Let’s get ready for the cozy season with our delightful pumpkin bars with chocolate chips. These moist spiced pumpkin bars, generously studded with semisweet chocolate chips and topped with a creamy cream cheese icing, are a delicious seasonal treat that’s sure to satisfy your autumn cravings.
Jump to RecipeWhenever I think of pumpkin season – I think of this recipe! My sister and I have been making these since we were kids from family friend’s recipe. The bars are moist and topped with a rich cream cheese icing – and the recipe makes a large batch perfect for sharing!
The recipe is simple. You can use your hand mixer to whip up a light cake batter, then add in your spices, pumpkin and chocolate chips.
Spread the batter in a greased half-sheet pan and bake for 20 minutes. Let sit on a wire rack until completely cool.
While your cake is cooling – prepare your cream cheese icing. Whip the softened cream cheese and butter together until fluffy. Gradually add the powdered sugar and whip until smooth and creamy.
Spread the icing in a thin layer on the cooled cake.
Add these pumpkin bars to your fall lineup, and let us know if you enjoy them!
Ingredients
Flour. Provides the base structure for the bars.
Baking Powder and Baking Soda. Leavening agents that help the bars rise and become fluffy.
Cinnamon. Adds warmth and flavor to the bars.
Salt. Enhances the overall flavor and balances sweetness.
Oil. Adds moisture and contributes to the bars’ texture.
Sugar. Sweetens the bars. We use white sugar to not change the color of the bars.
Eggs. Bind the ingredients together and provide structure.
Pumpkin. Adds a rich, autumnal flavor and moisture to the bars. You can use store-bought unsweetened pumpkin filling.
Semisweet Chocolate Chips. Adds chocolatey goodness and texture to the bars.
Cream Cheese Icing:
Cream Cheese. Provides a tangy and creamy element to the icing.
Butter. Enhances the richness of the icing.
Vanilla. Adds flavor to the icing.
Powdered Sugar. Sweetens and thickens the icing.
How to Make Pumpkin Bars with Chocolate Chips
- Preheat oven to 350℉. Generously grease a half-sheet baking pan.
- In a small bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt and set aside.
- In a mixing bowl, beat oil and sugar together until well mixed. Whip in eggs and then pumpkin. Add flour mixture and mix until well blended. Stir in chocolate chips.
- Pour batter onto greased baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes until set in the middle. Remove from the oven onto a rack and cool completely.
- For the icing – in a mixing bowl, cream together the softened cream cheese and butter. Add vanilla and powdered sugar and whip until fluffy. Spread a thin layer on cooled bars.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can use fresh pumpkin instead of canned pumpkin puree. To do this, you’ll need to cook and puree the fresh pumpkin until it’s smooth. Be sure to remove excess moisture by straining the puree or allowing it to drain in a fine-mesh sieve before using it in the recipe. The flavor and texture may vary slightly from canned pumpkin, but it can still work well.
To store these bars, place them in an airtight container and keep them in the refrigerator. They should stay fresh for about 3-4 days. If you’d like to extend their freshness, you can also freeze them in an airtight container for up to 2-3 months. Just make sure to wrap them well to prevent freezer burn.
If you prefer an alternative to cream cheese in the icing, you can use mascarpone cheese, which has a similar creamy texture and mild flavor. Alternatively, you could make a simple vanilla or chocolate glaze using powdered sugar, milk or cream, and vanilla or cocoa powder. Adjust the sweetness and consistency to your liking.
More Recipes to Try
Pumpkin Bars
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minutes245
kcal2
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minutesLet's get ready for the cozy season with our delightful pumpkin bars. These moist spiced pumpkin bars, generously studded with semisweet chocolate chips and topped with a creamy cream cheese icing, are a delicious seasonal treat that's sure to satisfy your autumn cravings.
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Ingredients
- Bars
2 cups 2 flour
2 tsp 2 baking powder
1 tsp 1 baking soda
2 tsp 2 cinnamon
1/2 tsp 1/2 salt
1 cup 1 oil
2 cups 2 sugar
4 large 4 eggs
2 cups 2 pumpkin
6 ounces 6 semisweet chocolate chips
- Cream Cheese Icing
3 oz 3 cream cheese softened
1/4 cup 1/4 butter softened
1 tsp 1 vanilla
2 cups 2 powdered sugar
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350℉. Generously grease a half-sheet baking pan.
- In a small bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt and set aside.
- In a mixing bowl, beat oil and sugar together until well mixed. Whip in eggs and then pumpkin. Add flour mixture and mix until well blended. Stir in chocolate chips.
- Pour batter onto greased baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes until set in the middle. Remove from the oven onto a rack and cool completely.
- For the icing – in a mixing bowl, cream together the softened cream cheese and butter. Add vanilla and powdered sugar and whip until fluffy. Spread a thin layer on cooled bars.
Nutrition Facts
- Calories: 245kcal
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