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    Home » Recipes » Cakes

    Gluten-free Pumpkin Bars (Dairy-Free Option)

    Published: Sep 24, 2021 · Updated: Sep 27, 2021 by Katie | Wheat by the Wayside · This post may contain affiliate links, through which I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

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    Squares of gluten-free pumpkin bars with fall sprinkle fill a green speckled baking pan.
    A stack of three gluten-free pumpkin bars topped with sprinkles on a small pumpkin plate.

    These delicious Gluten-free Pumpkin Bars are the quintessential fall treat! The spiced pumpkin cake pairs so well with the tangy cream cheese frosting on top! This all-time favorite recipe is a great dessert to bring to a potluck or enjoy at home with family.

    A stack of three gluten-free pumpkin bars topped with sprinkles on a small pumpkin plate.
    Jump to:
    • Why You'll Love This Recipe
    • Ingredients & Substitutions
    • Equipment
    • Step by Step Instructions
    • Make Ahead, Storage, & Serving
    • Recipe Tips
    • More Gluten-Free Recipes For Fall
    • Recipe
    • Comments and Ratings

    Why You'll Love This Recipe

    With October ahead and those summer temperatures starting to drop, fall is creeping in. It's the perfect time to bust out that can of pumpkin from the pantry and do some fall baking! These gluten-free pumpkin bars are one of the best gluten-free pumpkin desserts for so many reasons.

    They are simple to make with ingredients you probably already have on hand. The wonderfully spiced cake is moist, soft. Then topped with a tangy cream cheese frosting, it's the perfect pairing!

    These bars are easily portable making them great for potlucks but best enjoyed anytime with family or friends. They can be served like regular cake on plates with forks but are sturdy enough to be hand held and eaten by the light of the fridge! This recipe would be the perfect alternative to pie on your gluten-free thanksgiving dessert table!

    If you love gluten-free pumpkin recipes, try making some gluten-free pumpkin bread or pumpkin cookies, too! There's plenty of cozy, fall baking to be had!

    Ingredients & Substitutions

    Ingredients measured out in bowls on a white wooden surface.
    • Gluten-Free Flour Blend: Use a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend for baking. Your flour blend should already contain a mix of rice flours, starches, and xanthan gum or some other binders. I have tested this recipe with Pamela's Artisan blend and Cup4Cup Multipurpose flour. I am confident other blends such as King Arthur Measure for Measure, Bob's Red Mill 1:1, or Namaste Perfect Blend would also work well in this recipe.
    • Pumpkin Puree: Make sure you're using canned pumpkin puree, not pumpkin pie filling. The only ingredient on the label should be pumpkin. Pumpkin pie filling will not work in this recipe.
    • Dairy-Free Substitutions: The cake part of this recipe calls for butter, but you can substitute any neutral oil such as canola, coconut, or vegetable oil. You can also use Earth Balance Vegan Buttery Sticks to make this recipe dairy-free. Please note, Cup4Cup contains dairy, so choose another flour if you must be diary-free.

      For the cream cheese frosting, substitute dairy-free cream cheese, such as Kite Hill brand, and diary-free butter or shortening. Cream cheese is naturally gluten-free.

      For an even easier, budget-friendly option, you can also substitute with your favorite gluten-free and dairy-free canned frosting. There are many options in the grocery stores from brands such as Betty Crocker, Duncan Hines, and Simple Mills that carry gluten and dairy free canned frostings. Just be sure to check labels before purchasing.

    Equipment

    • This recipe calls for a shallow-rimmed non-stick sheet pan or jelly roll pan. Please measure to ensure you have the proper size of pan. It should either be 9x13 inches or 10x15 inches. A standard 9x13x2 inch cake pan will also work just fine.
    • For a 13 x 18 inch half sheet pan, you will need to double the recipe.
    • You can use a hand or stand mixer for this recipe or blend the ingredients by hand if needed.

    Step by Step Instructions

    Steps to make gluten-free pumpkin bars: mixing cake batter in bowl with hand mixer, then spreading into a green speckled pan.
    1. It all starts with the gluten-free pumpkin cake. Start by blending the dry ingredients together in a small bowl and set aside.
    2. Then, in a large mixing bowl, cream the butter and sugars together.
    3. Add in the eggs, pumpkin, and vanilla and blend well.
    4. Incorporate the dry ingredients into the wet mixture. Spread the batter into your greased baking pan. Bake according to the directions below and cool completely before frosting the cake.
    5. Next up, make the cream cheese frosting! Start by blending together the cream cheese and butter.
    6. Gradually blend in the powdered sugar.
    7. Add enough powdered sugar to reach the proper thick but spreadable consistency.
    8. Spread the cream cheese frosting onto the completely cooled cake.
    Mixing cream cheese frosting in a bowl and spreading onto the baked pumpkin cake.

