Prepare Time
- Preparation Time: 15 minutes
- Cooking Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
Ingredients
- 4 eggs
- 1 2/3 cups granulated sugar
- 1 cup vegetable oil
- 1 (15 oz) can pumpkin
- 2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 (8 oz) package softened cream cheese
- 1/2 cup softened butter (or margarine)
- 2 cups sifted confectioner’s sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Directions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9×13 inch baking pan.
- In a large bowl, beat the eggs, granulated sugar, oil, and pumpkin until smooth.
- Sift together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, salt, and baking soda. Gradually add to the pumpkin mixture and mix well.
- Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- While the bars are baking, prepare the frosting: beat together the cream cheese, butter, confectioner’s sugar, and vanilla extract until smooth and creamy.
- Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan on a wire rack. Once cooled, spread the frosting evenly over the bars.
- Cut into squares and serve.
Cook Notes
For a lighter frosting, you can substitute half of the butter with more cream cheese. Adjust the sugar to taste.
Variations
- Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bars: Add 1 cup of chocolate chips to the batter for a chocolatey twist.
- Nutty Pumpkin Bars: Stir in 1/2 cup of chopped walnuts or pecans for added texture and flavor.
Keto Version
Use almond flour instead of all-purpose flour, erythritol or another low-carb sweetener in place of granulated and confectioners’ sugar, and ensure the pumpkin used is unsweetened. Adjust the amount of sweetener based on your taste.
Low-Carb Version
Similar to the keto version, but with a focus on reducing the total carbohydrate content, possibly by incorporating coconut flour in place of some almond flour to reduce the total amount of flour needed.
Nutrition Fact
A standard serving of Pumpkin Bars (without adjustments for keto or low-carb versions) contains approximately:
- Calories: 350-400
- Fat: 20g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Sugars: 30g
- Protein: 4g
- Sodium: 250mg
Please note, these values are approximate and can vary based on specific ingredient brands and substitutions used in the recipe. For more accurate nutritional information, it’s best to calculate based on the specific ingredients you use.
These Pumpkin Bars offer a slice of autumn’s best flavors, combining the rich taste of pumpkin with the creamy sweetness of frosting. They’re a testament to the joy of seasonal baking and a reminder of the simple pleasures that homemade treats can bring.