Brown Sugar Maple Pumpkin Bars (Print Version)
Decadent pumpkin bars with maple filling, buttery crust, and brown sugar cinnamon streusel topping.
# What You Need:
→ Crust
01 - 1 cup all-purpose flour
02 - 1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
03 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, cold and cubed
04 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
→ Filling
05 - 1 1/4 cups pumpkin puree
06 - 1/2 cup pure maple syrup
07 - 1/3 cup brown sugar, packed
08 - 2 large eggs
09 - 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
10 - 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
11 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
→ Streusel Topping
12 - 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
13 - 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
14 - 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
15 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
16 - Pinch of salt
# How to Prepare:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line an 8x8-inch baking pan with parchment paper.
02 - Combine flour, brown sugar, and salt in a bowl. Cut in cold butter using a pastry blender or fork until mixture becomes crumbly. Press firmly into the bottom of the prepared pan.
03 - Bake the crust for 10 minutes until lightly set.
04 - Whisk together pumpkin puree, maple syrup, brown sugar, eggs, pumpkin pie spice, vanilla, and salt until completely smooth.
05 - Pour the pumpkin mixture evenly over the pre-baked crust and spread into a uniform layer.
06 - Mix flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, salt, and melted butter until crumbly texture forms.
07 - Sprinkle streusel evenly over the pumpkin filling. Bake for 30 minutes until the center is set and topping is golden brown.
08 - Let cool completely in the pan. Lift out using parchment paper and cut into 16 bars.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The crust stays incredibly tender while providing the perfect buttery foundation for all that silky pumpkin goodness
- That streusel topping creates the most satisfying crunch against the creamy maple filling
- They actually taste better the next day, making them ideal for make ahead dessert planning
02 -
- Cutting these bars while they are still warm will give you a mess instead of neat squares, so patience really pays off here
- The streusel might look like too much when you are sprinkling it on, but it settles perfectly during baking
03 -
- Room temperature ingredients incorporate more easily into the filling, preventing any lumps
- Use a kitchen scale to measure flour if possible, as it is the most accurate method for consistent results