Go Back

Pumpkin Gooey Butter Bars

Pumpkin gooey butter bars with a buttery yellow cake crust and an impossibly gooey pumpkin cream cheese center. Baked at 350°F until the middle jiggles, then cooled fully for clean, bar-style slices and a heavy powdered sugar finish.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings: 24 bars
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Calories: 320
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For cake mix crust
  • 1 can (15.25 oz) yellow cake mix
  • 0.5 cup unsalted butter, melted
  • 1 egg
For gooey pumpkin filling
  • 8 oz cream cheese, softened
  • 1 can (15 oz) pumpkin puree
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 0.5 cup unsalted butter, melted
  • 4 cup powdered sugar
  • 2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • extra powdered sugar for topping

Equipment

  • 1 sheet pan

Method
 

Prep and crust
  1. Preheat oven to 350°F and grease a 9x13 baking pan so the bars release cleanly after baking.
  2. Combine yellow cake mix, melted unsalted butter, and egg until a thick dough forms, then press firmly into the bottom of the pan as an even crust layer.
Make filling and bake
  1. Beat cream cheese until smooth, then add pumpkin puree, eggs, and vanilla extract and mix until uniform.
  2. Beat in melted unsalted butter, then add powdered sugar, pumpkin pie spice, and cinnamon and beat until smooth and glossy.
  3. Pour the gooey pumpkin filling over the crust, spreading it to the edges.
  4. Bake for 40–45 minutes at 350°F until the center is slightly jiggly; do not overbake.
Cool and serve
  1. Cool completely before cutting so the gooey center sets enough for neat bars.
  2. Dust heavily with extra powdered sugar across the top, then cut into bars and serve.

Notes

Pro tip: watch the bake time—pull the pan when the center still jiggles so you get that soft, gooey texture. Store airtight in the refrigerator up to 4 days; freeze bars for up to 2 months for best texture. For a simple swap, use low-fat cream cheese in the filling (texture will be slightly less rich but still delicious).