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Gluten-Free Pumpkin Bars

Gluten-free pumpkin bars with a tender crumb and classic pumpkin-pie spice flavor, baked on a sheet for easy slicing. Topped with a smooth cream cheese frosting that sets after a short chill for clean, neat bars.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Chill 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 20 minutes
Servings: 24 bars
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Calories: 360
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the bars
  • 2 cup gluten-free all-purpose flour blend with xanthan gum
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 0.5 tsp baking soda
  • 2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
  • 1.5 tsp cinnamon
  • 0.5 tsp salt
  • 4 eggs
  • 1.67 cup granulated sugar 1-2/3 cups
  • 1 cup vegetable oil
  • 1 can (15 oz) pumpkin puree
  • 1 tsp vanilla
For cream cheese frosting
  • 8 oz cream cheese
  • 0.25 cup butter
  • 3 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 tsp cinnamon

Equipment

  • 1 sheet pan

Method
 

Bake the gluten-free pumpkin bars
  1. Preheat the oven to 350F and grease a 15x10 rimmed baking sheet.
  2. Whisk together gluten-free all-purpose flour blend, baking powder, baking soda, pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon, and salt.
  3. Beat the eggs, granulated sugar, vegetable oil, pumpkin puree, and vanilla until smooth.
  4. Fold the dry flour mixture into the pumpkin mixture until just combined, then pour the batter into the prepared pan.
  5. Bake for 25-28 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean, then cool completely.
Make frosting and finish
  1. Beat cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, and cinnamon until fluffy.
  2. Spread the frosting over the cooled bars.
  3. Chill the frosted bars for 30 minutes before cutting, so the frosting sets.

Notes

For the cleanest slices, cool the bars completely before frosting and then chill until the top firms up. Store covered in the refrigerator up to 4 days (freezer: yes, freeze unfrosted bars up to 2 months; thaw overnight in the fridge and frost). For a dairy-light option, use lactose-free cream cheese and lactose-free butter in the frosting without changing the method.