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Home » Recipes » Brownies & Bars

Pumpkin Bars with Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting

October 18, 2021 by brooke 9 Comments

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These pumpkin bars with cinnamon cream cheese frosting are so tender and moist, with the perfect amount of sweetness and spice, and then topped with the tangy frosting. I can't go a year without making them at least a few times because every time I do we eat them way too quick! And bake them in a sheet cake pan for a thin bar, or if you're serving a crowd.

single pumpkin bar with cinnamon cream cheese frosting on a plate with other slices behind

WHAT MAKES PUMPKIN BARS WITH CINNAMON CREAM CHEESE FROSTING SO GREAT

I think everyone needs to have pumpkin bars as a staple treat in the Fall. They are so easy and quick to make, but yield the best flavors of Fall.

The cinnamon cream cheese frosting gives the perfect tangy taste to the sweet and spiced bar.

And they can easily feed your family, or a crowd depending on what pan you bake them in.

pumpkin bars all frosted but not cut with 2 forks on the right corner

INGREDIENTS NEEDED TO MAKE PUMPKIN BARS WITH CINNAMON CREAM CHEESE FROSTING:

For the Pumpkin Bars:

  • Flour
  • Cinnamon
  • Cloves
  • Ginger
  • Nutmeg
  • Baking Powder
  • Baking Soda
  • Salt
  • Oil
  • Granulated Sugar
  • Eggs
  • Pumpkin Puree

For the Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting:

  • Butter
  • Cream Cheese
  • Vanilla
  • Cinnamon
  • Powdered Sugar
all the ingredients for pumpkin bars with cinnamon cream cheese frosting

HOW TO MAKE PUMPKIN BARS

  • Preheat oven to 350 F. Spray or line a 9x13 baking pan, or cookie sheet, if you want the bars to be thin.
  • In a medium bowl whisk together flour, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, nutmeg, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Set aside.
  • In a large bowl whisk together oil and sugar until mixed. Add eggs and pumpkin and mix all together. Add dry ingredients and mix until all incorporated.
  • Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until the edges are a golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. Set aside and allow to cool before frosting.
making the batter
pumpkin bars baked

HOW TO MAKE CINNAMON CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

  • Place the butter and cream cheese in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together until smooth. Add vanilla and mix in. Add cinnamon and powdered sugar and beat until smooth and creamy.
  • Once cake is completely cooled spread frosting evenly over the top.
FROSTING IN BOWL
FROSTING ON TOP OF BARS
BARS FROSTED

HOW TO STORE BARS

These bars will stay fresh and moist for up to 5 days if stored in an airtight container or in the pan with a lid. You can store them on the counter or in the fridge depending on how you prefer to eat them.

These bars also freeze great. You can cover the actual pan and put directly in the freezer, or freeze in any airtight container or ziplock bag.

WHY IS IT BEST TO USE ROOM TEMPERATURE INGREDIENTS

When all your ingredients are room temp it helps them to mix together more smoothly and allows for a better rise and bake of the bars.

It is also important for the ingredients to be room temp when making a frosting so that they can beat together easily and become smooth and creamy without lumps.

DO I NEED A MIXER TO MAKE THESE PUMPKIN BARS WITH CINNAMON CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

You do not need a mixer to make the pumpkin bars. A large bowl and a whisk will work perfectly.

While it is helpful to beat the frosting with a paddle attachment, it is not necessary. Doing it by hand works fine too. Just make sure the butter and cream cheese are very soft.

pumpkin bars with cinnamon cream cheese frosting cut but still in pan

OTHER PUMPKIN RECIPES TO TRY:

Brown Butter Pumpkin Sugar Cookies

The Easiest Pumpkin Bread

Pumpkin Texas Sheet Cake

3 slices of pumpkin bars with cinnamon cream cheese frosting on 3 different plates

For more yummy treats follow me on instagram @thesaltedsweets. And be sure to tag me and comment below if you make them and love them as much as I do.