    Make Ahead, Storage, & Serving

    • Make Ahead: You can absolutely make this cake one day in advance of a party or potluck. Keep refrigerated until serving.
    • Storage: This cake is fine left at room temperature for a short period of time, although generally refrigeration is preferred to keep the frosting from becoming too soft. This cake will keep for several days when refrigerated and tightly wrapped.
    • Freezing: You can freeze slices of this cake, tightly wrapped, to be enjoyed at a later date. Thaw at room temperature or in the refrigerator. If you use a microwave to thaw frozen slices, the frosting will likely melt.
    • Serve: This cake is fine served either at room temperature or cold from the refrigerator.
    Squares of gluten-free pumpkin bars with fall sprinkles fill a green speckled baking pan.

    Recipe Tips

    • Room temperature ingredients are needed for proper blending of both the cake and frosting.
    • Measure flour with the spoon and level method or by weight to ensure accuracy of measurements. Dipping the measuring cup into the container of flour will likely result in too much flour. Always use proper measuring cups for dry ingredients and not a liquid measuring cup.
    • Double check the size of your pan and use the proper size pan for the recipe! This recipe is half the size of traditional pumpkin bar recipes!
    • Always be sure the cake feels cool from the top and bottom of the pan before applying the frosting.
    • If you are using dairy-free ingredients for the frosting, you may need to add more powdered sugar to reach the proper consistency of the icing.
    • This recipe is about half the size of the traditional pumpkin bar recipe, which means you will have some leftover canned pumpkin. If this though annoys you, you can:
      • Double the recipe and use the entire 15 oz can of pumpkin. Bake in a 13 X 18 inch pan.
      • Store the leftover pumpkin in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 1-2 weeks. If you see mold, throw it away.
      • Freeze leftover pumpkin in an airtight container and thaw to use in recipes later.
      • Use it in more great recipes or add some pumpkin to your morning waffles or pancakes.

    Thank you for stopping by! I hope you enjoyed this recipe! Find even more great gluten-free recipes here!

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    If you made this recipe, leave a comment and add a star-rating below!
    Thank you for your support! ♡

    More Gluten-Free Recipes For Fall

    • Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread (Dairy-Free)
    • Gluten-Free Pumpkin Snickerdoodle Cookies (Dairy-Free Option)
    • Pumpkin Pecan Pie
    • Gluten-free Apple Cake

    Recipe

    A stack of three gluten-free pumpkin bars topped with sprinkles on a small pumpkin plate.

    Gluten-free Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting (Dairy-Free Option)

    Katie | Wheat by the Wayside
    These delicious Gluten-free Pumpkin Bars are the quintessential fall treat! The spiced pumpkin cake pairs so well with the tangy cream cheese frosting on top! This all-time favorite recipe is a great dessert to bring to a potluck or enjoy at home with family.
    5 from 4 votes
    Pin Recipe Print Recipe Save Saved!
    Prep Time 30 mins
    Cook Time 20 mins
    Total Time 50 mins
    Course Dessert
    Diet Gluten Free
    Servings 24 servings
    Calories 202 kcal
    Prevent your screen from going dark.

    Ingredients
      

    Pumpkin Cake

    • 1 cup gluten-free 1:1 flour blend, Such as Cup4Cup Multipurpose, Pamela's Artisan Blend, King Arthur Measure for Measure
    • 1 teaspoon baking powder
    • ½ teaspoon baking soda
    • 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
    • ½ Teaspoon cinnamon
    • ½ teaspoon table salt
    • ½ cup butter, softened to room temperature, or neutral oil/vegan butter for dairy-free
    • ½ cup granulated sugar
    • ½ cup brown sugar
    • 1 cup canned pumpkin puree, not pumpkin pie filling
    • 2 eggs, room temperature
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla

    Cream Cheese Frosting

    • 6 oz cream cheese, softened to room temperature, Diary-free use dairy-free cream cheese. Can also skip this frosting and use canned frosting instead. (Check labels.)
    • 6 tablespoons butter, softened to room temperature, or shortening/vegan butter for dairy-free.
    • 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla
    • 3 cups powdered sugar

    Instructions
     

    Make the Pumpkin Cake

    • Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 9x13 inch or 10x15 inch pan.
    • Whisk together the gluten-free flour blend, baking powder, baking soda, pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon, and salt. Set aside.
    • In a large mixing bowl, cream together the butter and sugars with an electric mixer.
    • Add in the pumpkin pureee, eggs, and vanilla. Mix well to combine.
    • Blend in the dry ingredients until evenly incorporated.
    • Spread the batter into greased pan. Bake at 350°F, 15-18 min for a 10x15" pan, 22-25 minutes for a 9x13" pan, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool completely before frosting.

