The quintessential fall flavor stars in this family favorite recipe for Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting.

We’re jumping into fall with a tried and tested recipe that’s been in my family’s dessert rotation for more than a decade: Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting.

Whether you call these sliceable sweets Pumpkin Bars or Pumpkin Sheet Cake, one thing is certain: It’s hard to beat the pairing of pumpkin and tangy cream cheese frosting.

This recipe originally appeared in a 1976 issue of Better Homes and Gardens under the title of “Paul’s Pumpkin Bars.” But year-after-year as trays of the bars were served up at my family functions, we adapted the dessert to be our own by spicing it up with plenty of ground cloves and ginger.

If you’re craving that classic pumpkin dessert flavor but don’t want to go the extra mile for DIY pie dough, this is the autumnal sweet for you.

Chopped toasted pecans add a bit of nutty crunch in each bite while swirls of tangy cream cheese frosting complement the spiciness of the pumpkin cake batter.

Best of all, if these pumpkin bars are part of your holiday menu (when oven space is scarce and time is even more scarce), feel free to prep them a day in advance, keeping the bars and frosting separate, then assemble them before serving.

Additional chopped toasted pecans and a sprinkle of pumpkin pie spice or ground cinnamon are a final festive touch to this guaranteed crowd-pleaser of a sweet.

For more fast and flavor-packed pumpkin desserts, don’t miss Pumpkin Pie Rice Krispies Treats, Pumpkin Cheesecake Cookies and Pumpkin Dip with Pie Fries!

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