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Fluffy Pumpkin Bars Recipe with Cream Cheese Frosting

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Irresistibly fluffy pumpkin bars with a perfect balance of sweet and spice, topped with the creamiest cream cheese frosting. A family favorite for fall gatherings and cozy afternoons.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup canned pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling)
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil (or melted coconut oil for a healthier twist)
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour (or gluten-free flour blend)
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • Pinch of salt

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking pan or line it with parchment paper.
  2. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the pumpkin puree, eggs, sugar, vegetable oil, and vanilla extract until smooth.
  3. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves.
  4. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring gently until just combined. Avoid overmixing.
  5. Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan and spread it evenly. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
  6. Allow the bars to cool completely on a wire rack before frosting.
  7. In a medium bowl, beat the softened cream cheese and butter together until creamy. Gradually add the powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt. Beat until smooth and fluffy.
  8. Spread the frosting evenly over the cooled pumpkin bars. Slice into squares or rectangles and serve.

Notes

[‘Use room temperature eggs for better mixing and fluffier texture.’, ‘Don’t overmix the batter—gentle stirring is key to keeping the bars light.’, ‘Rotate your pan halfway through the bake time for even baking.’, ‘Make sure the bars are completely cool before applying the frosting to avoid melting.’, ‘Chill the frosting in the fridge for 10 minutes if short on time to firm it up.’, ‘Do not substitute pumpkin pie filling for pumpkin puree.’]

Nutrition

Keywords: Pumpkin Bars, Cream Cheese Frosting, Fall Dessert, Thanksgiving Dessert, Pumpkin Spice

Find it online: https://katedishes.com/fluffy-pumpkin-bars-recipe-with-cream-cheese-frosting/