Ingredients
🥧 INGREDIENTS FOR PUMPKIN PIE BARS
For the Crust
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ½ cup unsalted butter, melted
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- Pinch of salt
Alternative crust options:
- Graham-pecan crust: Use graham cracker crumbs + chopped pecans in place of flour.
- Oat crust: Use rolled oats + flour combo as in some blogs
- Gingersnap crust: Crushed gingersnaps + butter works for spice lovers
For the Pumpkin Filling
- 1 can (15 oz) pure pumpkin purée (not pumpkin pie mix)
- 2 large eggs
- ¾ cup brown sugar, packed
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup evaporated milk (or half-and-half / light cream)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1½ tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp ground ginger
- ¼ tsp ground nutmeg
- Pinch of ground cloves
- Pinch of salt
- Optional: 1 Tbsp cornstarch (to help stabilize the custard)
Crumb / Streusel Topping (optional but recommended)
- ⅓ cup all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 2 Tbsp unsalted butter, cold and diced
- ¼ cup chopped pecans or walnuts
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line your baking pan (9×9″ or 8×8″) with parchment, leaving an overhang for easy removal.
In a bowl, mix crust ingredients (or alternative crust mix) until crumbly. Press it firmly and evenly into the pan. Bake 10–12 minutes, just until set and lightly golden.
Pro tip: Press crust extra firmly — it helps it act like a solid base and prevents soggy bottoms.
In another bowl, whisk eggs until broken, then add pumpkin, sugars, evaporated milk, vanilla, spices, salt — and optional cornstarch. Whisk until silky smooth (no lumps).
Pour the filling over the partially baked crust. If using streusel/crumb topping, gently sprinkle it over now.
Bake 35–45 minutes, until edges are set and center has just a slight jiggle (don’t overbake — it will continue to set as it cools).
Let it cool in the pan on a wire rack until room temperature (about 1 hour). Then chill in the fridge for at least 2 hours (or overnight).
Use the parchment overhang to lift out the slab. Slice into bars (9 or 12). Serve chilled or at cool room temp with whipped cream or ice cream.