A soft, spiced pumpkin bar topped with cinnamon cream cheese frosting and crunchy pistachios , autumn in every bite.
Prep Time: 15 min | Cook Time: 25 min | Total Time: 40 min
Ingredients
For the Pumpkin Bars:
- 1 cup vegetable oil (or canola oil, or coconut oil)
- 1 ¾ cups granulated white sugar
- 15 oz pumpkin puree
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 4 eggs
- 2 cups flour
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
For the Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting:
- ½ cup butter
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 ½ cups powdered sugar
- ½ tbsp ground cinnamon
Step-by-Step Instructions
1. Prep & Preheat
Preheat your oven to 350°F. Grease a 10×15 jelly roll pan so your bars release cleanly after baking.
2. Make the Pumpkin Batter
In a large bowl, whisk together oil and sugar until combined. Stir in pumpkin puree and vanilla until smooth.
Add the eggs, mixing just until incorporated , no over mixing!
3. Add the Dry Ingredients
Gently fold in the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, pumpkin pie spice, and cinnamon. Batter can have small lumps , that’s okay.
4. Bake to Perfection
Pour batter into your prepared pan. Bake for 22–30 minutes (usually about 25) or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool completely in the pan.
5. Brown the Butter for Frosting
Melt butter in a pot over medium heat. Stir often as it foams and turns amber with a nutty aroma. Remove from heat, transfer to a bowl, and cool for 1 hour.
6. Make the Frosting
Beat cream cheese until smooth. Add browned butter and mix for 2 minutes. Stir in powdered sugar, vanilla, and cinnamon until fluffy.
7. Assemble & Garnish
Spread frosting over cooled bars. Sprinkle generously with chopped pistachios for a pretty green pop and nutty crunch. Chill for 30 minutes, slice, and serve.
Pro Tips
- Nut Swap: No pistachios? Walnuts or pecans work beautifully.
- Make Ahead: Bars can be baked and frosted up to 2 days in advance.
- Extra Cozy: Add a pinch of cardamom to the frosting for a bakery-style twist.
Nutrition (per bar)
- Calories: 287
- Carbs: 32g
- Protein: 3g
- Fat: 17g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Sugar: 23g
- Fiber: 1g
Flavor Experiments
- Drizzle with warm caramel before serving.
- Top with candied ginger pieces for a spicy kick.
- Serve chilled with a chai latte for ultimate fall vibes.
🧊 Make It Once, Eat It All Week
- Store in the fridge in an airtight container for 4 days.
- Freeze cut bars (without frosting) for up to 3 months; frost after thawing.
- Reheat briefly in the microwave for a warm dessert.
❌ Learn From Mistakes
I once skipped chilling the browned butter , my frosting turned into a melty mess. Patience pays off here.
