Description
Delightful pumpkin bars with cream cheese frosting showcase autumn’s warmest spices and seasonal comfort. Creamy frosting complements rich pumpkin base, offering a perfect balance of sweetness and spice you’ll savor until the last crumb.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 can (15 oz/425 g) pumpkin puree
- 4 large eggs
- 2 cups (250 g) all-purpose flour
- 1 cup (240 ml) vegetable oil or melted butter
- 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar
- ½ cup (100 g) brown sugar, packed
- 1 tbsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp ground nutmeg
- ½ tsp ground ginger
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 8 oz (225 g) cream cheese, softened
- ¼ cup (60 g) unsalted butter, softened
- 2 cups (240 g) powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Oven Preparation: Preheat the oven to 350F (175C) and line a 9×13-inch pan with parchment paper or apply a light grease coating.
- Wet Ingredient Fusion: Whisk vegetable oil, granulated and brown sugars, pumpkin puree, eggs, and vanilla extract in a large mixing bowl until achieving a smooth, homogeneous blend.
- Dry Ingredient Combination: In a separate bowl, mix flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and salt, ensuring even distribution of spices and leavening agents.
- Batter Assembly: Delicately fold dry ingredients into the wet mixture, stirring minimally to maintain a tender crumb structure and prevent overmixing.
- Baking Process: Pour batter into the prepared pan, spreading evenly, and bake for 25-30 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Cooling and Frosting Preparation: Allow bars to cool completely in the pan while simultaneously creating the cream cheese frosting by beating cream cheese and butter until smooth, then gradually adding powdered sugar and vanilla extract.
- Final Presentation: Once cooled, generously spread cream cheese frosting across the entire surface, then cut into squares and serve, revealing the spiced, moist interior.
Notes
- Measure Precisely: Accurate ingredient measurements ensure the perfect balance of moisture and spice in your pumpkin bars.
- Control Mixing Technique: Fold dry ingredients gently to prevent overmixing, which can lead to tough, dense bars with a rubbery texture.
- Temperature Matters: Allow cream cheese and butter to soften at room temperature for smooth, lump-free frosting that spreads effortlessly.
- Cooling is Crucial: Let bars cool completely before frosting to prevent melting and ensure a clean, professional-looking finish that holds its shape.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 23
- Calories: 206
- Sugar: 13 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 27 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 35 mg