Published October 25, 2021.This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.
These deliciously easy-to-make pumpkin bars are topped off with an incredible cream cheese frosting for the perfect fall dessert.
We are big-time dessert fans in this house and always like to finish off our meal with a sweet. If you are looking to expand your dessert recipe repertoire then definitely try my Blueberry Crostata or Pound Cake.
Pumpkin Bars
Pumpkin bars are a delicious seasonal dessert consisting of a base layer of “pumpkin” style cake and is commonly topped off with a cream cheese frosting. They are jam-packed with pumpkin flavor and are always a big hit during the fall months. Pumpkin bars are very easy to make and can be served warm or at room temperature.
Is It the Same as Pumpkin Cake?
Pumpkin bars are very similar to pumpkin cake and absolutely share the same flavor profiles. I like to think of pumpkin bars as almost like a sheet cake. It’s thin, a little denser, but still has some cake-like consistencies.
How to Make Homemade Pumpkin Bars
Follow these easy-to-make instructions for preparing an amazing homemade pumpkin bars recipe:
In a large bowl whisk together all the dry ingredients including the pumpkin pie spice blend and set aside.
Next, in a medium-size bowl whisk together the wet ingredients until completely combined.
Vigorously whisk the wet ingredients into the bowl with the dry ingredients until mixed and smooth.
Generously spread the batter all over a 10×15 cookie sheet tray with parchment paper that has also been sprayed with non-stick spray.
Bake in the oven until it becomes firm in the center, or when it reaches 200° internally.
Remove the cake and cool it completely on a resting rack. You can serve this warm if you’d like. Evenly spread the cream cheese frosting over the top.
Add on any additional toppings, slice, and serve.
Make-Ahead and Storage
Make-Ahead: You can make this up to 2 days ahead of time.
How to Store: Carefully cover and keep in the refrigerator for up to 6 days. Cover and freeze for up to 3 months. It would be better if the cake was not frosted before freezing.
chef notes + tips
- I prefer to pull it out of the refrigerator for about an hour before slicing and serving it, so the cream cheese frosting softens up a bit.
- Feel free to add assorted seasonal toppings like candy corns or other Halloween-themed decorations.
- You may also add chocolate chips, currants, raisins, or walnuts into the cake batter for enhanced flavor.
More Dessert Recipes
- Funnel Cake
- Tres Leches
- Pumpkin Roll
- S Cookies
- Clafoutis
Be sure to follow me onFacebook,YouTube,Instagram,andPinterest,and if you’ve had a chance to make this then definitely drop me a comment and a rating below!
Video
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Amazing Homemade Pumpkin Bars Recipe
5 from 8 votes
These deliciously easy-to-make pumpkin bars are topped off with an incredible cream cheese frosting for the perfect fall dessert.
Servings: 16
Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes minutes
Ingredients
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 2 ½ teaspoons pumpkin pie spice blend
- 4 large eggs
- 1 ¼ cup vegetable oil
- 15 ounce can pumpkin puree
- 1 cup packed light brown sugar
- 2/3 cup sugar
- 1 stick melted unsalted butter
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- cream cheese frosting recipe x 1 ½
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 350°.
In a large bowl whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and spice blend until combined and set aside.
Whisk together the eggs, oil, pumpkin puree, sugars, butter, and vanilla in a separate large bowl until completely mixed.
Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredient bowl and mix until combined and smooth.
Pour the batter onto a 10×15 cookie sheet tray that has been lined with parchment paper and sprayed with non-stick spray and spread out until even.
Bake in the oven at 350° for 20-25 minutes or until firm in the center and a toothpick comes out clean after sticking in the center.
Cool the cake completely on a rack, which takes about 45 minutes, you can keep this warm, but the frosting will melt a bit.
Generously frost the cake with the cream cheese frosting, slice, and serve.
Notes
Make-Ahead: You can make this up to 2 days ahead of time.
How to Store: Carefully cover and keep in the refrigerator for up to 6 days. Cover and freeze for up to 3 months. It would be better if the cake was not frosted before freezing.
I prefer to pull it out of the refrigerator for about an hour before slicing and serving it, so the cream cheese frosting softens up a bit.
Feel free to add assorted seasonal toppings like candy corns or other Halloween-themed decorations.
You may also add chocolate chips or walnuts into the cake batter for enhanced flavor.
Nutrition
Calories: 197kcalCarbohydrates: 42gProtein: 4gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 41mgSodium: 90mgPotassium: 165mgFiber: 1gSugar: 23gVitamin A: 4197IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 50mgIron: 2mg
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Author: Chef Billy Parisi
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20 comments
- Betty Laha
These are delicious. I made a double batch to share with my neighbors, husbands Firefighter co-workers.
- Reply
- Sharon
Making these bars for the first time. It was easy enough to put together but my phone kept turning off..LOL causing me to have to remeasure. However I’m sure they’ll turn out great! Yhank you for the recipe…
- Reply
- Lisa Price
Making these right now. Can’t wait to eat them.
- Reply
- Chef Billy Parisi
Thanks!
- Reply
- Chef Billy Parisi
Thanks!
- Reply
- Nancy
THE best pumpkin squares EVER.
- Reply
- Heather Malkus
I doubled recipe and made in a half sheet cake pan, to take to bowling tomorrow, still baking in oven, but looks beautiful, very easy recipe
- Reply
- Maria Zoltowski
What would be the baking time for a 9 x 13 pan?
- Reply
- Cara Derochie
Never made bars on a sheet pan but they look big enough when you cut them, as I thought they would be quite thin, so could you make them in a 9×9 or 8×8 pan but you would have to adust the temp and time!
- Reply
- donna genova
Can this recipe be made in a loaf pan?
- Reply
- Sonia Delarosa
Well I did like the recipe, but as I live in Gibraltar, Europe, the butter don’t know exactly how much in ozs, please, you said a stick of butter but how much it is in ozs please, thanks in advance
- Reply
- Del
So if you are using cup measures you could pack the butter into a measuring cup or below is a ready reckoner which may help if you have scales. 1 stick butter = 8 tablespoons = 1/2 cup = 4 ounces/110g. 2 sticks butter = 1 cup = 8 ounces/225g. BTW, loved your little country.
- Reply
- Jill Green
That would be 1/2 cup, or 4oz, or 8 Tablespoons.
Hope this helps.- Reply
- Dianne Roy
Easy & delicious.
- Reply
yes!
- Reply
- Marilyn
These are divine! I just replaced a recipe that I used for 15 years for this one. The flavor of the pumpkin bars is the best I’ve made or had! I used a different recipe for the frosting, just my personal taste as i like less tang in the cream cheese frosting, but his recipe is the one I find all the chefs use. They’re so good I don’t wait for fall to make them and everyone loves them! Thank you for sharing this outstanding recipe Chef Billy!
- Reply
Thanks for making them!
- Reply
- Tom
Hi Marilyn.
I read your comment on the homemade pumpkin pie spice bars and I was wondering if you would be so kind to tell me the amounts used in the cream cheese frosting part. I watched his video and the amounts to be used are totally different then the printed out part.Thank you.
Tom- Reply
- Marilyn
Hi Tom! Chef Billy’s recipe uses 1/2 cup butter, 8oz cream cheese, 3 1/2 cups powdered sugar and 1/2 tsp vanilla. Standard cream cheese frosting recipe. The recipe I used came from a 1979 Pillsbury cookbook: 3oz cream cheese, 1/3 cup butter, 1tsp vanilla, 1 TBLS milk, 2 cups powdered sugar. Doubled. I find Chef’s recipe works better in a half sheet pan instead of jelly roll pan. Good Luck!
- Reply
