Pumpkin Bars with Cake Mix
These Pumpkin Bars with Cake Mix are an easy fall dessert with a spiced pumpkin base and sweet cream cheese swirl. Ready in under an hour, they’re perfect for holidays, potlucks, or a simple weeknight treat.
Ingredients
For Pumpkin Bars
- 15.25 oz yellow cake mix (1 box)
- 2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
- 2 large eggs
- ⅓ cup vegetable oil
- 1 cup pumpkin puree
For Cream Cheese Swirl
- 8 oz cream cheese softened
- 1 cup unpacked powdered sugar
Instructions
- In a large bowl, blend 1 box of cake mix, 2 teaspoons of pumpkin pie spice, 2 eggs, ⅓ cup vegetable oil, and 1 cup of pumpkin puree. Spread this mixture in the bottom of a 7x11" glass baking dish.
- In a separate bowl, microwave cream cheese in 20-second increments until stirrable and smooth. Stir in powdered sugar until incorporated.
- Add 6-8 large dollops of this mixture over the pumpkin bars and swirl this mixture in with a butter knife.
- Bake pumpkin bars at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes, until middle of the pan of bars is set.
- Remove bars from the oven and allow them to cool for 20-30 minutes.
Notes
- Don’t overmix the batter; stir just until combined, and swirl the cream cheese lightly for a nice marbled look.
- Use a 7x11" dish for thicker bars or a 9x13" for thinner ones. Avoid 8x8", which makes the bars too thick.
- Bake until the edges pull away and the center is set but not jiggly. A toothpick should come out with moist crumbs, not wet batter.
- Cool at least 30 minutes before slicing; chill for an hour for the cleanest cuts.
- Store leftovers covered in the fridge for 3–4 days.
Nutrition Facts
Calories: 198kcalCarbohydrates: 32gProtein: 4gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 22mgSodium: 305mgPotassium: 93mgFiber: 1gSugar: 20gVitamin A: 2421IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 116mgIron: 1mg
