Pumpkin and spice come together in these yummy cookie bars. They are quick and easy to make and taste like fall!
Pumpkin cookies with yummy frosting are always a popular fall treat. But if scooping and frosting all those individual cookies seems like a little too much, don’t despair.
We can make a yummy pan of cookie bars and skip those steps! These tasty pumpkin spice cookie bars are fabulous way to get those flavors you are craving with a fraction of the effort. They are fun, festive and oh so good!
Have you been doing extra baking this year? I feel like we have. I think it’s the extra time at home and wanting something to keep our hands busy.
If I’m being perfectly honest, I think there is some stress eating involved too. But whatever the genesis, there have been lots of pumpkin treats this fall.
It has been kind of fun to really focus on pumpkin lately. Usually most of my fall baking revolves around apple recipes with just a few pumpkin treats sprinkled in.
This year we have gone whole hog on that orange beauty. I thought we were done with pumpkin treats, but Little Dude insisted we whip up some pumpkin puree from the pie pumpkin we got at the pumpkin patch.
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We made a quick video of the pumpkin puree making process and put it on YouTube if you care to see it. Once you make puree, you want to go ahead and make a treat… so here we are!
I originally shared this recipe back in 2015. So Little Dude and I thought it was high time to revisit the post and freshen it up.
Making bars instead of individual cookies cuts a lot of time and effort out of the process. It is so much easier to pat it into the pan and bake it than scoop individual cookies.
Not only do you not have to scoop them all, but you can skip the chilling time because the sides of the pan will keep the cookie from spreading. Plus then you don’t have to keep rotating the pans in and out of the oven.
Frosting the cookies gets a lot easier as well. Just spread it over the pan and add sprinkles if desired. Easy peasy!
We really like marshmallow fluff buttercream on these cookies, but it would also be great with cinnamon brown sugar cream cheese frosting, or caramel buttercream.
Then just cut your cookies into bars and serve. They are perfect for a family gathering or party.
Storage
As long as your frosting is able to stay at room temperature, you can store these cookie bars on the counter for up to a week. Cover them with plastic wrap to keep them from drying out.
If you want to save some for later, you can freeze them for up to three months. Let the frosting set and put wax paper between the layers to keep them from sticking to each other.
Pumpkin Spice Cookie Bars
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter softened
- 1 cup light brown sugar packed
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 cup pumpkin puree
- 2 cups white whole wheat flour
- 3½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 3½ teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F
- Cream together 1 cup butter, 1 cup light brown sugar, and 1 cup granulated sugar.
- Add 4 large eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition.
- Stir in 2 teaspoons vanilla extract and 1 cup pumpkin puree until combined.
- Add 2 cups white whole wheat flour, 3½ cups all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon baking soda and 3½ teaspoons pumpkin pie spice. Stir until just combined.
- Spread into a 10×15-inch bar pan. The dough should be thick like cookie dough and thus a little hard to spread. Try to get it relatively uniform.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Allow to cool completely and then spread marshmallow buttercream or your favorite frosting over the top. MMM!
Notes
Video
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Oh my! Those look and sound amazing. I love pumpkin, so I will be trying them for sure. I'm glad you kept your promise to Heather. YUM!
Me too! I can't wait for the weather to cool down a bit so I can really get in the mood for more baking with pumpkin!
I love autumn recipes so this is right up my street. I bought a can of pumpkin yesterday and also have had 3 pumpkin spice latter in the space of 4 days lol. These bars look perfect! Laura@ Baking in Pyjamas
I love autumn recipes too! Anything apple or pumpkin just sounds wonderful right now! I haven't stopped in for a pumpkin spice latte yet, but I am not sure I can hold out much longer!
I am craving all the great fall recipes out there now. This looks amazing
Me too! I love how warm and cozy fall recipes are!
Yummy! Thanks for supplying the recipe to my first fall outing!
I hope you love them!
YUMMO! Pumpkin spice is what I look forward to the most during the fall season! Thank you so much for sharing this recipe on the tour… Can't wait to make some…. YUM!
It is always one of the things I look forward too!
Visiting from the Harvest tour while having my coffee and now…I want a pumpkin bar!
I would gladly share with you!
Hi Carlee,
I'm visiting as a fellow participant of the Harvest Tour of Homes. These look delicious! I am ready for some fall baking.
Lori from LL Farm
Me too! I just need for it to cool down a bit.
Hi Carlee – Visiting as a fellow contributor at the Harvest Home Tour. These look absolutely delish! Happy fall to you! Hugs, Holly
Have a wonderful fall!
Ohmygoodness the recipes you share are so appealing to the eye…I often share them
What a great way to get into the FALL THING! I am following-hope I have not missed you anywhere!
Thank you so much!
Hi Carlee,
This looks delicious. My husband loves pumpkin spice anything. In fact, I'm getting ready to try making a cookie with it this morning to take to a early Labor Day party today. This recipe looks great and I will have to keep it in mind. Especially if my cookie idea flops. Thanks.
I do too! Good luck on your cookies and have a fun long weekend!