Paula Deen Pumpkin Bars

partial pan of pumpkin bars with cream cheese frosting with a cake server resting in the pan

5 from 1 vote

Paula Deen's Pumpkin Bars are so soft and moist with sweet pumpkin, warm fall spices, and the most perfectly fluffy cream cheese frosting. Perfect for fall and holiday baking!

Prep Time10

Cook Time30

Total Time10 30

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Servings:

Calories: 489kcal

Author: Cara Lanz

Ingredients

Pumpkin Bars

4 eggs
1 ⅔ cup sugar
1 cup canola oil
15 ounces canned pumpkin
2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda

Cream Cheese Frosting

8 ounces cream cheese, softened
½ cup butter, softened
2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
¼ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Toppings, optional

¼ cup chopped walnuts
caramel sauce

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350. Spray a 9x13 pan with nonstick cooking spray.
In a large bowl, mix eggs, sugar, oil, and pumpkin with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth and creamy.
In a separate bowl, sift or whisk together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, salt, and baking soda.
Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients in 3 intervals, mixing on low and scraping down the sides, until smooth and completely combined.
Pour the batter into the pan and bake for 30-35 minutes or until the top springs back when gently pressed and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Place on a wire baking rack and cool completely.

Cream Cheese Frosting

Beat the softened cream cheese and butter until smooth and creamy. Add the powdered sugar and pumpkin pie spice and mix on low speed until combined. Mix in the vanilla.
Spread cream cheese frosting onto the cooled pumpkin bars.
Sprinkle the top of the bars with chopped walnuts and serve with a drizzle of caramel sauce, optional.

Notes

Sifting or whisking the flour breaks up lumps and aerates the flour so it mixes easily with the wet ingredients

Cool the bars completely before frosting.

The cream cheese frosting is soft and perfectly gloopy. If you prefer firmer frosting, add more confectioners' sugar until it reaches your desired consistency.

Nutrition