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Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting

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These irresistible pumpkin bars combine cozy fall flavors with a luscious cream cheese frosting, making them perfect for any occasion.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup canned pumpkin puree
  • ½ cup vegetable oil
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • ½ cup brown sugar, packed
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • 1¼ cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp baking soda
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • ½ tsp ground nutmeg
  • ¼ tsp ground ginger
  • Optional: ½ cup chopped walnuts or pecans
  • 8 oz cream cheese, softened
  • ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
  • 1 tsp pure vanilla extract

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×13-inch baking dish with parchment paper or grease it generously with non-stick spray.
  2. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the pumpkin puree, vegetable oil, granulated sugar, brown sugar, eggs, and vanilla extract until smooth and well combined.
  3. In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Don’t overmix!
  4. If using nuts, gently fold them into the batter.
  5. Pour the batter into the prepared baking dish, spreading it evenly with a rubber spatula. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
  6. While the bars are baking, prepare the cream cheese frosting. In a medium bowl, beat the softened cream cheese and butter together until smooth and creamy. Gradually add the powdered sugar, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract.
  7. Once the bars are done baking, allow them to cool completely on a wire rack.
  8. Spread the cream cheese frosting evenly over the cooled pumpkin bars using an offset spatula or butter knife. Cut into squares and serve!

Notes

For clean slices, chill the frosted bars for about 30 minutes before cutting. Use parchment paper for easy cleanup and avoid overmixing the batter for the best texture.

Nutrition

Keywords: pumpkin bars, cream cheese frosting, fall dessert, easy pumpkin recipe, Thanksgiving dessert

Find it online: https://jodierecipes.com/pumpkin-bars-with-cream-cheese-frosting-best-easy-recipe/