Katie’s Recipes

The BEST Frosted Pumpkin Bars

Name: The BEST Frosted Pumpkin Bars
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 1 h 10 min
Total time: 1 h 20 min
Yield: 16 servings
Ingredients: 1 cup (125 g) all-purpose flour; 1/2 teaspoon baking soda; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice; 1/2 cup (113 g) unsalted butter (melted and slightly cooled); 1/2 cup (100 g) packed light brown sugar; ¼ cup (50 g) granulated sugar; 1 large egg (room temperature); 3/4 cup canned 100% pure pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling); 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract; ½ cup (4 ounces or 113 g) full-fat block cream cheese (softened to room temperature); ¼ cup (57 g) unsalted butter (softened to room temperature); 1 ½ cups (180 g) confectioners’ sugar (sifted); 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract; Sprinkle of cinnamon for on top of bars

16 servings

servings

10 minutes

active time

1 hour 20 minutes

total time

Start Cooking

Ingredients

1 cup (125 g) all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice

1/2 cup (113 g) unsalted butter (melted and slightly cooled)

1/2 cup (100 g) packed light brown sugar

¼ cup (50 g) granulated sugar

1 large egg (room temperature)

3/4 cup canned 100% pure pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling)

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

½ cup (4 ounces or 113 g) full-fat block cream cheese (softened to room temperature)

¼ cup (57 g) unsalted butter (softened to room temperature)

1 ½ cups (180 g) confectioners’ sugar (sifted)

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Sprinkle of cinnamon for on top of bars

Directions

Preheat oven to 350° F. Line an 8x8 pan with parchment paper and set aside.

Whisk dry ingredients

In a medium bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients–flour, baking soda, salt and pumpkin pie spice. Set aside.

Mix wet ingredients

In the bowl of a stand mixer (or using a hand mixer), beat melted butter, brown sugar and sugar on medium-high speed until well combined and sugar is absorbed, about 2 minutes. Add egg, pumpkin puree and vanilla. Mix until incorporated. Scrape down the bottom and sides of the bowl as necessary.

Combine dry and wet ingredients

Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and mix just until combined (avoid over-mixing).

Bake bars

Transfer batter to prepared pan and spread evenly. Bake at 350° F for 20 to 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with little to no crumbs. Cool completely.

Make frosting

For the frosting, beat cream cheese and butter on medium-high speed until creamy and smooth, about 1 minute. Add confectioners’ sugar and vanilla, then mix until combined.

Frost bars

Frost cooled bars and garnish with a sprinkle of cinnamon. Slice and serve.

Nutrition

Serving Size

1 bar

Calories

160 kcal

Total Fat

9 g

Saturated Fat

6 g

Unsaturated Fat

2.4 g

Trans Fat

0.4 g

Cholesterol

34 mg

Sodium

164 mg

Total Carbohydrate

29 g

Dietary Fiber

1 g

Total Sugars

11 g

Protein

3 g