Description
These bars combine silky pumpkin, brown-buttery richness, and a crunchy cinnamon-sugar top—perfect for gifting or stacking on a holiday platter.
Ingredients
Scale
- ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
- 1 large egg
- 1 cup packed light brown sugar
- ¾ cup pumpkin purée (not pie filling)
- 1 Tbsp vanilla extract
- 2 tsp pumpkin-pie spice
- 1¼ cups all-purpose flour
- 3 Tbsp granulated sugar (for topping)
- 2 tsp ground cinnamon (for topping)
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line an 8×8-inch pan with foil or parchment and lightly grease the liner.
- In a large, microwave-safe bowl, melt the butter (about 60–75 seconds on high). Let it cool just a bit so the egg won’t cook when added.
- Whisk the egg into the warm butter, then stir in the brown sugar, pumpkin purée, vanilla, and pumpkin spice until the mixture is smooth and uniform.
- Fold in the flour and mix only until the batter comes together — don’t overwork it. The batter will be thick.
- Spread the batter into the prepared pan and even the top with a spatula.
- In a small bowl combine the granulated sugar and cinnamon; sprinkle this mixture evenly over the batter. It looks like a lot at first, but it melts into the top as the bars bake.
- Bake 25–27 minutes, or until a toothpick pushed into the center comes out with just a few moist crumbs (not wet batter). Ovens and pumpkin moisture vary, so adjust time as needed.
- Cool the pan on a rack for at least 30 minutes before slicing. For neater squares, chill briefly before cutting.
Bold tip: Avoid overbaking. Remove the bars when a few moist crumbs cling to the tester to keep them dense and fudgy.
Notes
- Storage & make-ahead
- At room temperature in an airtight container, these blondies stay fresh up to 1 week. They actually soften and improve for the first 48–72 hours.
- Freeze cooled, sliced bars wrapped in plastic and foil for up to 6 months. Thaw at room temperature.
- Note: the cinnamon-sugar top will settle and become less grainy as the bars absorb moisture over time — that’s normal.
- Quick note: Use real pumpkin purée (not the canned pie mix) so the texture and sweetness stay balanced. Enjoy!
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 202cal
- Sugar: 19g
- Sodium: 13mg
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 36mg