• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Shop
  • Contact

Jennifer Cooks

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Home
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Shop
  • Contact
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Shop
  • Contact
×
Home » Easy Pumpkin Bars with Maple Cream Cheese Frosting

By Jennifer Leave a Comment

Easy Pumpkin Bars with Maple Cream Cheese Frosting

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
Easy Pumpkin Bars with Maple Cream Cheese Frosting on Jennifer Cooks

As soon as fall hits Texas, there’s something in the air that makes us crave the rich warmth of seasonal spices and comforting, homemade treats. For me, that means diving into one of my all-time favorite pumpkin bar recipes.

These easy pumpkin bars with maple cream cheese frosting are the perfect fall treat. They bring together the fragrant spices of pumpkin pie spice with the sweetness of pumpkin to create flavorful pumpkin bars that will have everyone reaching for seconds.

These bars are my go-to during pumpkin season, a time of year that just begs for cozy desserts. The pumpkin mixture blends beautifully with granulated sugar, warm spices, and a soft, cake-like texture that makes these moist pumpkin bars an instant hit.

Whether you’re planning a family gathering or simply looking for a delicious pumpkin recipe to enjoy with your afternoon coffee, these bars are a crowd-pleaser every time.

Easy Pumpkin Bars with Maple Cream Cheese Frosting on Jennifer Cooks

Ingredients You’ll Need

For the Cake:

  • Pumpkin Puree: I always keep a can of canned pumpkin puree in my pantry when pumpkin season rolls around. It’s the foundation for these classic pumpkin bars.
  • Granulated Sugar: This sweetens the bars while balancing the warm spices.
  • Coconut Oil: Keeps the bars tender and moist.
  • Eggs: Adds structure and richness.
  • All-Purpose Flour: The essential base for these bars, holding everything together.
  • Pumpkin Pie Spices: A blend of cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and ginger that gives the bars their signature fall flavor.
  • Vanilla Bean Paste: Adds depth to the overall flavor.
  • Baking Powder & Baking Soda: These are key to making sure your bars rise perfectly.
  • Kosher Salt: Just a pinch to enhance all the flavors.

For the Frosting:

  • Butter & Cream Cheese: This duo creates the base for that luscious, tangy cream cheese frosting.
  • Vanilla Bean Paste: Adds a rich note to the frosting.
  • Maple Syrup: Optional, but the perfect complement to the spices in the bars.
  • Powdered Sugar: This gives the frosting its creamy sweetness.

Equipment You’ll Need

  • Baking Pan: A 18×13-inch jelly roll pan works best to ensure even baking.
  • Electric Hand Mixer: Essential for whipping up the smooth, fluffy cream cheese frosting.
  • Large Bowl and Small Bowl: For mixing the wet and dry ingredients separately.
  • Whisk and Rubber Spatula: To ensure everything is mixed to perfection.

How to Make Easy Pumpkin Bars with Maple Cream Cheese Frosting

Preheat and Prep: Start by preheating your oven to 350°F. Grease your baking pan or line it with parchment paper to make removal easier later.

Mix the Wet Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the pumpkin purée, granulated sugar, coconut oil, and eggs. This is your pumpkin mixture that forms the base of the bars.

Combining the wet ingredients for Easy Pumpkin Bars with Maple Cream Cheese Frosting on Jennifer Cooks
Adding Vanilla Bean paste for Easy Pumpkin Bars with Maple Cream Cheese Frosting on Jennifer Cooks

Combine the Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk the flour, pumpkin pie spice, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, stirring until fully combined.

Mixing the dry ingredients Easy Pumpkin Bars with Maple Cream Cheese Frosting on Jennifer Cooks
Adding the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients for Easy Pumpkin Bars with Maple Cream Cheese Frosting on Jennifer Cooks
Pouring the batter into a prepared baking pan for Easy Pumpkin Bars with Maple Cream Cheese Frosting on Jennifer Cooks
Spreading the batter evenly in the pan for Easy Pumpkin Bars with Maple Cream Cheese Frosting on Jennifer Cooks

Bake the Bars: Pour the pumpkin mixture into your prepared baking pan, smoothing it out evenly. Bake for about 25-30 minutes, or until the top of the bars springs back when lightly pressed. Let the bars cool completely before frosting.

