
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.
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.
Original post from 2015:
I am certainly not wishing summer away. We have had so
much fun and there is so much more I want to do.
However, I love fall. I love fall flavors. I
love football. I love hoodies.
I love temperate days and cool evenings. I recently
bought myself a little treat, a new bar pan and I couldn't wait to use it.
What? A new pan counts as a treat! We all have our vices!
Anyway, my favorite way to season a new pan (especially a stoneware one)
is with cookies. I know, I don't need much of an excuse for cookies.

However, they really are great for this. All of that butter is
excellent for the pan. So, a new bar pan means lots of cookie bars.
You want that pan now, don't you?!
So, anyway, I had to break out some fall flavors on this one.
We had a few cool days and I wanted to take
advantage.
Pumpkin and pumpkin pie spice are like a warm hug on a
cool day. Top that off with some
marshmallow fluff buttercream and we are really in business!
These cookie bars were well received by everyone.
I dropped some off at my sister's house.
My brother took some home after trying one. I
dropped some off at my husband's work site.
Needless to say it didn't take them long to disappear, which is a
really good thing because I have no self control when things like this are
sitting around!

Storing your cookie bars
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.
Watch us whip them up on YouTube

Pumpkin Spice Cookie Bars
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter, softened
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- 1 cup pumpkin puree
- 2 cups whole wheat flour (I used white whole wheat)
- 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 3 1/2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 F
- Cream together butter and sugars. Add eggs and mix well.
- Stir in vanilla and pumpkin puree until combined.
- Add flours, salt, baking soda and pumpkin pie spice. Stir until just combined.
- Spread into a 10x15" 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 over the top. MMM!
Notes:
Calories
164.42Fat (grams)
5.97Sat. Fat (grams)
3.48Carbs (grams)
25.34Fiber (grams)
1.26Net carbs
24.08Sugar (grams)
10.82Protein (grams)
2.98Sodium (milligrams)
144.44Cholesterol (grams)
34.22
Hi Carlee,
ReplyDeleteThis 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!
DeleteOhmygoodness the recipes you share are so appealing to the eye...I often share them
ReplyDeleteWhat a great way to get into the FALL THING! I am following-hope I have not missed you anywhere!
Thank you so much!
DeleteHi Carlee - Visiting as a fellow contributor at the Harvest Home Tour. These look absolutely delish! Happy fall to you! Hugs, Holly
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful fall!
DeleteHi Carlee,
ReplyDeleteI'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.
DeleteVisiting from the Harvest tour while having my coffee and now…I want a pumpkin bar!
ReplyDeleteI would gladly share with you!
DeleteYUMMO! 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!
ReplyDeleteIt is always one of the things I look forward too!
DeleteYummy! Thanks for supplying the recipe to my first fall outing!
ReplyDeleteI hope you love them!
DeleteI am craving all the great fall recipes out there now. This looks amazing
ReplyDeleteMe too! I love how warm and cozy fall recipes are!
DeleteI 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! [email protected] Baking in Pyjamas
ReplyDeleteI 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!
DeleteOh 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!
ReplyDeleteMe 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!
DeleteHi, Carlee
ReplyDeleteHow yummy! I love cooking anything that has pumpkin in it. I am going to give this a try for sure. Stopping by from the Havest Tour.
Me too! I love spring and summer, but at this point in the year I am ready to start thinking about fall! Thanks for stopping by!
DeleteHi Carlee, we are heading into Spring in Australia, however I'm sure these would be just as nice now although it does remind me of Autumn. Thanks for sharing this lovely recipe with us at #anythinggoes. Always a pleasure having you link up
ReplyDeleteI could certainly eat pumpkin any time, though it does feel most at home in the fall. There is something so warm and comforting about pumpkin pie spice as the weather gets cooler! Thank you so much for giving everyone a chance to share!
