Craving pumpkin pie, but want something a bit more trendy and portable? These Pumpkin Pie Bars are an easy-to-make treat, packed with fall flavors!
(This recipe for Pumpkin Pie Bars was originally published in October 2009, but was updated with new photos in 2018).
Is anyone else having a canned pumpkin shortage in their area? If not, please send help! Because if there’s one thing I need at this time of year it’s canned pumpkin. And if there’s one thing I can’t find right now, it’s canned pumpkin. I’m starting to freak out. Luckily, I had one can on stock from last year and my mom donated one to me that she had. Phew.
Anyway, my point is, I have to be careful with my pumpkin until I know for sure I can find it. But when I saw a couple different versions of pumpkin pie bars floating around the Internet, I immediately knew I had to use one can for an adaptation on them. HAD TO. And I’m so, so glad I did.
PUMPKIN PIE BARS RECIPE
These pumpkin pie bars bars are fairly simple to make and are worth every step. Of which there are only really two. The first is making the curst for the bottom of the bars. If you’ve ever made a pie crust, this is similar in that you’ll be cutting butter into a flour mixture. But you’ll also be stirring in some oats and walnut or pecans. The recipe will still work fine if you don’t use any nuts, so I labeled them optional, though they do add a nice hearty crunch!
You’ll save some of the crust for the topping and then press the rest into a 9×13 inch pan and bake the it for 15 minutes, while you get started on the delicious pumpkin pie filling.
Again, super easy! You’ll start by beating your cream cheese until smooth. I always recommend doing this because it can be tough to get the lumps out of your cream cheese once you start adding other ingredients. Once it’s smooth, you can add in the pumpkin, the rest of your granulated sugar, eggs, vanilla, pumpkin pie spice, and salt.
And then pour it over the baked crust, sprinkle on the rest of the flour/oat crust mixture and the butterscotch chips and then pop the whole thing back in the oven for another 25 minutes, until the filling is set.
Let it cool before setting and then just know that these pumpkin pie bars are at their very best when served cold.
And when I say they’re at their best, I mean these are the VERY best. Seriously one of the most delicious desserts of the entire fall season. They’re basically just like pumpkin pie, but much more portable and fun. They’re like the updated, modern version of pumpkin pie.
If you are craving pumpkin pie, but don’t feel like making a whole pie, make these pumpkin pie bars instead! And then invite some friends over for coffee and chit-chat and put these on a plate. Or bring a little plate to your neighbors. Or just sit on the couch and eat them yourself. And make yourself feel better about it by telling yourself, “at least I’m not eating a whole pie.” Trust me, I’m an expert at these things.
I have a feeling I’ll be making these pumpkin pie bars many more times this season and in the years to come. Assuming I can find canned pumpkin. Otherwise, I’ll be heading down to the pumpkin patch to make my own puree!
Even if you only have one can of pumpkin puree left in your pantry, I promise that these pumpkin pie bars are worth it.
Happy fall 🙂
Do you stock up on pumpkin puree?
If you’re looking for more fun fall treats, check out my recipe for Pumpkin Pie Cookie Dough Bars or Pumpkin Spice Linzer Cookies. And I can’t wait to try this Cookie Butter Cheesecake Stuffed Pumpkin Bread from Lemon and Mocha!
Pumpkin Pie Bars
Ingredients
- 1 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar, divided
- 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, chilled and cut into cubes
- 1 cup old-fashioned oats (uncooked)
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)
- 8 oz. light cream cheese, softened
- 1 can (15 oz.) pumpkin puree
- 3 large eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 Tbsp pumpkin pie spice
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup butterscotch chips
Instructions
- Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees and line a 9x13 baking pan with foil so it's overhanging on all sides.
- In a medium bowl, mix together flour, 1/4 cup granulated sugar, all the brown sugar, and cinnamon. Using a pastry cutter, fork, or your fingers, cut in butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in oats and walnuts (if using).
- Set aside 1 cup of the mixture and place the rest in the prepared baking pan. Using your fingers, press the mixture into an even layer on the bottom of the pan. Bake for 15 minutes. Remove from oven, but keep oven on.
- While crust is baking, make filling. In the bowl of a stand mixer or in a large bowl with a hand mixer, beat cream cheese for about 2 minutes, until smooth. Add remaining granulated sugar, pumpkin, eggs, vanilla, pumpkin spice, and salt to bowl and beat until smooth and combined.