Prepare the Frosting: While the bars cool, use an electric hand mixer to beat the butter and cream cheese together until creamy. Add in the vanilla bean paste and maple syrup, then slowly mix in the powdered sugar until smooth and fluffy.

Making the cream cheese frosting by adding the cream cheese and softened butter to a bowl for Easy Pumpkin Bars with Maple Cream Cheese Frosting on Jennifer Cooks
Adding vanilla bean paste for Easy Pumpkin Bars with Maple Cream Cheese Frosting on Jennifer Cooks
Continuing to beat the cream cheese frosting until fluffy for Easy Pumpkin Bars with Maple Cream Cheese Frosting on Jennifer Cooks
Spreading the maple cream cheese frosting onto the cooled pumpkin bars for Easy Pumpkin Bars with Maple Cream Cheese Frosting on Jennifer Cooks

Frost and Slice: Once the bars are cool, spread the frosting evenly across the top of the bars. Cut into squares, and you’ve got yourself the best pumpkin bar recipe ready to serve.

Easy Pumpkin Bars with Maple Cream Cheese Frosting on Jennifer Cooks

This post may contain affiliate links. I may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post.

Visit my Amazon Store for everything you need to cook up a storm, bake delicious treats, and whip up your favorite beverages!

Chef Secrets for Success

  • Homemade Pumpkin Bars: If you have time, making your own pumpkin purée can take these bars to the next level, though canned pumpkin puree works just as well.
  • Spice It Up: Adjust the amount of pumpkin pie spices to your taste. A little extra cinnamon or nutmeg never hurt anyone!
  • Don't Overmix: When combining your dry and wet ingredients, stir just until they’re incorporated. Overmixing can make the bars dense.
  • Perfect Texture: The best way to achieve soft, moist pumpkin bars is not to overbake them. Start checking the bars at 20 minutes, and pull them out when a toothpick inserted comes out mostly clean.

Serving Suggestions

These bars are a fantastic dessert for any fall gathering, but they also make a great breakfast treat paired with a hot cup of coffee. You could serve them alongside a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream for an extra indulgent touch. Their tangy cream cheese frosting balances the sweetness, making them irresistible.

Easy Pumpkin Bars with Maple Cream Cheese Frosting on Jennifer Cooks

Common Questions

Can I freeze these bars? 

Yes! Wrap them tightly in plastic wrap and store them in an airtight container. They’ll keep for up to three months.

How long will they stay fresh? 

These bars stay moist and delicious for up to three days if kept in an airtight container at room temperature.

What’s the best way to store leftover bars? 

If you have any leftovers, you can store the cool bars in the fridge for up to a week. Just make sure to cover them well to prevent them from drying out.

Can I make this with leftover pumpkin? 

Absolutely! If you’ve got some leftover pumpkin from making pumpkin bread or pie, this is a great way to use it up.

Storing and Reheating Tips

If you need to store these bars, keep them in an airtight container either at room temperature or in the fridge. They’re just as good the next day, and you can even freeze them for longer storage. 

To reheat, let them come to room temperature or pop them in the microwave for a few seconds to soften the frosting.

These pumpkin bars are the perfect treat for pumpkin lovers everywhere. Whether you’re making them for the first time or they’ve become a family favorite, they’re guaranteed to fill your kitchen with the smells and flavors of fall.

Easy Pumpkin Bars with Maple Cream Cheese Frosting on Jennifer Cooks

More Pumpkin Recipes

  • Amish Pumpkin Bread
  • Pumpkin Whoopie Pies with Cream Cheese Filling
  • 2-Ingredient Pumpkin Cake
  • Pumpkin Dump Cake
SaveSaved! SaveSaved!
Easy Pumpkin Bars with Maple Cream Cheese Frosting on Jennifer Cooks

Easy Pumpkin Bars with Maple Cream Cheese Frosting

Looking for the best pumpkin bars recipe? Try these easy pumpkin bars with a decadent maple cream cheese frosting! Perfect for fall, these moist and flavorful bars are a crowd-pleaser and simple to make.
No ratings yet
Print Pin Rate
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: dessert bars, snack bars, snack cake
Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes minutes
Servings: 12
Calories: 445kcal
Author: Jennifer Locklin

