Classic Pumpkin Bars: Soft, Spiced, and Simply Perfect
There’s something about these Classic Pumpkin Bars that feels like fall in every bite. They’re tender, lightly spiced, and topped (if you choose!) with a creamy, dreamy layer of cream cheese frosting. No fancy tricks, no complicated steps—just cozy, nostalgic flavor that’s as perfect for Thanksgiving dessert as it is for breakfast the next morning with a cup of coffee.
This is one of those tried-and-true recipes that works every single time. Moist, flavorful, and impossible to stop at just one square. If pumpkin season had a mascot, this would be it.
You’ll Need
For the Bars:
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2 cups all-purpose flour
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2 teaspoons baking powder
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1 teaspoon baking soda
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2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
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½ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
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1 teaspoon salt
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4 eggs
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¾ cup granulated sugar
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¾ cup packed light brown sugar
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1 cup avocado oil (or canola/vegetable oil)
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1 (15 oz) can pumpkin purée
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1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For the Cream Cheese Frosting (optional but highly encouraged):
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8 oz cream cheese, softened
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½ cup butter, softened
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2 cups confectioners’ sugar, sifted
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1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
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Preheat the oven:
Set your oven to 350°F and lightly grease or line a 9x13-inch baking pan with parchment paper. -
Mix the dry ingredients:
In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, and salt. Set aside. -
Combine the wet ingredients:
In a large mixing bowl, beat the eggs, both sugars, oil, pumpkin, and vanilla until smooth and slightly fluffy. -
Bring it all together:
Gradually stir the dry ingredients into the wet mixture until just combined—no overmixing! You want tender, not tough. -
Bake:
Pour the batter into your prepared pan, spreading it evenly. Bake for 30–35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. -
Cool completely:
Let the bars cool in the pan before frosting. (Trust me, the wait is worth it.) -
Make the frosting:
Beat together softened cream cheese, butter, confectioners’ sugar, and vanilla until smooth and fluffy. Spread over cooled bars. -
Slice and Enjoy:
Cut into squares, serve, and prepare for compliments.
And as always, we take pride in our process, our facility, our team, our products, and our mission to give back. We bake integrity into everything we do.