Description
Soft, spiced, and cozy—these pumpkin bars taste like a crisp fall afternoon. I first baked them after school with my mom, hovering by the oven as the cinnamon hit the air. They come together fast, slice clean, and always disappear at potlucks.
Ingredients
1 cup white sugar
1 cup brown sugar, packed
1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
1 cup pumpkin puree (100% pure, not pie filling)
1 large egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup chocolate chips (semi-sweet, white, or chunks)
1 cup mini marshmallows (regular or vegan)
1 cup graham crackers, broken into small pieces
Optional: a few drops orange food coloring
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 350°F; line a baking sheet with parchment or a silicone mat.
2. Cream butter, white sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy.
3. Mix in pumpkin puree, egg, vanilla, and optional food coloring.
4. Whisk flour, baking soda, pumpkin pie spice, and salt in a separate bowl.
5. Gradually add dry ingredients to wet; mix just until combined—do not overmix.
6. Fold in chocolate chips, mini marshmallows, and graham cracker pieces.
7. Scoop dough balls onto the sheet, spacing about 2 inches apart.
8. Press a few extra chocolate chips, marshmallows, and graham bits on top.
9. Bake 12–14 minutes, until edges are golden and centers look soft.
10. Cool on the sheet a few minutes, then transfer to a wire rack.
11. Cool completely if frosting; slice cleanly with a sharp knife.
12. Store airtight (room temp 2–3 days, fridge 1 week) or freeze as directed.
Notes
Vegan marshmallows keep their shape better while baking.
Let bars cool before moving so they don’t break—learned that the messy way on my first batch.
Freeze unbaked dough up to 1 year or baked bars up to 4 months; thaw overnight in the fridge.
For a campfire twist, swirl in crushed grahams and serve with my Pumpkin S’mores Recipe: https://ketoatmeal.com/pumpkin-smores-recipe/
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 232
- Sugar: 18 g
- Sodium: 133 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 31 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g