Pumpkin Cream Cheese Dream Bars

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Pumpkin Cream Cheese Dream Bars
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A luscious blend of seasonal pumpkin, silky cream cheese, and a buttery crust—these dreamy bars are the perfect autumn indulgence that are simple to make yet irresistibly delicious.

⏱️ Cooking Time

Prep: 20 minutes
Bake: 8–10 min (crust) + 20–25 min (pumpkin layer)
Chill: 2 hours
Total: ~3 hours
Servings: 16 bars

🛒 Ingredients

Crust:

  • 1½ cups cookie crumbs (e.g., whole‑grain butter cookies)

  • ¼ cup granulated sugar

  • ½ cup (115 g) melted butter

Pumpkin Layer:

  • 1 cup pumpkin purée (not pie filling)

  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon

  • ½ tsp pumpkin pie spice

  • ½ cup brown sugar

  • 1 large egg

  • ¼ cup heavy cream

  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

Cream Cheese Layer:

  • 225 g cream cheese, room temp

  • ½ cup powdered sugar

  • ½ tsp vanilla extract

  • ½ cup heavy cream

Optional Topping:

  • Whipped cream or spray topping

  • Dash of ground cinnamon

👩‍🍳 Step-by-Step Cooking Directions

  1. Prepare crust: Preheat oven to 175 °C (350 °F). Grease a 23 × 23 cm square pan. Stir cookie crumbs, sugar, and melted butter; press firmly into pan. Bake 8–10 min until golden. Cool completely.

  2. Make pumpkin layer: Whisk together purée, spices, sugar, egg, cream, and vanilla until smooth. Pour over cooled crust and bake 20–25 min until set. Cool thoroughly.

  3. Create cream‑cheese layer: Beat cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla until smooth. In separate bowl, whip heavy cream to soft peaks. Fold whipped cream into cream cheese mixture gently. Spread evenly over pumpkin layer.

  4. Chill & serve: Refrigerate at least 2 hours to set. Serve chilled with whipped topping and a sprinkle of cinnamon.

🧮 Nutritional Information (per bar)

Calories: ~245 kcal
Fat: 16 g
Carbs: 20 g
Sugars: 15 g
Protein: 3 g

🌍 Origins and Popularity

Inspired by traditional pumpkin cheesecake, these layered bars offer a trendy, hand-held alternative that emerged from Southern‑style fall bake tables. Their convenient size and seasonal flavors make them popular at Thanksgiving gatherings, potlucks, and autumnal parties.

❤️ Reasons You’ll Love This Recipe

  • No-fuss bar form—no slicing a whole cake

  • Balanced flavors: sweet pumpkin meets tangy cream cheese

  • Crowd-pleaser that’s easy to transport

  • Make-ahead friendly—great for holidays or brunch

🌿 Health Benefits

Pumpkin provides vitamin A, fiber, and antioxidants. Although indulgent from butter and cream cheese, portion control as bars helps manage indulgence.

🍽️ Serving Suggestions

  • Chill well and serve with espresso or spiced tea

  • Garnish with candied pecans or toasted pumpkin seeds

  • Pair with caramel drizzle or salted toffee sauce for extra decadence

❌ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Lumpy batter—whisk spices and liquids thoroughly

  • Undercooked pumpkin layer—it should be set in the middle

  • Overbaked crust—too brown makes it hard and dry

  • Skipping chilling step—affects slicing and texture

🥂 Pairing Recommendations

  • Beverages: Pumpkin ale, chai latte, or dessert wine

  • Desserts: Apple crisp, pecan bars, or spiced nuts

  • Savory: Pair with roast turkey or glazed ham for a fall feast

👩‍🍳 Cooking Tips

  • Use fresh pumpkin purée for natural flavor

  • Press crust firmly to prevent crumbling

  • Chill overnight for clean slices

  • For extra texture, fold in chopped walnuts to the cream layer

🍰 Similar Recipes to Try

  • Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars with graham cracker crust

  • No-Bake Pumpkin Pie Bites

  • Carrot Cream Cheese Bars

  • Maple‑Pecan Pumpkin Squares

  • Apple-Cream Cheese Crumble Bars

🎯 Variations to Try

  • Gluten‑free: Swap crust with gluten‑free cookie crumbs

  • Light version: Use low‑fat cream cheese and less sugar

  • Chai-spiced: Add cardamom or ground ginger to the pumpkin layer

  • Chocolate Drizzle: Melt dark chocolate and drizzle over chilled bars

🥄 Ingredient Spotlight: Pumpkin Purée

Pumpkin purée brings natural sweetness, moisture, and a rich vitamin A content. It’s the backbone of fall baking, offering creamy texture and that classic autumn flavor while being naturally low-calorie and fiber-packed.


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🔚 Conclusion

These Pumpkin Cream Cheese Dream Bars blend comfort and elegance with pumpkin-spiced warmth, dreamy creaminess, and buttery crunch. Perfect for those cozy autumn moments or festive tables, they’re certain to become a seasonal favorite in your recipe rotation!

❓10 Frequently Asked Questions

  1. Can I use canned pumpkin pie filling?
    Skip the spices and sugar if using filling, but note it contains added sweeteners/salt.

  2. Can these be made ahead?
    Yes—prepare a day ahead and keep refrigerated until serving.

  3. Can I freeze the bars?
    Yes—freeze uncut, wrapped tightly; thaw overnight in fridge before slicing.

  4. Can I reduce sugar?
    Replace with ¾ cup sugar and ¼ cup maple syrup in the pumpkin layer for lighter sweetness.

  5. Is this recipe gluten‑free?
    Yes—use gluten‑free cookie crumbs and confirm ingredients are GF-certified.

  6. Can I halve the recipe?
    Yes, use a 20 cm pan; bake times adjust slightly (watch for firmness).

  7. What if my pumpkin layer cracks?
    No worries—cream cheese layer hides cracks and adds richness.

  8. Substitute for heavy cream?
    Use evaporated milk or half‑and‑half; whipped topping will be lighter.

  9. Can I top with caramel?
    Absolutely—drizzle salted caramel over each slice for extra indulgence.

  10. How do I get neat slices?
    Chill thoroughly and wipe your knife clean between each cut.

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