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    Home » Recipes » Desserts

    Pumpkin Gooey Butter Cake Bars

    Published: Nov 15, 2019 · Modified: Sep 16, 2023 by Tiffany Dahle · This post may contain affiliate links.

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    The pumpkin gooey butter cake bars are on a white platter with a pumpkin decoration.
    The photo collage shows the serving platter of gooey butter cake on a white tray on the Thanksgiving dessert table.
    The photo collage shows the pumpkin bars on a white plate next to a photo of the baking pan where they were made.

    Pumpkin gooey butter cake bars are the perfect make-ahead Thanksgiving dessert to replace pumpkin pie. It travels well if you're heading to someone else's house for the holiday.

    The sliced pumpkin gooey butter cake bars are on a white plate. There's a dusting of powdered sugar over the top for garnish.

    If you love pumpkin flavor and all things pumpkin spice but crave a more interesting texture than you get from pumpkin pie, this easy pumpkin gooey butter cake bars recipe is for you!

    This amazing dessert has a wonderful crisp chewiness but the bars are still soft and gooey. 

    If you want to add variety to your Thanksgiving table, these pumpkin gooey butter bars are the perfect choice. You can slice them into small bite-sized servings. Since they are so rich, a little goes a long way anyway!

    They'd be just perfect on a dessert buffet table mixed with a variety of homemade or even store-bought desserts to keep it easy.

    Jump to:
    • What is Gooey Butter Cake?
    • Why This is the Best Recipe
    • Ingredients
    • Prep the Crust
    • Prep the Pumpkin Butter Filling
    • Baking Instructions
    • How to Slice the Bars
    • Serving Suggestions
    • More Easy Thanksgiving Desserts
    • More Pumpkin Desserts
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    What is Gooey Butter Cake?

    If I lost you at "gooey butter cake," don't worry.

    Gooey butter cake is an old-fashioned American dessert where you turn a whole lot of butter and a boxed cake mix into a decadent layered dessert.

    It traditionally comes in a wide variety of flavors including both vanilla and chocolate. 

    Why This is the Best Recipe

    I've tried both vanilla and chocolate gooey butter cakes and they are ok, but I think this is the best pumpkin gooey butter cake bars recipe because:

    1. Make Ahead Friendly: You can bake these the day before Thanksgiving and just keep them in the fridge.
    2. Travel Friendly: Keep the gooey butter cake bars in the baking pan if you're planning to take them on the go. They are very portable.
    3. Better Texture than Pumpkin Pie: If you have family that doesn't like the regular texture of pumpkin pie, this is a fantastic alternative! The layer of cake adds a delicious chewy texture.

    Ingredients

    The ingredients to make the gooey butter cake are on the counter.

    This is always such a popular recipe to bake at the holidays because all you need to make it is:

    • Boxed Yellow Cake Mix
    • Salted Butter
    • Egg
    • Canned Pumpkin
    • Cream Cheese
    • Powdered Sugar
    • Pie Spice
    • Vanilla Extract

    Prep the Crust

    Set out a 9 x 13-inch baking pan. You may wish to spray it with cooking spray so your bars come out neatly.

    Add the cake mix, butter and egg to a large mixing bowl. Mix them together with a hand mixer until smooth.

    Set aside ¼ cup of the mixture to add to the filling.

    Use your fingers to pat and press the remaining crust mixture evenly in the baking pan.

    The step by step photos show how to beat the butter and cake mix together to form the crust and pat it into a baking pan.

    Prep the Pumpkin Butter Filling

    Add the cream cheese and butter to the mixing bowl with the reserved ¼ cup of crust mixture.

    Beat them together with your hand mixer until smooth.

    Beat in the powdered sugar and pie spice.

    Add the egg and vanilla and mix until just combined.

    Finish by adding the canned pumpkin puree and beat them all together until smooth.

    The step by step photos show how to mix together the butter, powdered sugar, spices, and pumpkin puree to form the pumpkin filling.

    Pour the filling over the crust in the prepared pan and spread it out into an even layer.

    The pumpkin filling has been spread over the cake crust.

    Baking Instructions

    Preheat the oven to 350°F.

    Bake the pumpkin gooey butter cake bars for 40 minutes.

    You'll know they are done when the filling will begin to crack and is completely set but may still jiggle slightly.

    Cool the cake bars completely in the pan before serving.

    TOP TIP: Don't try to test them with a knife, it will not come out clean.

    The pan has just come out of the oven so you can see the texture of the finished top. It has a few slight cracks and barely jiggles when it is pulled.

    How to Slice the Bars

    The plate of sliced pumpkin bars sits in front of the baking pan so you can see how neatly they slice.

    I love how neat and clean you can slice the dessert bars for presentation.

    Once the pumpkin gooey butter cake bars have completely cooled, place them in the fridge to chill.

    Use a sharp knife to slice the dessert bars. It helps to rinse it in hot water after each slice.

    Use a spatula to lift the bars from the pan.

    Sprinkle powdered sugar over the top and then place them on your dessert plate.

