Pumpkin Bars
These are incredible. I found this recipe on mykitchencafe (can you tell I’m a huge fan of her site?), and I think she got it from Paula Deen. I was searching for a good seasonal recipe and this was exactly was I was looking for. Moist and pumpkiny, this bar (it’s really more like a cake) has a great flavor and texture. And the cream cheese icing is sweet and tangy and abundant. Seriously good. This recipe is one of my new favorites. (Sorry for the dark pictures. I made these in the evening and by the time they were done it was completely dark outside.)
Mike, who tried to tell me that he doesn’t like pumpkin, rated them a 3.75. (As a side note, after I questioned him and discovered that he liked these pumpkin bars, pumpkin muffins, and pumpkin roll, I realized that it is actually pumpkin pie that he has an aversion to, not pumpkin. I’m glad we cleared that up)
*Recipe note: I used to never sift any ingredients. If the recipe called for sifting, I just ignored it. After an experience with some rather dry cupcakes, for which I blame the lack of sifting, I have changed my ways. I am a firm believer that sifting your ingredients when the recipe calls for it will produce a lighter, moister end result. That being said, sift the flour in this recipe. Thank you.
Pumpkin Bars
Ingredients:
Bars:
4 eggs
1 2/3 cups granulated sugar
1 cup vegetable oil (can substitute 1/2 cup applesauce for 1/2 cup oil)
15-ounce can pumpkin
2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
Icing:
8-ounce package cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
2 cups sifted confectioners' sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Mix the eggs, sugar, oil and pumpkin together until light and fluffy. Stir together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, salt and baking soda. Add the dry ingredients to the pumpkin mixture and mix at low speed until thoroughly combined and the batter is smooth. Spread the batter into a greased 13x9 baking pan. Bake for 30 minutes. Let cool completely before frosting.
To make the icing, combine the cream cheese and butter in a medium bowl with an electric mixer until smooth. Add the sugar and mix at low speed until combined. Stir in the vanilla and mix again. Spread on cooled pumpkin bars.
from My Kitchen Cafe
Welcome! I'm Megan and it's my hope that here you'll find food that has been made with love and recipes that are shared with joy. Thanks for stopping by! 
Oh my those look fabulous! I want one!! Thanks for the recipe.
I made these this weekend for Paul and Mary. We all loved them.
Mom
Megan, I always love your commentaries. I'm glad you figured out the real culprit of your husband's pumpkin aversion, and I agree, sifting is the way to go. Glad you liked these!
I saw those too- are they as wonderful as they look? I am going to make them tomorrow! Cream cheese frosting just makes them perfect.
Barbara – they are better than they look! Let me know how they turn out 🙂
Oh! These pumpkin bars look delicious…moist and yummie, love the idea of adding the cream cheese topping, I'll try to make them and will definitely sift the flour 🙂
By the way, thanks for visiting my site 😉
ooo these soud/look SO good! I'm a pumpkin junkie!
It took mine around 40 minutes to bake. The middle was still quite gooey after 30 mins. I haven't tried them yet, but they smell and look great. I'm taking them down to the Philly teens tonight so we'll see if they get devoured or not.
You have a very nice blog and Congrats on the foodie blogroll!
Your pumpkin bars look fantastic. Thanks for the recipe.
Mimi
This recipe sounds pretty similar to a pumpkin bread I made a couple of night ago, only I did not have a delicious cream cheese icing.
Thanks for the nice comments! They definitely make me smile 🙂
I am an absolute pumpkin addict! Yummy! Thanks for visiting my blog! Cheers!
I love My Kitchen Cafe! She has the best recipes up over there with fabulous pictures!
AG – I agree! I've probably tried 10 recipes of hers already, and they're all great! 🙂
Once again, I have to tell you how great these pumpkin bars were! 🙂 thanks again for sharing them at work! Heather
YUM! These look soooo good!
Such gorgeous looking pumpkin bars!
That frosting looks to die for!
Haha I LOVE the side note about sifting. I love pumpkin cake/cupcakes/bread… am hoping my mom will let me replace our traditional boxed pumpkin pie with this dessert for Thanksgiving this year. 🙂
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