Equipment

  • 18×13 baking pan
  • Electric Hand Mixer
  • Large Mixing Bowl
  • Small Mixing Bowl
  • Whisk
  • Rubber Spatula

Ingredients

  • Bars:
  • 1 15-ounce can pumpkin puree
  • 1 ⅔ cups white sugar
  • 1 cup coconut oil
  • 4 large eggs
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon cloves
  • ½ teaspoon nutmeg
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon salt

Frosting:

  • ½ cup butter softened
  • 1 8-ounce pkg cream cheese softened
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste
  • 4 tablespoons maple syrup optional
  • 2 cups confectioners' sugar
Get Recipe Ingredients

Instructions

  • Gather all the ingredients needed for both the bars and the frosting.
  • Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
  • For the bars, whisk together the pumpkin puree, sugar, oil, and eggs in a medium bowl until smooth and well mixed.
  • In another bowl, combine the flour, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
  • Gradually add the dry ingredients to the pumpkin mixture, stirring until fully incorporated.
  • Pour the batter into an ungreased 18×13-inch jelly roll pan and spread it evenly.
  • Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the bars bounce back when gently pressed. Remove from the oven and let them cool completely.
  • While the bars are cooling, prepare the frosting. Beat together the butter and cream cheese until creamy. Add the vanilla bean paste and maple syrup, then gradually mix in the confectioners' sugar until smooth.
  • Once the bars have cooled completely, spread the frosting evenly over the top and cut into 24 squares.
  • Serve and enjoy your delicious pumpkin bars!

Nutrition

Serving: 1 bar | Calories: 445kcal | Carbohydrates: 70g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 27g | Saturated Fat: 20g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 75mg | Sodium: 439mg | Potassium: 63mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 32g | Vitamin A: 331IU | Vitamin C: 0.02mg | Calcium: 64mg | Iron: 1mg

*Nutrition information is automatically calculated based on ingredient data and should be considered an estimate. When multiple ingredient options are provided, the first listed is used for calculation. Optional ingredients and garnishes are not included in the nutrition analysis.

Did you make this recipe? Tag @jennifercooks123 on Instagram and hashtag it #jennifercooks so we can see all the deliciousness!

Leave a Comment & Rating!

We’d love to hear your thoughts! Whether you made a tweak, have advice, or just want to share your rating, your feedback is gold. Keep it kind—no mean comments or off-topic links. Let’s celebrate food together. All are welcome to join the conversation!

Filed Under: Cakes, Cookies & Bars, Desserts Tagged With: dessert, Quick and Easy

About Jennifer

I’m Jennifer Locklin, author and owner of Jennifer Cooks. I am a trained chef and passionate about good food, cooking for family and friends, and creating recipes that form lasting memories from one generation to the next. I hope you find inspiration for cooking and creating here!

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Hello! I'm Jennifer Locklin, the creator of Jennifer Cooks. Cooking is a cherished tradition passed down in my family, deeply rooted in love and shared experiences.

My blog showcases tried-and-true recipes that promise to turn your cooking into memorable moments.

More about me →


Follow Us:

  • Mail
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS Feed
  • Twitter
  • Tumblr

Yummly Publisher
my foodgawker gallery

Recent Posts

  • Creamy Poblano and Shrimp Enchiladas
    Creamy Shrimp and Poblano Enchiladas
  • Cold Green Bean Salad with Citrus Vinagrette and garnished with orange supremes, blue cheese, toasted walnuts, and pomegranate arils.
    Green Bean Salad with Citrus Dressing
  • Chuy’s Jalapeno Ranch Dip
    Chuy’s Jalapeno Ranch
  • Strawberry Shortcake
    Simple Strawberry Shortcake

Footer

↑ back to top

Quick Links

  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy

Newsletter

  • Sign Up! for emails and updates

Information

  • Home
  • Recipes

Copyright © 2024 JENNIFER COOKS

Rate This Recipe

Your vote:




A rating is required
A name is required
An email is required