Pumpkin Bars with cinnamon cream cheese frosting cut into squares in pan.

Pumpkin Bars with Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting

brooke
These pumpkin bars with cinnamon cream cheese frosting are so tender and moist, with the perfect amount of sweetness and spice.
5 from 9 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 20 mins
Cook Time 25 mins
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 20
Calories 409 kcal

Ingredients
 
 

Pumpkin Bars:

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon cloves
  • 1 teaspoon ginger
  • ½ teaspoon nutmeg
  • 2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup oil
  • 1¾ cups granulated sugar
  • 4 large eggs room temp
  • 15 oz can pumpkin puree

Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting:

  • ½ cup butter room temp
  • 8 oz cream cheese room temp
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 4 cups powdered sugar

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 350 F. Spray or line a 9x13 baking pan, or cookie sheet, if you want the bars to be thin.
  • In a medium bowl whisk together flour, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, nutmeg, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Set aside.
  • In a large bowl whisk together oil and sugar until mixed. Add eggs and pumpkin and mix all together. Add dry ingredients and mix until all incorporated.
  • Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until the edges are a golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. Set aside and allow to cool before frosting.
  • Place the butter and cream cheese in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together until smooth. Add vanilla and mix in. Add cinnamon and powdered sugar and beat until smooth and creamy.
  • Once cake is completely cooled spread frosting evenly over the top.

Notes

These bars have been tested and work great with Gluten Free flour as well.
This can be done in either a 9x13 pan for a thicker bar, or a cookie sheet for a thin bar. 
Cake will give best results with room temperature ingredients. Allow them to sit out before you begin.
I have given both cups and grams as measurements. Grams will be more precise, especially when measuring flour. If you don’t have a kitchen scale, no problem! Just lightly spoon flour into your measuring cup to insure its not packed in there. Light and fluffy is the key. Please note that if you double or triple the recipe that grams do not double or triple automatically. You’ll have to do that on your own.

Nutrition

Calories: 409kcalCarbohydrates: 54gProtein: 4gFat: 21gSaturated Fat: 6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gMonounsaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 62mgSodium: 249mgPotassium: 92mgFiber: 1gSugar: 42gVitamin A: 3658IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 53mgIron: 1mg
Keyword cream cheese frosting, pumpkin bars
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Lindsay

    November 07, 2021 at 8:26 pm

    5 stars
    This is the perfect treat for fall! All of the flavors are spot on!

    Reply
  2. R. Court Huish

    November 07, 2021 at 9:52 pm

    5 stars
    My wife made these for me, AMAZING!!!

    Reply
  3. Cami

    November 08, 2021 at 12:43 pm

    5 stars
    Delicious! I could eat these for breakfast lunch and dinner!! Easy and turned out perfect.

    Reply
  4. Anne

    November 08, 2021 at 8:08 pm

    5 stars
    These were SO good!

    Reply
    • Elaine

      October 29, 2022 at 10:36 am

      5 stars
      These are amazing! I live in high altitude so the center was not done. I baked it 10 min longer then suggested. Any suggestion for baking in high altitude?

      Reply
  5. Sandy

    November 12, 2021 at 11:49 am

    5 stars
    These are fantastic! I have made them both as a cake and thinner as a bar. Either way they are full of flavor and moist and delicious!

    Reply
  6. Sarah M.

    October 10, 2022 at 9:35 pm

    Hi! Excited to try these tomorrow. Would the cooking time be similar for the sheet pan, or would it be less because they're thinner? Thank you!

    Reply
    • brooke

      October 11, 2022 at 3:49 pm

      I would do less time. Set your timer for 18 minutes and then check and watch it. I would guess it would take 18-20 minutes!

      Reply
  7. Sarah M.

    October 12, 2022 at 8:57 pm

    Yes! These were so delicious. The cinnamon cream cheese frosting, yum. And I love the flavor in these - you didn't shy away from the spices and I'm here for it.

    Reply

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