Add dry ingredients to pumpkin mixture and mix thoroughly.
  • Pour into an ungreased 10 X 15-inch baking dish.
  • Bake at 350F for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
  • Let cool.

Cream Cheese Frosting

  • Let cream cheese and butter come to room temperature.
  • Cream butter, then add cream cheese and beat until fluffy.
  • Mix in vanilla.
  • Add powdered sugar and mix on low until smooth.
  • Use a spatula to distribute mounds of frosting over the top of the pumpkin bars. Use spatula to gently smooth the frosting across the top of the pumpkin bars.
  • Cut into squares or bars and serve.

Notes

  • I use avocado oil (or olive oil) for a tender texture and subtle flavor. Any neutral vegetable oil works.
  • Use fine sea salt for even distribution and balanced sweetness.
  • The cream cheese frosting is lightly sweetened—add more powdered sugar if you prefer it sweeter or thicker.
  • Let the bars cool completely, approximately 1-2 hours, before frosting to prevent melting.

Nutrition

Serving: 1Bar | Calories: 6424kcal | Carbohydrates: 830g | Protein: 52g | Fat: 333g | Saturated Fat: 90g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 38g | Monounsaturated Fat: 185g | Trans Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 989mg | Sodium: 4583mg | Potassium: 616mg | Fiber: 9g | Sugar: 629g | Vitamin A: 4102IU | Vitamin C: 0.2mg | Calcium: 697mg | Iron: 17mg
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