Cream Cheese Pumpkin Bars

3.50 from 2 votes

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pumpkin bars on a plate

In our household that is full of boys, dogs, and dads, it is a given  that as the Halloween season approaches there will be plenty of treats and pumpkins in our midst.  I’m A O.K. with this for a couple of reasons.  I love Halloween, naturally I love treats, and I’m of the opinion that you just can’t have too many pumpkins.

Food on a table, with Pumpkin
I grew up on a farm with a big garden.  My mom tended to that garden almost religiously and the fruits (and in this case vegetables) of her efforts helped feed our family throughout the year.  The eastern quarter of the garden, that was my neighborhood, or so I liked to believe.  That was the pumpkin patch.

A close up of food on a table, with Pumpkin

During those days on the farm, I don’t recall my mom ever using pumpkin from a can.  Nor do I remember her making anything with pumpkins other than pumpkin pie, which was and probably to this day remains my favorite pie.

A piece of food on a table, with Pumpkin bars

It seems that back then life was simpler.  Cream cheese pumpkin bars like this may have existed, but not likely from the ovens of any rural dairy farms.  Sometimes change is good and now recipes like this one are readily available and there seems to be no end to the goodness that can come from my favorite garden produce.

a plate of dessert bars

From the comments and emails we get from our readers it seems apparent that many of you can’t get enough pumpkin in your lives either, especially this time of year.  To that end, we’ll be getting our pumpkin on here Platter Talk.  Grab yourself a can or three of packed pumpkin or perhaps a couple of small baking pumpkins and let’s get ready to bake!

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Cream Cheese Pumpkin Bars

3.50 from 2 votes
Adapted from Taste of Home
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 30 minutes
Total: 40 minutes
Yield: 12 servings

Ingredients 

  • 1-1/3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 3/4 cup sugar, divided
  • 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
  • 3/4 cup cold butter, cubed
  • 1 cup old-fashioned oats
  • 1/2 cup chopped pecans
  • 1 package, 8 ounces cream cheese, softened, cubed
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon ground allspice
  • 1 teaspoon ground cardamom
  • 1 can, 15 ounces solid-pack pumpkin
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 3 eggs, lightly beaten
  • 3/4 cups mini chocolate chips

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 350°. In a small bowl, mix flour, 1/4 cup sugar and brown sugar; cut in butter until crumbly. Stir in oats and pecans. Reserve 1 cup for topping.
  • Press remaining crumb mixture onto bottom of a greased 13x9-in. baking pan. Bake 15 minutes.
  • In a small bowl, beat cream cheese, spices and remaining sugar until smooth. Beat in pumpkin and vanilla.
  • Add eggs; beat on low speed just until blended. Stir in chocolate chips.
  • Pour over warm crust; sprinkle with reserved crumb mixture.
  • Bake 20-25 minutes or until a knife inserted near the center comes out clean and filling is set.
  • Cool on a wire rack. Serve or refrigerate, covered, within 2 hours.
  • Cut into bars.

Nutrition

Calories: 339kcal, Carbohydrates: 39g, Protein: 4g, Fat: 19g, Saturated Fat: 10g, Cholesterol: 73mg, Sodium: 128mg, Potassium: 83mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 29g, Vitamin A: 439IU, Calcium: 41mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Tried this recipe?Mention @plattertalk or tag #plattertalk!


Meet the Platter Talk Guys

Dan & Scott split their time between Wisconsin and Southwest Florida and are dads to six boys. Good food runs through their veins, and they love showing others how to cook easy recipes.

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3.50 from 2 votes (1 rating without comment)

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19 Comments

  1. Wow! These Cream Cheese Pumpkin Bars look AMAZING. Thank you so much for sharing at Think and Make Thursday this week!

    1. Thank you for your comments, and yes – these autumn themed bars are perfect for our late year holidays.

  2. G’day and thanks for sharing at our #SayGdayParty Dan!Pumpkin yum! Pinned this and your previous submission too! Wish i could try one right NOW!
    Please make sure to revisit and Say G’day to the hosts and people at the party if you haven’t already!
    Cheers! Joanne
    Thanks for your support!

  3. These look so good! The crumb topping and chocolate chips put them over the top! Definitely adding these to my fall baking list!

  4. I have never been a huge pumpkin pie fan, but these? I think the added texture of the topping would really make me happy! What a treat!

  5. Your bars look delicious! We love anything pumpkin – so bring it on! Have a great weekend gentlemen!
    Please remember to stop by for our giveaway! Ciao!