- Pour the pumpkin mixture over the top of the baked crust. Sprinkle with the remainder oat mixture and butterscotch chips.
- Bake for another 25 minutes until filling is just set. Let cool completely before slicing. Store in airtight containers in fridge.
Notes
- Adapted from Kraft
Those look amazing- I love all things pumpkin! I just got some pumpkin at Shaws in the Prudential the other day.
We made a pumpkin bisque at my restaurant last week. It was very popular. When we needed to run out for more canned pumpkin, we hit the same roadblock you did. Apparantly, there is a nation wide pumpkin shortage… to much rain this summer. This could be a rumor, but it sounds reasonable, that the US is considering importing pumpkins from other countries to have enough for Halloween and Thanksgiving.
I can’t find pumpkin either! I’ve been searching the grocery stores for weeks now. I’ve even searched in other towns when we visited my family and my in-laws. Come back, pumpkin!
I absolutely love the past few blogs on pumpkin. Its one of my favorite things of fall – from pumpkin lattes to pumpkin ice cream to pumpkin cheesecake. I picked up a great pumpkin mandarin marmalade from Wholefoods last week. You should check it out. In the meantime, I’ll give this recipe a try!
mmmm i love all things pumpkin. i think that’s kind of a new englander requirement. I’ve made something similar to these, sans pumpkin- they were boozy blondies and i used jack daniels. mmm, cant wait to make them!
This makes me want to leave work immediately to go home and make them. Wow! I guess it doesn’t help that I haven’t eating breakfast yet!
I think I want to make these next weekend for a friends birthday.
seriously, yum! so bummed about the lack of pumpkin in stores though! i know the S&S in Coolidge was out the last time i was there. don’t they know we need it??
There WAS a pumpkin shortage! But hopefully, it is now over. I just got some at S&S in Watertown. Funny, I thought I was the only person who thought this – check out my post from the other day. I talked to Libby’s! There was a shortage – you guys weren’t imagining things!
Wow that looks so good.
I found your blog recently and have enjoyed reading it (mostly because I also live in Boston and we seem to share the same love of food and good restaurants). Anyway, for the past two months I have been looking for canned pumpkin like nobody’s business….sadly, not to make delicious pumpkin bars, but rather to feed my dog (for any dog owners out there, canned pumpkin helps dogs become more ‘regular’ and ‘firm’. tasty). BUT, I recently discovered where all of Boston’s canned pumpkin lives…..the nasty, carpeted Johnny’s Foodmaster outside Inman Square in Somerville. They even have TWO sizes of cans – regular and jumbo. Please wait until tomorrow to go there so i can snag some cans after work…thanks a bunch. erin
Oooh, I made these last winter for a holiday party and my friends gobbled them right up! Gooooood stuff and a fun twist on pumpkin.
PS-there is a sweet potato cheesecake that i’ve made a few times that is TO DIE FOR (and has kind of a pumpkin taste, esp because I use half sweet potato/half pumpkin mix). YOU MUST TRY IT.
I can’t find canned pumpkin either and it’s driving me crazy – ugh! Your bars look amazing!
wow, that looks incredible! there’s pumpkin at the store by me… maybe i should buy them out 🙂
Yum! I’ll be trying these this week!
Also, I second the Shaws in the Pru- I found canned pumpkin there recently (although they were running low).
A shortage of canned pumpkin at this time of year might be the most devastating thing ever! None at the Stop and Shop on Harvard, and just ONE CAN at the Shaw’s on Beacon. It is unbelievable, and I am desperate for the shelves to fill up again! Especially so I can try this recipe. Holy sweetness!
These look delicious and you are not the only person having trouble finding canned pumpkin!
I was in Stop and Shop yesterday and when I went down the baking aisle all I could find was the prepared pumpkin. Eeek… I started to fret! I asked one of the employees where all the pumkin was and he informed me there was a crop failure so there is a mega shortage. If you see any, buy it in bulk!!
what a great fall treat! love the new look of your blog too
These look yummy and rich. Love the chips and crispy topping.
I think there really is a canned pumpkin shortage in my area. I can’t find it anywhere! Need canned pumpkin pronto!!
I made this recipe last night for my roommates and they absolutely loved them! They ate the whole tray and I can wait to make another batch.
Such festive and delicious bars!
I’m in the Uk and can hardly ever find canned pumpkin – so annoying when there are delicious recipes like this I need to try!!