Perfect Pumpkin Bars
These cake-like perfect pumpkin bars, topped with fluffy cream cheese frosting are moist, flavorful, and sure to become a seasonal favorite!
Ingredients
Pumpkin Bar Ingredients
- 4 eggs or 1 cup egg beaters
- 1 2/3 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1 ` can pumpkin puree (15 ounce can)
- 2 cups flour
- 2 tsp. baking powder
- 2 tsp. cinnamon
- 1 tsp. salt
- 1 tsp. baking soda
Ingredients for Cream Cheese Frosting
- 1 block cream cheese (softened)
- 1 stick butter (softened)
- 2 cups confectioner's sugar
- 1 tsp. pure vanilla
Instructions
Instructions to Make the Pumpkin Bars
- Before you begin making the bars, set out the cream cheese and butter so they will be room temperature when you are ready to make the frosting.
- With an electric mixer, combine eggs or egg beaters, sugar, oil, applesauce, and pumpkin. Mix well.
- In a separate bowl, combine flour baking powder, cinnamon, salt, and baking soda.
- Next, add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients to make a cake batter.
- Pour the batter into a greased 9 by 13 inch rectangular baking dish.
- Bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees, or until the center is completely cooked.
- While the pumpkin bars are baking, make the cream cheese frosting.
Instructions for Making Cream Cheese Frosting
- With an electric mixer, combine softened cream cheese, butter confectioner's sugar, and vanilla. Mix until it is light and fluffy.
Notes
Set out your eggs, butter, and cream cheese before beginning. These ingredients should be at room temperature.
Wait until the cake is completely cooled before frosting. Cut into 24 bars and enjoy!
Substitutions:
To make this recipe a bit healthier, you can substitute oil for applesauce. 1/2 cup oil is equal to 1/2 cup applesauce.
You can also substitute whole eggs for egg substitute (Egg Beaters). 4 eggs would equal one cup of Egg Beaters.
Cream cheese can be substituted for Neufchatel cheese. Neufchatel cheese has a lower fat content.