Pumpkin Bars

Instructions

To make the pumpkin bars:

1. Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9×13-inch baking pan.
2. Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves.
3. Combine Wet Ingredients: In another bowl, mix the pumpkin puree, vegetable oil, eggs, and vanilla extract until well combined.
4. Combine and Bake: Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix until the batter is smooth. Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan.
5. Bake: Bake for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
6. Cool and Cut: Allow the pumpkin bars to cool in the pan for about 15 minutes. Then, cut them into squares.

To make the cream cheese frosting:

1. Soften Cream Cheese and Butter: Make sure both the cream cheese and unsalted butter are at room temperature. This step is crucial for achieving a smooth and creamy frosting.
2. Cream Together: In a mixing bowl, combine the softened cream cheese and softened butter. Use an electric mixer or a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment to beat the cream cheese and butter together until well combined and creamy, about 2-3 minutes.
3. Add Vanilla Extract: Mix in the vanilla extract to flavor the frosting. Continue to beat until the vanilla is fully incorporated.
4. Gradually Add Confectioners’ Sugar: With the mixer on low speed, gradually add the confectioners’ sugar, one cup at a time. After each addition, mix on low until the sugar is mostly incorporated before increasing the speed to high and beating until the frosting is smooth.
5. Adjust Consistency: If the frosting is too thick, you can add a small amount of milk (usually 1-2 tablespoons) to achieve your desired consistency. Conversely, if it’s too thin, add more confectioners’ sugar.
6. Frost the Pumpkin Bars: Once your pumpkin bars have cooled completely, spread the cream cheese frosting evenly over the bars using a spatula or a butter knife.
7. Serve: Slice and serve your frosted pumpkin bars, and enjoy the delicious combination of flavors!