Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe

I've been making this Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting recipe every fall for 25 years. In that time, it's been shared with countless friends and family at Halloween parties, Thanksgiving dinners and potlucks, but mostly just because I love them.

They come together quickly and can be made a day ahead. They make the kitchen smell amazing too. And a bonus in my book: I can make them with ingredients I already have on hand (i.e., no random spices cluttering up my pantry).

If you give them a try, let me know what you think!

Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe

For the Pumpkin Bars

1 tsp baking soda

2 cups all-purpose flour

2 tsp. baking powder

2 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp salt

3 eggs

1 15 oz can pumpkin

1 2/3 cup sugar

1/2 cup vegetable or safflower oil

Stir together baking soda, flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt in a medium bowl and set aside.

In a large bowl, beat eggs, pumpkin, sugar and oil until well-combined. Spread the batter in an ungreased 15 X 10 baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool completely before frosting.

For the Cream Cheese Frosting

6 oz cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup butter, softened

2 tsp vanilla

4 cups sifted powdered sugar

In a large bowl, beat together cream cheese, butter and vanilla until fluffy. Gradually add powdered sugar, beating until smooth. Frost the cooled pumpkin bars and enjoy.