Description
Paula Deen’s Pumpkin Bars combine moist pumpkin spice cake layers with a rich and tangy cream cheese frosting, creating a comforting autumn dessert that is easy to bake and perfect for fall gatherings or holiday treats. With warm spices like cinnamon and nutmeg and a luscious creamy topping, these bars deliver the perfect balance of moist texture and sweet flavor everyone will love.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 1 cup pumpkin puree (pure pumpkin, not pie filling)
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Cream Cheese Frosting
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Prepare Your Pan: Grease a 9×13-inch baking pan or line it with parchment paper to prevent sticking. This ensures your bars come out perfectly clean and easy to slice.
- Mix the Dry Ingredients: In a bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Setting these spices and leaveners aside ensures even distribution and consistent flavor throughout.
- Combine Wet Ingredients: In a separate large bowl, beat the eggs, sugar, and vegetable oil until smooth. Stir in the pumpkin puree and vanilla extract, creating a luscious wet base for the bars.
- Blend Wet and Dry Components: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the pumpkin mixture, stirring gently just until combined. Avoid overmixing to keep the bars tender and moist.
- Bake the Bars: Pour the batter into the prepared pan and spread evenly. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 25 to 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Let the bars cool completely before frosting.
- Make the Cream Cheese Frosting: Beat softened cream cheese and butter together until smooth. Gradually add powdered sugar and vanilla extract, beating until fluffy and spreadable.
- Frost and Serve: Spread the frosting evenly over the cooled bars. Cut into squares and enjoy the creamy, spiced pumpkin goodness any time you like!
Notes
- Use pure pumpkin puree, not pumpkin pie filling, to control sugar and spice levels.
- Bring eggs, butter, and cream cheese to room temperature for smoother mixing.
- Do not overmix the batter to maintain a tender and moist texture.
- Begin checking the bars around 25 minutes to prevent overbaking.
- Allow the bars to cool completely before frosting to prevent melting or pooling of frosting.
- For gluten-free option, substitute all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour blend.
- For dairy-free version, replace cream cheese and butter with suitable dairy-free alternatives.
- Freeze individually wrapped bars in plastic wrap and foil for up to 3 months.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25-30 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 22g
- Sodium: 180mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 32g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 40mg
Keywords: Pumpkin bars, pumpkin dessert, cream cheese frosting, fall dessert, autumn treats, Paula Deen pumpkin bars