These easy pumpkin bars with cream cheese frosting are effortless – simply bake, slice, and serve these cute pumpkin squares for an indulgent fall treat.

These pumpkin spice bars are irresistibly moist and delicious! 

This recipe is perfect for serving to guests and transporting to parties. They are moist and tender, but sturdy enough to be cut into a bar shape so they are served a bit easier than a traditional cake. 

Pumpkin bars with cream cheese frosting on a marble surface.
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As we all know that when it comes to baking, there’s a time and place for every type of dessert. I can honestly say that I pretty much love them all (unfortunately for me, anyway).

However, I think that deciding what to make next, or what to bring to a gathering or serve to friends and family is part of the fun and excitement of baking. It’s nice to have a solid repertoire of recipes that are good for different occasions!

Pumpkin bars with cream cheese frosting on a marble surface.

Pumpkin Bars

If you love everything pumpkin, be sure to start with my ultimate collection of pumpkin desserts. You’ll find tips, tricks and incredible recipes all revolving around the classic fall favorite- PUMPKIN!

Why You’ll Love this Recipe

  • Grab and Go – So much less messy than a cake but still decadent and delicious!
  • A Taste of Fall – They are perfectly sweet and yet balanced with the cream cheese frosting. 
  • So easy! With very little hands on time, these come together much quicker than cookies and other fall desserts.
Pumpkin bars with cream cheese frosting on a marble surface.

Ingredients and Substitutions

See printable recipe card for complete ingredients and instructions.

  • Flour – All purpose flour and no need to sift. 
  • Baking Powder and Baking Soda – Both, to make this cake rise to perfection.
  • Salt – This pantry staple brings out all of the flavors of the other ingredients.
  • Spices – A blend of cinnamon and allspice give these pumpkin bars the best fall flavor. Don’t have allspice? It’s so easy to make your own allspice blend with this recipe! If you don’t have any allspice or pumpkin pie spice on hand, don’t fret, just combine equal parts cinnamon, ground cloves, and nutmeg.
  • White Granulated Sugar – Sugar adds the perfect touch of sweetness. 
  • Vanilla – I use vanilla extract in just about everything and it adds just a touch of flavor that makes this cake out of this world good!
  • Applesauce – The secret to making these pumpkin squares so moist is in the sauce – applesauce! It adds moisture, acidity and a hint of fresh fruit flavor that makes these bars so delicious! 
  • Vegetable Oil – Okay, we can’t give applesauce all the credit. Vegetable oil also adds to the tender crumb and moist texture of these pumpkin bars.
  • Pumpkin Puree – Canned pumpkin puree is cooked and mashed squash. Don’t be confused with pumpkin pie filling that is already sweetened and spiced!
  • Eggs – The eggs in this cake act as a binder, and they also create more moisture and the perfect spongy texture. 
A gold pan filled with freshly baked pumpkin bars.

Cream Cheese Frosting Ingredients

  • Butter – Salted or unsalted, it’s your choice! I always use salted for a little balance to the sweet.
  • Cream Cheese – Full fat for best results. Learn how to soften cream cheese – so easy!
  • Vanilla – It’s the ultimate fragrant addition to your baking- don’t use imitation vanilla. 
  • Powdered Sugar – This is a must-have ingredient for your frosting because of the incredibly fine texture. No other sugar will do – learn how to make powdered sugar if you’re in a pinch!
Pumpkin bars with cream cheese frosting on a white countertop.

Variations

  • These pumpkin spice bars are delicious just as they are, but if you wish, you can fold chocolate chips, white chocolate chips, walnuts or pecans into the batter. 
  • Decorate it with your favorite fall nuts or Candied Nuts.
  • Spice it up – add 1 Tablespoon pumpkin spice to the cream cheese frosting.
  • Not into that savory cream cheese flavor? Top these pumpkin spice bars with Salted Caramel Frosting. Just add a touch of heavy cream or heavy milk for a fluffier texture, or top with my homemade whipped cream.
Squares of a pumpkin bar recipe laid out on a marble countertop.

How to Make

An overview, visit the printable recipe card for complete ingredients and instructions.

