Pumpkin Cream Cheese Bars | Cookies and Cups

These pumpkin cream cheese bars are a straightforward dessert bar recipe that’s large on fall taste! Each chew is crammed with festive spices and silky candy cream cheese swirls. 

Why You’ll Love These Pumpkin Cream Cheese Bars

These gooey pumpkin and spice-filled bars are the right fall dessert that you would be able to make from a field of cake combine.

• Straightforward. You don’t must make a complete pumpkin cheesecake to take pleasure in scrumptious and creamy pumpkin cheesecake flavors. In contrast to cheesecake, these bars don’t require any water bathtub or prolonged oven time.
• Lightened up. A couple of easy tweaks to the components make these bars a bit lighter than different pumpkin cream cheese bar recipes.
• Swirls of cream cheese. Pumpkin cream cheese bars are swirled with decadent sweetened cream cheese filling and filled with pumpkin spice, so that you get a burst of creaminess and spice in each chew.

Can’t get sufficient pumpkin recipes? Take a look at my pumpkin cobbler recipe, this traditional homemade pumpkin pie, or this simple pumpkin bread. You too can discover inspiration in my best pumpkin recipes for fall!

Recipe Elements

There are just a few easy components wanted to make festive pumpkin bars swirled with candy and tangy cream cheese. Scroll to the recipe card beneath the submit for the total quantities and particulars.

• Cream Cheese – You should use full-fat or reduced-fat brick-style cream cheese. Cream cheese unfold is not going to work on this recipe.
• Powdered Sugar
• Cake Combine – A field of angel meals cake combine makes this recipe additional handy, and likewise deliciously mild and fluffy.
• Pumpkin – Just be sure you purchase actual pumpkin puree and never pumpkin pie filling. See beneath.
• Pumpkin Spice – Pumpkin spice is a mix of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and allspice. You may make your personal, or purchase it pre-mixed from the shop.

What Is Pumpkin Puree?

Pumpkin puree is pure pumpkin that’s been steamed, pureed, and canned, with nothing else added. It’s bought close to the canned pumpkin pie filling within the grocery retailer, but pumpkin puree and pumpkin pie filling aren’t the identical factor. Pumpkin pie filling has extras and add-ins that make it a shortcut for filling pies, however not an acceptable substitute for pumpkin puree.  

The right way to Make Pumpkin Cream Cheese Bars

These pumpkin cream cheese bars are a cinch to make. All it takes is just a few fast steps:

• Make the cream cheese filling. Beat collectively cream cheese and powdered sugar with a little bit of water to make the sleek filling.

• Make the pumpkin batter. In a separate bowl, stir collectively the cake combine with pumpkin puree, extra water, and spices. 

• Assemble. First, unfold the pumpkin batter into the underside of a greased 9×13 pan. Drizzle over the cream cheese filling, and use a toothpick or a knife to swirl the cream cheese into the batter.
• Bake. Bake the bars at 375ºF for 25-Half-hour, or till they’re set within the center. Afterward, depart the bars to chill utterly earlier than slicing them into squares. 

Ideas and Variations for Pumpkin Cream Cheese Bars

Making these wealthy and creamy fall dessert bars is even simpler if you hold the following pointers in thoughts:

• Alter the thickness of the cream cheese. This recipe makes use of 3 tablespoons of water to skinny out the cream cheese combination to a swirl-able consistency. When you discover that your filling is a bit runny, you’ll be able to adapt the quantity of water as wanted.
• Don’t add an excessive amount of pumpkin. Pumpkin puree = moisture, so do your greatest to measure your pumpkin accurately in order that your squares don’t come out wanting underbaked.  
• These bars will bake quicker in a metallic pan. When you’re utilizing a glass or ceramic baking dish, they’ll must bake for longer. Verify them for doneness as wanted (see my subsequent tip).
• Take a look at for doneness. Stick a toothpick into the center of the bars (attempt to keep away from the cream cheese swirl). If the toothpick comes out clear, the bars are prepared to come back out of the oven.
• Add praline. Attempt these cream cheese pumpkin praline bars for a scrumptious variation topped with a buttery pecan praline crumble.
• Add chocolate. Semi-sweet chocolate chips or white chocolate chips are a scrumptious addition to those pumpkin cream cheese bars.
• Make muffins as a substitute. For a variation that you would be able to tackle the go, make pumpkin cream cheese muffins. They style even higher than the pumpkin muffins from Starbucks!

Serving Ideas

This recipe for pumpkin cream cheese bars is ideal for fall gatherings and events, Thanksgiving desserts, or taking alongside to potlucks. The creamy, spiced squares pair properly with a heat mug or espresso after dinner (or any time of the day, actually), or you’ll be able to wash down slices with homemade hot chocolate. Prime your bars with a dollop of whipped cream and a drizzle of one thing gooey and scrumptious, like Nutella hot fudge sauce or do-it-yourself caramel sauce. For much more fall taste, attempt drizzling your squares with this apple cider caramel sauce or pumpkin spice caramel sauce. 

The right way to Retailer Pumpkin Cream Cheese Bars

As soon as your bars have cooled, retailer them hermetic within the fridge for as much as 4-5 days. You too can freeze these bars after they’ve cooled utterly. Wrap them tightly or retailer them hermetic for as much as 3 months, and defrost the bars within the fridge earlier than serving.

Extra Straightforward Pumpkin Desserts

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*This submit was initially printed in October 2012. It was up to date in September 2023 with new pictures and suggestions. The recipe stays the identical.