These pumpkin cream cheese bars are an absolute delight. They feature a soft and tender texture that melts in your mouth and a delightful sweetness that perfectly captures the essence of fall. Prepared using all-natural ingredients, these bars are enriched with real pumpkin puree. Only the real roasted pumpkin will ensure a burst of authentic pumpkin flavor in every bite.
Sweet pie pumpkins, which are wonderfully easy to grow in home gardens, are also readily available at pumpkin patches in autumn. The taste of fresh, roasted, and pureed pumpkin far surpasses that of its canned counterpart. Using fresh pumpkin brings a vibrant and rich flavor profile to this recipe. There’s something truly joyous about watching pumpkins grow in your garden or choosing the most perfect one at the local patch. To immerse yourself in the autumn spirit and discover the best pumpkin patches across Wisconsin, check out Pumpkin Patches and Fall Festivals | Travel Wisconsin
A key innovation in this recipe lies in the substitution of applesauce for oil, a common ingredient in traditional fruit breads. Both serve as effective binding agents, but applesauce brings an added level of moisture to the bars, resulting in a richer texture. Moreover, this swap makes the bars a healthier option compared to those made with oil.
Preparation, Servings, and Storage
Preparing this delectable 13×9 pan of pumpkin cream cheese bars is about as simple as it gets. Plus, it takes less than an hour from start to finish! This recipe yields an impressive 24 servings, making it perfect for gatherings or family festivities. It’s essential to store the bars in the refrigerator, as the luscious frosting can spoil if left at room temperature. Properly stored, these delightful bars can last up to one week in the fridge.
After Making Pumpkin Cream cheese bars, try the other pumpkin recipes!
Once you’ve savored the pumpkin cream cheese bars, don’t miss the chance to explore other delicious pumpkin recipes that will surely invigorate your autumn baking!
Pumpkin Cream Cheese Bars
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Ingredients
Cake/Bar Ingredients
- 2 cups Pumpkin puree
- 1 cup Applesauce
- 1½ cups Sugar
- 4 Eggs
- 1 tsp Vanilla extract
- 2 cups Flour
- 2 tsp Baking powder
- 1 tsp Baking soda
- 1 tbsp Pumpkin pie spice
- 1 tsp Sea salt
Frosting Ingredients
- 4 oz Cream cheese, softened
- 1/4 cup Butter, softened
- 1 tsp Vanilla
- 3 cups Powdered sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350℉.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the pumpkin puree, applesauce, sugar and vanilla.
- Add the eggs and stir to combine all ingredients.
- Add the flour, baking powder, pumpkin pie spice, baking soda, and salt.
- Gently fold in the dry ingredients until mixed and all the flour is absorbed.
- Pour the batter into a lightly greased 13x9 baking dish.
- Bake for 35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.
- Remove from the oven and place on a cooling rack. Allow to cool for at least one hour before frosting.
Frosting
- Add the cream cheese, butter and vanilla to the stand mixer.
- Using the paddle attachment, whip on high speed until the mixture is combined, light, and fluffy.
- Add the powdered sugar to the mixer.
- Turn the paddle on slowly until the powdered sugar begins to mix with the cream cheese and butter.
- Increase the speed to whip the frosting until it is combined, light and fluffy.
- When the bars are cool enough to frost, spread the frosting over the entire top of the bars. Serve immediately or refrigerate, covered, for up to 1 week.
Nutrition
