Paula Deen’s Pumpkin Bar Recipe

by Joi on October 19, 2007

Paula Deen & Friends - Living It Up, Southern Style

These bars are the best Pumpkin Bars I’ve ever had. They’re more like a moist and delicious pumpkin cake the the best cream cheese frosting in the world. The recipe is from Paula Deen & Friends: Living It Up, Southern Style – Trust me, you’ll want to make these bars as soon as you possibly can. Like…oh, I dunno…right now! (More about the Cookbook, itself, below.)

PUMPKIN BARS

4 eggs
1 – 2/3 cups granulated sugar
1 cup oil
one 15 ounce can pumpkin
2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda

ICING:
One 3 ounce package cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or margarine, softened (I used and recommend butter)
2 cups sifted confectioners’ sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Using an electric mixer at medium speed, combine the eggs, sugar, oil, and pumpkin until light and fluffy. Stir together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, salt, and baking soda. Add the dry ingredients to the pumpkin mixture and mix at low speed until thoroughly comined and the batter is smooth.

3. Spread the batter in an ungreased nonstick 13 by 10 inch baking pan. Bake for 30 minutes. Let cool completely before frosting.

4. To make the icing: Combine the cream cheese and butter in a medium bowl with an electric mixer until smooth. Add the sugar and mix at low speed until smooth. Add the sugar and mix at low speed until combined. Stir in the vanilla and mix again. Spread on cooled pumpkin bars.

Makes 48 small bars or 24 larger ones.

This is, without a doubt, one of my favorite Cookbooks. The cover on mine is stained and tattered and the pages are as worn as sequins on a drag queen. Some of the recipes from this collection are:

Buttermilk Pound Cake
Green Chili Corn Muffins
Fresh Asparagus with Lemon Butter
Hot Chicken Salad
Broccoli Casserole
Almond Danish Swirls
Wild Rice Salad
Suzie’s Peach Pickles
Tomatoes with Blue Cheese
Teriyaki Shrimp
Hot Spinach-Artichoke Dip
Lemon Bars
Animal-Shaped Sugar Cookies
Chocolate Chip Pie
Cuban Sandwiches
Kentucky Country Ham
Southern Biscuits

….and many, many, many, many, many more!

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{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }

Missy November 20, 2007 at 5:31 pm: very disappointed…the recipe given was for pumpkin CAKE not bars.
Sue Tozer November 21, 2007 at 6:00 pm: Paula,

I tried your receipe for pumpkin bars, I loved it. I made it for Thanksgiving. I watched your show every single day.

Sue
Joi December 16, 2007 at 12:27 pm: hi, Missy –

They’re actually Pumpkin Bars – the recipe is straight from Paula’s cookbook and the title is “Pumpkin Bars.”

I guess if you didn’t slice them, they could pass as a cake. That actually might be something worth trying! – Joi
Kimberly August 14, 2008 at 2:58 pm: I am interested in making these for party favors for a fall themed party and putting them in cylo bags. Does the icing harden at all when air is introduced or will it just turn into a big mess in the bag…????
William October 30, 2008 at 7:44 pm: Would you please have just a recipe print?
Marci May 13, 2009 at 4:11 pm: I have been searching for a great pumkin bar recipe for almost a year now. I have tried LOTS of recipes and none hit the spot until i found this one! My entire family agrees that it is by far the best ever, especially if you chill the bars before serving.
Lauren November 17, 2009 at 1:36 pm: I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this recipe. Whether you serve it as bars or as a whole cake, it doesn’t really matter. Anyway you serve it, it’s delish!!
Cindy November 26, 2009 at 11:29 am: I have to admit these didn’t turn out how I expected them to “look” but the taste was FANTASTIC!!! I should know better than to ever doubt Paula…she has NEVER let me down. My kids are asking for these instead of pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving.

Thanks so much!!!
Joi November 28, 2009 at 9:34 am: Cindy, They do turn out more like “Cake” every time I make them. But they taste so Heavenly, I’m afraid to try a new sized pan. Everyone in my family had rather have these than pumpkin pie as well. In fact, as soon as September rolls around, this is the one Autumn recipe my crew looks forward to the most.

I think I’ll make them one last time before the Christmas cookies and candies take over the kitchen! – Joi
Melinda August 20, 2010 at 11:30 am: These bars turned out to be such a disappointment. I wish my excuse could be that I stunk at baking but I am actually a great baker! The bars were very cakey and the icing was blah.
Joi August 25, 2010 at 7:52 am: Melinda, I’m so sorry to hear that! My family honestly loves these Pumpkin Bars and can never eat enough. That’s the great thing about recipes, though, seldom do we all agree on any one recipe. Everyone has their own experiences – for better or worse. I recently tried a meatloaf recipe that a friend told me was “the best meatloaf recipe” in the world. Ugh. It was dry, ugly, and not the least bit flavorful! And, like you, I knew it wasn’t me. I cook practically all day every day – I don’t know a lot of things in the world, but when it comes to cooking, I’m locked in!

Thanks for commenting!