    Serving Suggestions

    The finished pumpkin bars are on a white plate with powdered sugar on top.

    These delicious and rich pumpkin gooey butter cake bars would make a delicious fall treat any day of the week but I think they fit right at home on the Thanksgiving dessert table.

    You can slice them into small pieces to add to a dessert tiered tray or in more generous size squares for a full serving dessert by themselves.

    Don't forget a sprinkle of powdered sugar for garnish!

    More Easy Thanksgiving Desserts

    The best part of Thanksgiving is having a variety of treats.

    Try mixing in some of our family favorite easy Thanksgiving desserts for your dessert buffet table:

    • A plain cheesecake has been cut into two slices: One has pecans and caramel, the other has fresh apples and caramel.
      Easy Caramel Apple Cheesecake
    • A stack of shortbread pecan pie bars on a cake plate for serving.
      Shortbread Pecan Pie Bars
    • A mason jar filled with homemade caramel sauce with a spoon.
      Salted Caramel Sauce
    • A square of apple crumble bars is served on a white plate with a drizzle of caramel sauce over the top.
      Apple Crumble Bars

    More Pumpkin Desserts

    If you love pumpkin season, you definitely won't want to miss these delicious easy pumpkin recipes:

    • A pumpkin pie in a white pie plate.
      Easy Pumpkin Pie
    • A platter of puffy pumpkin butterscotch cookies with a sprinkle of butterscotch chips sits next to a denim napkin.
      Easy Pumpkin Butterscotch Cookies
    • 3 pans of homemade pumpkin bread cool on a stove top.
      Big Batch Pumpkin Bread Recipe
    • A wooden platter has 3 squares of pumpkin spice cheerio bars with a ceramic pumpkin decoration.
      Caramel Pumpkin Spice Cheerios Bars

    📖 Recipe

    The sliced pumpkin gooey butter cake bars are on a white plate. There's a dusting of powdered sugar over the top for garnish.

    Pumpkin Gooey Butter Cake Bars

    5 from 45 votes
    These rich and delicious pumpkin gooey butter cake bars are the perfect make-ahead Thanksgiving dessert. They travel really well if you're in charge of bringing the pumpkin dessert!
    TOTAL TIME 45 minutes minutes
    PREP TIME 15 minutes minutes
    COOK TIME 30 minutes minutes
    YIELD 12 servings
    PIN RECIPE FOR LATER PRINT RECIPE NOW

    Ingredients
      

    For the Cakey Crust:

    • 1 boxed yellow cake mix
    • 8 tablespoon (1 stick) butter softened
    • 1 egg

    For the Pumpkin Butter Filling:

    • ¼ cup crust mixture saved from the crust mixture above
    • 1 (8 oz) package cream cheese softened
    • 8 tablespoon (1 stick) butter softened
    • 16 oz container of powdered sugar
    • 1 teaspoon pie spice or 1 teaspoon cinnamon and a dash of nutmeg
    • 1 egg
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla
    • 1 (15 oz) can pumpkin puree
    • Powdered sugar for dusting

    Instructions

    • Preheat the oven to 350°F. Set out a 9 x 13 baking dish.

    Prepare the Crust

    • Add the cake mix, butter and egg to a large mixing bowl. Beat them together with a hand mixer.
    • Set aside ¼ cup of the mixture to add to the filling.
    • Use your fingers to pat and press the remaining crust mixture evenly in the baking pan.

    Prepare the Pumpkin Butter Filling

    • Add the softened cream cheese and butter to the mixing bowl with the reserved ¼ cup of crust mixture. Beat them together until smooth.
    • Beat in the powdered sugar and pie spice.
    • Add the egg and vanilla and mix until just combined.
    • Finish by adding the pumpkin and beat to combine until smooth.

    Baking Instructions

    • Pour the filling over the crust in the baking pan. Use a spoon to even it out and then bake for 45 - 50 minutes. You'll know it is done when the filling will begin to crack and is completely set but may still jiggle slightly. Don't try to test the bars with a knife, it will not come out clean.
    • Cool completely in the pan before serving.
    • Cut the dessert bars and serve with a dusting of powdered sugar for presentation.

    Recipe Notes

    Make Ahead Tips

    These travel-friendly pumpkin gooey butter cake bars can be made up to 24 hours in advance and stored in the fridge in a covered container. 
    COURSEDessert
    CUISINEAmerican
    AUTHORTiffany Dahle

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    The photo collage shows the sliced bars on a white plate next to the baking pan where they were made.
    The photo collage shows the serving platter of gooey butter cake on a white tray on the Thanksgiving dessert table.

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    Reader Interactions

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    1. Moist and chewy Hello Dolly bars recipe for beginner bakers says:
      March 29, 2020 at 1:08 pm

      […] Easy peasy pumpkin gooey butter cake bars you have to try […]

      Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, I'm Tiffany!
    I believe a great family recipe is one that makes everyone at the table happy, not just the kids. I'm the author of two bestselling cookbooks for kids that are chock full of recipes everyone in your family will love. I'm also the hostess of the best online book club for women.

    More about me →

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