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Pumpkin Pie Bars

Pumpkin pie bars with a crisp shortbread crust and spiced pumpkin filling—baked in a 9x13 pan for a no-roll shortcut to pie. The bars bake until set, then chill for cleaner, firmer slices.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 55 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings: 12 servings
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Calories: 220
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Crust
  • 1.5 cup all-purpose flour
  • 0.75 cup butter, softened
  • 0.33 cup powdered sugar
Filling
  • 1 can (15 oz) pumpkin puree
  • 1 can (12 oz) evaporated milk
  • 0.75 cup sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
To serve
  • 1 Whipped cream, for serving

Equipment

  • 1 sheet pan

Method
 

Make the shortbread crust
  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F and lightly prepare a 9x13-inch pan. Mix the all-purpose flour, butter, softened, and powdered sugar until the mixture holds together, then press into the pan in an even layer with a flat surface.
  2. Bake the crust for 15 minutes at 350°F. Look for lightly golden edges and a set, dry surface before removing it to cool briefly.
Mix and bake the pumpkin filling
  1. Whisk the pumpkin puree, evaporated milk, sugar, eggs, and pumpkin pie spice until smooth and no streaks remain. The mixture should look evenly orange and slightly thick.
  2. Pour the pumpkin filling over the baked crust. Spread it level so it bakes uniformly, then bake for 40 minutes at the same temperature.
  3. Cool the bars completely at room temperature before slicing. The center should be set but still tender, not jiggly like batter.
Serve
  1. Top each bar with whipped cream right before serving. Add it in a generous layer for a soft contrast to the crisp crust.

Notes

Pro tip: for cleaner, firmer cutting, chill the fully cooled bars before slicing. Store covered in the refrigerator up to 4 days; freeze baked bars for up to 2 months (thaw overnight in the fridge). For a lighter option, use evaporated milk labeled “low-fat” if you want a slightly lower-fat filling while keeping the bake times the same.