Get into the perfect fall mood with this tasty pumpkin bread recipe! These pumpkin bars are yummy, soft, and sturdy! They have an amazing pumpkin flavor and make for an amazing fall treat!

Ingredients-

• 2 cups all-purpose flour (spoon & leveled)
• 1 and 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 and 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 2 teaspoons store-bought or homemade pumpkin pie spice
• 1 cup vegetable oil (or coconut oil)
• 3 large eggs
• 1 cup packed light or dark brown sugar
• 1/3 cup granulated sugar
• 2 Tablespoons pure maple syrup
• 1 can pumpkin puree
• 1 and 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

Cream Cheese Frosting-

• 8 ounces full-fat block cream cheese, softened to room temperature
• 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
• 3 cups powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon store-bought or homemade pumpkin pie spice*
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• Optional: sprinkles or other candy for decorating!

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees
2. Mix dry ingredients together. You need flour, baking powder, baking soda, ground cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, and salt. You can use homemade pumpkin pie spice here if you would like.
3. Whisk wet ingredients together. You need vegetable oil or melted coconut oil, eggs, brown sugar, granulated sugar, pure maple syrup, 1 can pumpkin puree, and vanilla extract. If you would like to add chocolate chips, add them after the wet and dry ingredients are well combined. Do not overstir.
4. Spread into a 10×15 inch baking pan. I didn’t grease or put on parchment paper, but you can if you would like. I added a few more chocolate chips on the top.
5. Bake for 28-35 minutes. Baking times will vary, so keep an eye on yours. The bars are done when a toothpick poked in the center comes out clean.
6. Cool, then frost. (Optional)
7. Make the frosting. In a large bowl using a handheld or stand mixer, beat the cream cheese and butter together on high speed until smooth and creamy. Add powdered sugar, vanilla, pumpkin pie spice, and salt. Beat on low speed for 30 seconds, then switch to high speed and beat for 2 minutes. If you want the frosting a little thicker, add an extra 1/4 cup of powdered sugar. Spread the frosting on the cooled bars. To help “set” the frosting, refrigerate for 30 minutes before slicing and serving. This makes cutting easier and less messy.
8. Garnish. If you added frosting, you could add any type of topping on the top. You could add sprinkles, chocolate chips, some chocolate bars, or anything that you would think is good. All of this is optional of course.