Pumpkin Cream Cheese Bars | Cookies and Cups

These pumpkin cream cheese bars are a simple dessert bar recipe that’s massive 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 proper fall dessert you can make from a field of cake combine.

• Straightforward. You don’t must make an entire pumpkin cheesecake to get pleasure from scrumptious and creamy pumpkin cheesecake flavors. In contrast to cheesecake, these bars don’t require any water tub or prolonged oven time.
• Lightened up. Just a few easy tweaks to the elements 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 full of 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 Substances

There are a number of easy elements wanted to make festive pumpkin bars swirled with candy and tangy cream cheese. Scroll to the recipe card beneath the publish for the complete quantities and particulars.

• Cream Cheese – You should utilize full-fat or reduced-fat brick-style cream cheese. Cream cheese unfold won’t work on this recipe.
• Powdered Sugar
• Cake Combine – A field of angel meals cake combine makes this recipe further handy, and in addition deliciously mild and fluffy.
• Pumpkin – Just remember to 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 can also 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 offered close to the canned pumpkin pie filling within the grocery retailer, but pumpkin puree and pumpkin pie filling will not be the identical factor. Pumpkin pie filling has extras and add-ins that make it a shortcut for filling pies, however not an appropriate 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 a number of 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 chopping them into squares. 

Suggestions and Variations for Pumpkin Cream Cheese Bars

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

• Regulate 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. For those who 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 steel pan. For those who’re utilizing a glass or ceramic baking dish, they’ll must bake for longer. Verify them for doneness as wanted (see my subsequent tip).
• Check 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 return 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 you can 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. High your bars with a dollop of whipped cream and a drizzle of one thing gooey and scrumptious, like Nutella hot fudge sauce or home made 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 publish was initially printed in October 2012. It was up to date in September 2023 with new photographs and ideas. The recipe stays the identical.