DeleteLovin the pumpkin spice! Thank you so much for linking up to Merry Monday this week! I am sharing your post tomorrow on my Twitter We hope to see you next week for another great party! Have a great week!
ReplyDeleteBest,
Kim
Thank you so much!
DeleteI live in Florida, so we don't get many "fallish" days, but I'll still eat my share of pumpkin! These bars look super moist and the marshmallow frosting sounds delicious!
ReplyDeleteIt doesn't have to be too cold for me to want pumpkin, it is just hard to bake with it when there is so much fresh fruit during the spring and summer! The frosting makes them!
DeleteFantastic recipe, perfect for Fall! Thank you for sharing and for linking up with the OMHGWW! Have a wonderful night!!
ReplyDeleteThank you! We are about to get another cool spell, so I feel more fall baking coming on! Thanks so much for hosting.
DeleteEven though we are just out of winter and now spring I will still try this recipe. Sounds delicious. Thanks Carlee for linking up again with us at #WednesdaysWisdom
ReplyDeleteIt is so much fun to hear from you being from so far away! It is amazing how the internet shrinks this world of ours!
DeleteHi Carlee, Love the new pan! =) Summer is still lingering around here too, and I can't wait for Pumpkin spice everything, hoodies, and cool crisp mornings! Your bars look delish, and your marshmallow buttercream sounds heavenly! Thank you for the bar to go with my morning coffee! Enjoy the rest of your week! =)
ReplyDeleteI love the new pan too. I have used it a handful of times already! We are supposed be in the 70's this weekend, so that sounds heavenly to me. I am thinking soup for watching the football game on Sunday! Hooray! Thanks for stopping by as always, Christine!
DeleteYou're right. I do want a pan like that! I love making cookie bars, too. I have a confession to make this fall, I don't like pumpkin flavored anything. I might be kicked out of blogging for admitting that one! But, I know most people love it and I'm sure your recipe is one they will love. I've pinned and tweeted and thank you for sharing on Snickerdoodle Sunday!
ReplyDeleteThat's ok, more for the rest of us! I do really like the pan though, it is perfect for bar cookies or a really big deep dish pizza! Thank you so much for sharing!
DeleteBeverly, you are not alone. I don't care for pumpkin either.
DeleteIt's ok, I'll keep you both around anyway ;-) I'll just have to bake apple stuff for you this fall instead of all pumpkin!
DeleteLove the bars.Thanks for sharing. I love your tag line for your blog.
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteWould it be bad of me to admit the frosting looks like the best part? I am a bit of a frosting fiend too.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing on Creative K Kids' Tasty Tuesdays link up. Hope to see you back next week.
I can't help myself when it comes to the stuff! I wouldn't judge if you just made the frosting. ;-)
DeleteYum, yum, yum- these sound amazing! So glad you linked up at Snickerdoodle Sunday and hope to see your latest & greatest this weekend!
ReplyDeleteSarah (Sadie Seasongoods)
They were pretty darn good! I will certainly be stopping by again this weekend with a new crop of yummies!
DeleteOh goodness! I love pumpkin everything!
ReplyDeleteMe too! Especially when it is chilly out.
DeleteBar cookies are my favorite kind of cookie to make! These are perfect for fall! Thanks for sharing them with us at #FoodieFriDIY...sending some foodie love your way!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much!
DeleteYUM!! Thank you so much for linking up at Tasty Tuesday! This post has been pinned on the Tasty Tuesday Pinterest board! I love having you and can't wait to see you next week!
ReplyDeleteThanks for hosting!
DeleteYummy! Thanks so much for sharing at Inspiration Thursday. These cookie bars look so easy to make and I think my family would love them.
ReplyDeleteThey are easy and delicious! Thanks so much for hosting!
DeleteHi Carlee, I love your pumpkin bars and thanks for sharing the recipe at C&C with J&J! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for hosting, Julie!
DeletePinned! These sound amazing! YUM!
ReplyDeleteI would love for you to share this with my Facebook Group for recipes, crafts, tips, and tricks: https://www.facebook.com/groups/pluckyrecipescraftstips/
Thanks for joining Cooking and Crafting with J & J!
Thanks!
DeleteMy pumpkin spice loving heart thanks you for these! I love how pretty the frosting looks! Have a wonderful and sunshiny weekend!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Andrea!
Delete