    Make the Cream Cheese Frosting

    • With an electic mixer, blend the softened cream cheese and butter together until smooth.
    • Blend in the vanilla.
    • Gradually blend in the powdered sugar until fully combined and of a thick, spreadable consistency.
    • Spread the frosting on completely cooled cake. Cut and serve bars immediately or refrigerate until serving.

    Notes

    1. This recipe is about half the size of the traditional pumpkin bar recipe. Double check the size of your pan and use the proper size pan for the recipe!
    2. To double the recipe: use the entire 15 oz can of pumpkin and bake in a 13x18-inch pan.  
    3. Measure flour with the spoon and level method to ensure accuracy of measurements. 
    4. Always be sure the cake feels cool from the top and bottom of the pan before applying the frosting.
    5. Can make one day ahead of a party or potluck. Keep refrigerated until serving.
    6. This cake is fine left at room temperature, but refrigeration is preferred to keep the frosting from becoming too soft. This cake will keep for several days when refrigerated and tightly wrapped.
    7. You can freeze slices of this cake, tightly wrapped. Thaw at room temperature or in the refrigerator. Do not use a microwave to thaw this cake.
    8. Serve either at room temperature or cold from the refrigerator.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1sliceCalories: 202kcalCarbohydrates: 29gProtein: 2gFat: 10gSaturated Fat: 6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 39mgSodium: 178mgPotassium: 46mgFiber: 1gSugar: 24gVitamin A: 1910IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 32mgIron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe?Leave a comment and star rating below!

    More Gluten-free Cake Recipes

    • Nothing Bundt Cakes Frosting Recipe and Piping Technique
    • Gluten-Free White Chocolate Raspberry Bundt Cake (Nothing Bundt Cakes Copycat)
    • How to Make Gluten-Free Cake Mix Taste Better: 10 Expert Tips!
    • Gluten-Free Pumpkin Bundt Cake: Easy Recipe! (Dairy-Free Option)

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    1. Kathy

      October 07, 2019 at 5:44 am

      5 stars
      These look delicious!! Thanks for sharing.

      Reply
    2. Patty

      October 10, 2020 at 8:34 pm

      Thank you, it turned out amazing! I double my spices and use butternut squash from my garden instead. Love the cinnamon in the cream cheese.

      Reply
      • Patty

        October 10, 2020 at 8:36 pm

        5 stars
        It was moist and not at all crumbly.

        Reply
    3. Marcelle Mcdonnell

      October 05, 2021 at 1:50 pm

      Just want a straight answer does Kathleen pumpkin bars with cream cheeze peanuts free . Want to make them but my grandson has severe alllergies to all. Nuts

      Reply
      • Katie | Wheat by the Wayside

        October 10, 2021 at 1:58 pm

        Technically the ingredients in these bars are nut free. You would need to check the labels on your products specifically for allergen statements/warnings.

        Reply
    4. Jennifer Reidy

      October 15, 2021 at 2:26 am

      These look so gorgeous and yummy! How awesome these are going to be for Thanksgiving! Thank you so much for the recipe! 🙂

      Reply
    5. Linda

      September 28, 2022 at 1:58 pm

      5 stars
      Delicious & easy. Took to a street party & everyone raved. I sprinkled a dusting of cinnamon on top of the icing.

      Reply
    6. Kristin

      November 01, 2022 at 3:14 pm

      Can't wait to try these. Wondering where you found beautiful sprinkles.

      Reply
      • Katie | Wheat by the Wayside

        November 03, 2022 at 2:31 pm

        They were from Walmart I believe!

        Reply

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    Katie Olesen headshot.

    Hi, I'm Katie! I'm the blogger behind Wheat by the Wayside. I was diagnosed with Celiac Disease in 2018 and have been following a strict gluten-free diet ever since. The goal of WBTW is to share tried and tested, easy, and delicious gluten-free recipes to give you confidence in the kitchen! 

    More about me →

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