  1. Wet Ingredients – In the bowl of your electric mixer, mix wet ingredients.
  2. Dry Ingredients – Mix dry ingredients together, separately in a large bowl.
  3. Combine – Gradually fold dry into wet until just combined. Careful not to over-mix.
  4. Add to Pan – Pour into a prepared baking pan.
  5. Bake – As directed, until toothpick test comes out clean.
  6. Make frosting.
  7. Cool and Serve – Allow bars to cool completely, frost and serve!
Squares of a pumpkin bar recipe laid out on a marble countertop.

Tips

  • Be sure to use canned pumpkin, and not pumpkin pie filling! You’ll end up with overly spiced pumpkin bars!
  • You can make these pumpkin squares with fresh pumpkin, however I prefer using canned pumpkin puree.  A general rule of thumb to replace canned pumpkin with fresh pumpkin is one can pumpkin puree to two cups fresh pumpkin.
  • Need help with the conversions while baking? Check out my Essential Measurement Conversion Chart.
Pumpkin bars with cream cheese frosting on a marble surface.

Serving Suggestions

Squares of a pumpkin bar recipe laid out on a marble countertop.

How to Store

  • Room Temperature – Bring to room temperature. Store without frosting in an airtight container or plastic bag up to three days. If you add the cream cheese frosting, these pumpkin bars need to be refrigerated about approximately two hours at room temperature.
  • Refrigerator – Due to the cream cheese frosting, these bars are best served immediately or refrigerated. Cover your pumpkin spice bars using plastic wrap or foil. Refrigerate up to five days.
  • Freezer – Yes, you can freeze these pumpkin bars with cream cheese frosting. Wrap tightly to prevent freezer burn and store for up to six months.
Pumpkin bars with cream cheese frosting on a marble surface.

More Pumpkin Inspiration

Pumpkin bars with cream cheese frosting on a marble surface.
5 from 1 vote

Easy Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting

These easy pumpkin bars with cream cheese frosting are effortless- simply bake, slice, and serve these cute pumpkin squares for an indulgent fall treat. These pumpkin spice bars are irresistibly moist and delicious! 
Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 25 minutes
Total: 40 minutes
Servings: 24
Pin Rate Print

Ingredients  

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • 2 teaspoons baking soda
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon ground allspice optional
  • 2 cup white granulated sugar
  • ¾ cup vegetable oil
  • ½ cup applesauce
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 4 eggs size large
  • 2 cups pumpkin canned (15 oz)

Cream Cheese Frosting

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 350℉. Grease your 3/4 sheet pan.
  • Combine dry ingredients – flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and allspice. Set aside.
  • In a separate large mixing bowl or mixer, combine sugar, oil, applesauce, vanilla and pumpkin.
  • Beat eggs into wet mixture one at a time.
  • Gradually combine dry ingredients into the bowl of wet ingredients.
  • Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake 25 minutes or until a toothpick comes clean.

Cream Cheese Frosting

  • Beat butter and cream cheese in large mixing bowl until light and fluffy (about 5 minutes)..
  • Add vanilla.
  • Gradually add powdered sugar on low until incorporated.
  • Increase speed to high and beat until light and fluffy (about 3 minutes).
  • Spread onto cooled pumpkin bars.

Julie’s Tips

Variations

  • Fold in chocolate chips, white chocolate chips, walnuts or pecans into the batter. 
  • Decorate it with Candied Nuts.
  • Spice it up – add 1 Tablespoon pumpkin spice to the cream cheese frosting.
Calories: 351.2kcal | Carbohydrates: 37.27g | Protein: 3.32g | Fat: 21.78g | Saturated Fat: 14.31g | Cholesterol: 68.41mg | Sodium: 255.42mg | Potassium: 136.75mg | Fiber: 0.59g | Sugar: 27.92g | Vitamin A: 1352.71IU | Vitamin C: 0.92mg | Calcium: 54.04mg | Iron: 0.85mg

Estimated nutrition information is provided as a courtesy and is not guaranteed.

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2 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    I made these for a party last weekend and they were a huge hit! They were so easy to make, and the perfect texture. I don’t like super sweet desserts, and these hit the mark – just sweet enough to feel like dessert, but not so sweet I can feel the cavities forming. Thank you for sharing! This will go into my fall dessert rotation for sure!