Easy Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe

Table of Contents

• Why You’ll Love These Pumpkin Bars
• The Simple Ingredients You’ll Need
• My Secret for the Perfect Cream Cheese Frosting
• Foolproof Baking Tips for Easy Dessert Success
• Fun Ways to Serve Your Pumpkin Bars
• Why BettyCooks Loves These Quick Treats
• Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe
• Notes & Tips

Key Takeaways

These pumpkin bars are the ultimate easy dessert recipe, combining moist, spiced pumpkin cake with creamy frosting. They require simple pantry ingredients, come together in one bowl, and bake in under 30 minutes. Perfect for potlucks, holiday gatherings, or a satisfying weeknight treat, this quick dessert recipe is sure to become a family favorite.

Why You’ll Love These Pumpkin Bars

If you’re looking for an easy dessert recipe that delivers maximum flavor with minimal effort, you’ve found it. These pumpkin bars are one of the simplest quick dessert recipes in my collection at BettyCooks. The warm spices and creamy topping create a classic combination that feels both nostalgic and exciting. What I love most about this easy dessert recipe is how reliably it turns out—perfectly moist every single time.

The Simple Ingredients You’ll Need

You probably have most of these ingredients in your pantry right now. The key is using pure pumpkin puree, not pumpkin pie filling, to control the spice level yourself. This approach lets you create easy homemade sweets with a flavor profile tailored exactly to your taste. The combination of cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg gives these bars their signature warmth that makes them perfect for fall.

My Secret for the Perfect Cream Cheese Frosting

While the pumpkin bars are delicious on their own, the cream cheese frosting elevates them to something special. The secret is using full-fat cream cheese and butter that are properly softened to room temperature. This creates a frosting that’s luxuriously smooth and spreadable, not lumpy. When you’re looking for quick and easy desserts that still feel indulgent, this frosting makes all the difference.

Foolproof Baking Tips for Easy Dessert Success

Even though this is one of those quick dessert recipes that’s hard to mess up, a few simple tips ensure perfect results. Make sure to measure your flour correctly by spooning it into the measuring cup rather than scooping. Don’t overmix the batter once you add the dry ingredients—just combine until no flour streaks remain. And always let the bars cool completely before frosting to prevent melting. These simple techniques guarantee your easy homemade treats turn out bakery-quality every time.

Fun Ways to Serve Your Pumpkin Bars

While these bars are delicious straight from the pan, you can dress them up for special occasions. Try cutting them into small bite-sized pieces for a party platter, or layer them in trifle glasses with whipped cream for an elegant presentation. They’re the perfect quick sweet treat to bring to holiday gatherings, potlucks, or as a thoughtful homemade gift when visiting friends.

Why BettyCooks Loves These Quick Treats

Here at BettyCooks, we’re all about recipes that deliver big flavor without complicated steps. These pumpkin bars perfectly represent our philosophy that great food should be accessible to everyone. Whether you’re an experienced baker or trying your first dessert recipe, this is the kind of reliable, crowd-pleasing dish that builds confidence in the kitchen. Visit us at https://www.bettycooks.com for more inspiration on turning simple ingredients into memorable meals.

Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe

Jump to the recipe card below for the complete ingredients list and step-by-step instructions to make these delicious pumpkin bars.

Notes & Tips

Storage: Keep leftover bars covered in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. They also freeze beautifully—place them in a single layer on a baking sheet to freeze solid, then transfer to a freezer bag for up to 3 months.

Make it nutty: For added texture, fold ½ cup of chopped pecans or walnuts into the batter before baking.

Dairy-free option: Substitute the butter in the frosting with dairy-free margarine and use a vegan cream cheese alternative.

Spice variation: Feel free to adjust the spices to your preference. Adding a pinch of cloves or allspice can create a more complex flavor profile.

Easy Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe

These rich and moist pumpkin bars topped with a creamy frosting are an easy dessert recipe perfect for any gathering. The spiced pumpkin flavor and smooth cream cheese topping create the ultimate sweet treat. They’re simple to make and will quickly become a favorite easy recipe for holiday parties or any time you crave dessert.

Prep Time20 minutes mins

Cook Time30 minutes mins

Total Time50 minutes mins

Course: Desserts

Cuisine: American

Keywords: cream cheese recipes, dessert recipes, easy dessert recipes, easy recipes for dinner, festive treats, quick and easy dessert recipes, sweet treats

Servings: 24 bars

Author: Betty

Ingredients

For the Pumpkin Bars

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 4 large eggs, at room temperature
• 1 2/3 cups granulated sugar
• 1 cup vegetable oil (or canola oil)
• 1 (15-ounce) can pure pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling)

For the Cream Cheese Frosting

• 1 (8-ounce) package full-fat cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
• 4 cups powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• A pinch of salt

Instructions

For the Pumpkin Bars

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 15x10x1-inch jelly roll pan or line it with parchment paper.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg. Set aside.
3. In a large bowl, beat the eggs and sugar together until smooth and slightly thickened, about 2 minutes. Gradually add the oil while mixing on low speed.
4. Mix in the pumpkin puree until fully combined.
5. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed just until the flour disappears. Do not overmix.
6. Pour the batter into the prepared pan, spreading it evenly into the corners.
7. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Place the pan on a wire rack and allow the bars to cool completely before frosting.

For the Frosting and Assembly

1. While the bars cool, prepare the frosting. In a large bowl, beat the softened cream cheese and butter together until completely smooth and creamy.
2. Gradually add the powdered sugar, one cup at a time, beating on low speed to incorporate before adding more. Add the vanilla extract and a pinch of salt.
3. Once all the sugar is added, increase the speed to medium-high and beat the frosting for 2-3 minutes until it is light and fluffy.
4. Spread the frosting evenly over the completely cooled pumpkin bars.
5. Cut into squares, serve, and enjoy!

Notes

You can store these bars, covered, in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. They also freeze well; place them in a single layer on a baking sheet to freeze solid, then transfer to a freezer bag for up to 3 months. For best frosting results, ensure both the cream cheese and butter are truly softened to room temperature.