Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting {Vegan}
These vegan pumpkin bars with cream cheese frosting are soft, gooey, and topped with a decadent, creamy cream cheese frosting. Vegan, paleo, dairy-free, refined sugar-free,, these healthy pumpkin bars are family-friendly and perfect for fall.
You are not doing to believe these delicious pumpkin bars with cream cheese frosting are totally vegan and paleo-friendly.
All the indulging on pumpkin desserts this fall and holiday season with no guilt.
A few more of my favorite healthy and easy pumpkin desserts:
Fall is the time (my favorite time of the year) to let pumpkin recipes shine, and right now I’ve got another one in the books.
Healthy pumpkin pie bars with cashew cream cheese frosting that are vegan, paleo, gluten-free, and refined sugar-free?
I know what you’re thinking… too good to be true.
Well it is our dream.s that come true.
These healthy pumpkin bars are so soft and moist. It’s like you’re eating pumpkin pie filling with a decadent cream cheese frosting.
MIND. BLOWN.
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Why Do I Love These Easy Pumpkin Cream Cheese Bars?
There’s something so satisfying about a little taste of something sweet at the end of a meal, and these healthy pumpkin pie bars won’t make you feel guilty for indulging a little.
Easy to Make
These pumpkin bars are so easy to make and something that the whole family can enjoy.
This would be a perfect dish to bring to any potluck or family gathering that you have going on during the holiday season.
Can be enjoyed on any occasions
While these pumpkin pie bars make for a perfect dessert, it can also be eaten for a midday snack or even maybe a little breakfast treat with your morning cup of coffee.
Health Benefits of the Pumpkin Bar Ingredients
Pumpkin is loaded with fiber, vitamins, and minerals.
And almond butter in this recipe contributes fiber, healthy fats, and a little bit of protein as well.
These healthy pumpkin bars are the perfect combination of carbs, fats, and protein to help keep you going until your next meal.
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Ingredients Needed to Make Healthy Pumpkin Bars
Surprisingly, it only takes a handful of simple, clean ingredients to make this mouth-watering recipe. You will need:
Pumpkin puree – make sure it’s not pumpkin pie filling.
If you were to buy store-bought version, there should be only one ingredient – pumpkin.
Or you can make my easy homemade pumpkin puree recipe here.
Almond butter- replaces butter in a recipe, healthy source of fat and protein.
Make sure to use unsweetened and smooth almond butter.
Maple syrup- sweetens recipe without using refined sugars.
You could also use a keto-friendly kind for a lower carb option.
Almond flour- naturally gluten free, lower carb.
Tapioca flour- helps bind gluten free goods and improve texture.
Apple cider vinegar- works together with baking powder to help baked goods rise.
Additionally, it provides health benefits as well. Read more here.
Dairy-free milk of choice- I prefer to use almond, cashew, or coconut milk. I don’t recommend using store-bought oat milk for this recipe, as the additives could affect the texture.
Baking soda- assists with leavening in baked goods.
For the cream cheese frosting:
Check out my favorite dairy free, vegan cashew cream cheese recipe here.
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How to Make Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting
First, in a large bowl, mix together the dry ingredients: almond flour, tapioca flour, coconut sugar, pumpkin spice and baking soda
Then, in a separate bowl, add pumpkin puree, almond butter, maple syrup, apple cider vinegar, and milk together.
Stir to combine. I used a hand mixer.
Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and mix well gently.
Pour batter into a greased 8×8 baking dish and bake at 350 F for 25 – 30 minutes.
In order to check if the pumpkin bars are done, you can either insert a toothpick in the middle or use a food thermometer. If the toothpick comes. out clean (with no gooey residue) or the temperature reaches about 200 F, you are good to go!
Lastly, let the pumpkin bars cool completely before topping with the cream cheese frosting- if it’s still warm the frosting will just melt.
How to Store Pumpkin Pie Bars
First, refrigerate the pumpkin pie bars with cream cheese frosting on a plate for at least 30 minutes to allow the cashew frosting to firm up some.
Then, you can stack and store them in an airtight container or bag for 4-5 days in the fridge.
If layering into a container, place pieces of parchment paper between layers to prevent bars from sticking together.
high-speed blender
Can I Freeze Healthy Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting?
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Yes, you can freeze them!
They’re actually really good that way, they kind of taste like an ice cream bar after freezing. Yum!
When pulling them from the freezer, let them defrost on the kitchen counter for about an hour or so.
I do NOT recommend using the microwave to defrost the pumpkin pie bars because it can dry out the frosting.
What’s your favorite pumpkin recipe? Leave a comment below!
I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOUR CREATIONS! YOU CAN USE “TRIED IT” ON PINTEREST OR SHARE ON INSTAGRAM BY TAGGING #SHUANGYSEATS
You may also love these Healthy Pumpkin recipes this fall:
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1. Healthy Pumpkin Pasta Sauce (Vegan, Paleo)
2. Healthy Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins
3. Easy Thai Pumpkin Curry
4. Pumpkin Donuts with Maple Cashew Glaze
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Get the recipe:Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting
Ingredients
Wet Ingredients
- 1/3 cup Pumpkin Puree
- 1/4 cup almond butter
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 1 cup dairy free milk
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
Dry Ingredients
- 1 3/4 cup almond flour
- 1/2 cup tapioca flour
- 1/4 cup coconut sugar
- 2 – 3 tsp pumpkin spice
- 1 1/2 tsp baking soda
Cream “Cheese” Frosting
- 1 cup raw cashew
- 1/4 cup coconut milk, canned *
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 2 – 3 tbsp coconut oil
Equipment
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 F
- In a large bowl, whisk together almond flour, tapioca flour, coconut sugar, spices, baking soda, and a pinch of sea salt.
- In a separate bowl, add pumpkin puree, almond butter, maple syrup, apple cider vinegar, and milk together. Mix well (I used a hand mixer).
- Gently stir the dry mixture into the wet ingredients.
- Spread the mixture into an 8 x8 cake pan lined with parchment paper. Bake 25 – 30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean after inserting a toothpick. (or you can use a food thermometer, the internal temperature should reach around 200 F)
- Cashew Cream Frosting – Find the Full Direction in this Post.
- Soak raw cashews in warm water with a pinch of salt overnight, or hot water with a pinch of salt for a couple of hours. Drain and rinse then blend all the ingredients for the cashew cream cheese frosting in a high-speed blender until smooth. Ingredients amount listed here should be enough to frosting the whole pumpkin cake.
- Wait till the cake has completely cooled down (2+ hours) before frosting. Spread the cashew cream cheese frosting onto the cake. Sprinkle with toasted pecans and cinnamon. **
- Enjoy!
Notes
- * Refrigerate the coconut milk overnight or freeze it for an hour +. Use the solid part of the coconut "cream" on top of the can. If you don’t have enough that measure up to 1/4 cup, you can use some liquid on the bottom.
- ** If the frosting appears to be too liquidy, leave it in the fridge for 20+ minutes, the coconut milk and coconut oil will harden/thicken it up a bit.
The Nutrition Facts above are specific to the ingredients I chose to use for this recipe, which may vary.
Can oat flour be subbed in instead of the almond/tapioca flour? And almond or oat milk instead of coconut? 😊
Hi there,
I haven’t tested this recipe with oat flour, unfortunately. But I think you could try subbing oat flour for tapioca flour alone. For the frosting, only canned coconut milk or cream would work. But for the donut, you can use other dairy-free milk of your choice. Hope this helps.
Shuang