Description

Pioneer Woman Pumpkin Bars are a soft, cake-like dessert made with pureed pumpkin, warm fall spices, and a moist batter that bakes into tender bars. They’re topped with a decadent cream cheese frosting, adding the perfect balance of tangy sweetness to complement the spiced pumpkin flavor. These bars are easy to slice, making them a great option for parties or family gatherings.

Ingredients

Scale

For the Pumpkin Bars:

2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
½ teaspoon ground ginger
½ teaspoon salt
1 cup vegetable oil
1 ⅔ cups granulated sugar
1 cup canned pumpkin puree
4 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the Cream Cheese Frosting:

8 ounces cream cheese, softened
½ cup unsalted butter, softened
3 ½ cups powdered sugar, sifted
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon milk (optional, for thinning)

Instructions

Step 1: Preheat the Oven and Prepare the Pan

Preheat the oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
Grease the pan: Grease and flour a 9×13-inch baking pan or line it with parchment paper for easy removal.

Step 2: Mix the Dry Ingredients

Combine dry ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and salt. Set aside.

Step 3: Mix the Wet Ingredients

Beat the sugar and oil: In a large mixing bowl, use a hand mixer or stand mixer to beat the vegetable oil and sugar until smooth and well combined.
Add the eggs and pumpkin: Beat in the eggs one at a time, followed by the pumpkin puree and vanilla extract, until the mixture is smooth and creamy.

Step 4: Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients

Mix the batter: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing on low speed just until combined. Be careful not to overmix the batter.

Step 5: Bake the Pumpkin Bars

Transfer to the pan: Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan and smooth the top with a spatula.
Bake: Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. The bars should be golden brown and spring back when touched.
Cool: Remove the bars from the oven and let them cool completely in the pan before frosting.

Step 6: Make the Cream Cheese Frosting

Beat the cream cheese and butter: In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened cream cheese and butter until light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes.
Add the powdered sugar and vanilla: Gradually add the sifted powdered sugar and vanilla extract, beating on low speed until the frosting is smooth and creamy. If needed, add a tablespoon of milk to reach your desired consistency.

Step 7: Frost the Pumpkin Bars

Spread the frosting: Once the bars have cooled completely, spread the cream cheese frosting evenly over the top using a spatula.
Slice and serve: Slice the pumpkin bars into squares or rectangles and serve. Optionally, garnish with a light dusting of cinnamon or a sprinkle of chopped nuts.