Description
Make Fluffy Pumpkin Spice Bars! These soft, spiced treats topped with a dreamy vanilla cream frosting are pure autumn joy, easy to bake for any occasion.
Ingredients
- For the Fluffy Pumpkin Bars:
- All-Purpose Flour
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Baking Powder
- Baking Soda
- Pumpkin Pie Spice
- Salt
- Pumpkin Puree
- Large Eggs
- Vegetable Oil
- For the Vanilla Cream Frosting:
- Cream Cheese (softened)
- Unsalted Butter (softened)
- Powdered Sugar
- Vanilla Extract
- Finishing Touches:
- Cinnamon (for dusting, optional)
- Optional Extras:
- Toasted Pecans or Walnuts
- Orange Zest (for frosting)
Instructions
- Prep Your Pan:: First things first, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C), because honestly, this is where I usually get distracted and forget. Then, grease and flour a 9×13 inch baking pan. I like to line mine with parchment paper, leaving an overhang, so it’s super easy to lift the Fluffy Pumpkin Spice Bars out later. It saves a lot of scraping and makes for a much cleaner cut, trust me on this one.
- Whisk the Dry Bits:: In a large bowl, whisk together your flour, granulated sugar, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, pumpkin pie spice, and salt. Give it a good whisk to break up any brown sugar clumps and ensure all those lovely spices are evenly distributed. See those little spice clumps? Break ’em up! We want even spice distribution in our fluffy pumpkin spice bars. This step is key for a consistent texture and flavor, so don’t rush it.
- Mix the Wet Wonders:: In a separate, medium bowl, combine the pumpkin puree, eggs, and vegetable oil. Whisk them until they’re well combined and smooth. This is where the magic starts to happen; I love the smell of the pumpkin and sugar mixing, it just smells like autumn. Make sure everything is nicely incorporated before moving on, it makes a difference to the final fluffy pumpkin spice bars.
- Combine with Care:: Now, pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Stir them together with a spatula or wooden spoon until *just* combined. Seriously, don’t overmix! A few lumps are totally okay, I promise, they lead to fluffy pumpkin spice bars, not dense ones. Overmixing develops the gluten too much, and we’re aiming for tender, soft bars here, not a brick!
- Bake to Perfection:: Pour the batter evenly into your prepared 9×13 inch pan. Pop it into the preheated oven and bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. The waiting game! My kitchen smells incredible right now. I always peek, even though I know I shouldn’t, but resist the urge to open the oven door too early, or your fluffy pumpkin spice bars might sink.
- Frosting Time (Patiently!):: Let the bars cool completely in the pan on a wire rack. This is crucial! While they cool, beat softened cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract together until smooth and creamy for the frosting. Patience is key here. If the bars are warm, your frosting will melt into a sad puddle. I’ve been there, it’s a sad sight. Once cooled, spread that dreamy vanilla cream frosting generously over your fluffy pumpkin spice bars.