Crisp Spiced Pumpkin Bars (Printable Version)

Spiced pumpkin bars with a crisp oat-pecan topping, ideal for autumn and comfort moments.

# What You'll Need:

→ Pumpkin Base

01 - 1 cup pumpkin puree
02 - 1 cup granulated sugar
03 - 2 large eggs
04 - 1/2 cup vegetable oil
05 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
06 - 1 cup all-purpose flour
07 - 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
08 - 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
09 - 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
10 - 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
11 - 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
12 - 1/4 teaspoon salt

→ Crisp Topping

13 - 3/4 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
14 - 1/2 cup chopped pecans
15 - 1/3 cup brown sugar
16 - 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
17 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
18 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
19 - 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

# How To Make:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and line a 9x9-inch baking pan with parchment paper.
02 - Whisk pumpkin puree, sugar, eggs, vegetable oil, and vanilla extract together until smooth in a large bowl.
03 - In a separate bowl, stir together flour, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
04 - Fold dry ingredients into wet mixture until just combined, taking care not to overmix.
05 - Combine oats, pecans, brown sugar, flour, cinnamon, and salt in a medium bowl. Stir in melted butter until coarse crumbs form.
06 - Pour batter into prepared pan, smooth the surface, then evenly sprinkle the crisp topping over the top.
07 - Bake for 40 minutes until a toothpick inserted comes out clean and topping is golden and crisp.
08 - Let bars cool completely in the pan, then lift out using parchment and cut into 12 bars.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The crisp oat-pecan topping adds a surprising texture contrast that feels like sharing a hidden treasure with a friend
  • Its simple ingredients become a favorite because the spices bring a gentle warmth without overpowering the pumpkin flavor
02 -
  • Don&t skip lining your pan with parchment paper — it makes removing bars so much easier and cleaner
  • Using rolled oats rather than quick oats preserves a delightful crispness that's hard to beat
03 -
  • Toast your pecans lightly to enhance their nutty flavor before mixing into the topping
  • Don't overbake or your bars might dry out — check at 35 minutes if your oven runs hot

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