The Best Homemade Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bars: An Easy Fall Treat Recipe

As the leaves begin to turn and a crispness fills the air, there’s a unique craving that emerges for all things pumpkin. Among the myriad of fall desserts, these Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bars stand out as an absolute essential. Imagine the comforting embrace of a soft, moist pumpkin cake, perfectly fused with the delightful chewiness of a chocolate chip cookie – that’s precisely what awaits you with every bite of these irresistible bars!

This recipe isn’t just easy; it’s a celebration of autumn flavors, bringing together the earthy sweetness of pumpkin and the rich indulgence of chocolate. These bars are incredibly moist, bursting with aromatic spices, and offer the perfect texture that’s somewhere between a dense cake and a chewy cookie. They are the quintessential fall treat, ideal for sharing with loved ones or enjoying quietly with a warm drink. Grab your apron, because we’re about to make some magic in the kitchen!

Essential Ingredients for Perfect Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bars

The magic of these pumpkin bars lies in a harmonious blend of simple, wholesome ingredients. While many chocolate variations work, the creamy sweetness of milk chocolate chips paired with the spiced pumpkin is truly a match made in heaven. If you prefer a less sweet profile, semi-sweet or even dark chocolate chips can be wonderful alternatives. Feel free to mix and match for a custom chocolate experience!

Here’s what you’ll need to create these delightful pumpkin chocolate chip bars:

• All-purpose flour: The foundational dry ingredient that gives our bars their structure.
• Pumpkin pie spice: This pre-mixed blend of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves provides that quintessential autumn aroma and flavor.
• Cinnamon: An extra boost of warmth, complementing the pumpkin beautifully.
• Baking soda: Our leavening agent, ensuring the bars rise to be light and fluffy.
• Salt: A pinch of salt enhances all the other flavors and balances the sweetness.
• Butter, softened: Adds richness and creates a tender crumb. Ensure it’s at room temperature for smooth creaming.
• Unsweetened applesauce: This is a secret ingredient! It adds incredible moisture, a subtle fruity note, and helps reduce the need for excessive oil or butter, contributing to a healthier profile without sacrificing taste.
• Granulated sugar: Provides sweetness and helps achieve that golden-brown crust.
• Light brown sugar: Adds a deeper, molasses-like sweetness and contributes to the bars’ wonderfully moist and chewy texture.
• Egg: Acts as a binder, helping all the ingredients come together and giving structure to the bars.
• Vanilla extract: A splash of vanilla enhances all the sweet and spiced notes.
• Pure pumpkin: Be sure to use 100% pure pumpkin puree, not pumpkin pie filling, for the best authentic pumpkin flavor and texture.
• Milk chocolate chips: My personal favorite for a creamy, sweet contrast, but feel free to experiment with semi-sweet, dark, or a combination for your perfect bar.

Expert Tips for Baking Your Best Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bars

Achieving bakery-quality pumpkin chocolate chip bars at home is easier than you think, especially with a few handy tips. These insights will help you bake perfect bars every single time, ensuring they’re moist, flavorful, and wonderfully satisfying.

• How do I know when the bar cookie is done?

  Baking these bars just right is crucial for their delicious texture. If they’re undercooked, they will likely sink in the middle after being removed from the oven, resulting in a dense and gummy texture. Look for visual cues: the edges should be lightly golden brown and appear to pull away slightly from the sides of the pan. The surface of the bars should look set and dry, not wet or raw, even in the center, and the entire batch will look quite puffy. For a definitive test, insert a toothpick into the center of the bars. It should come out clean or with a few moist crumbs attached, but never with wet batter. Over-baking can lead to dry bars, so keep a close eye on them during the last few minutes of baking.

• Can I freeze pumpkin chocolate chip bars?

  Absolutely! These pumpkin chocolate chip bars are excellent for freezing, making them a perfect make-ahead treat. To freeze them, first allow the bars to cool completely to room temperature. Then, cut them into individual squares. Wrap each bar tightly in plastic wrap, and then place the wrapped bars into a freezer-safe airtight container or a heavy-duty freezer bag. They can be stored in the freezer for up to 2-3 months. To serve, simply thaw them at room temperature for a few hours, or gently warm them in the microwave for a few seconds for a freshly baked feel.

• Do I have to use milk chocolate chips?

  While I highly recommend milk chocolate chips for their creamy sweetness that beautifully complements the pumpkin and spices, it’s all about personal preference! You can certainly use semi-sweet chocolate chips for a richer, less sweet flavor, or dark chocolate chips if you prefer a bolder, more intense cocoa taste. A combination of different chocolate types (like milk and semi-sweet) can also create a wonderful depth of flavor. Don’t be afraid to experiment! You could even add white chocolate chips for a different kind of sweetness, or a sprinkle of toasted pecans or walnuts for an extra crunch.

• How do I store these pumpkin bars?

  Here’s a little secret: these pumpkin bars often taste even better the day after they’re baked! As they sit, the flavors have a chance to meld and deepen, and the moisture from the pumpkin distributes throughout the bars, making them incredibly moist. To store them, once they are completely cool, place them in an airtight container at room temperature. They will stay fresh and wonderfully moist for 4-5 days. If you live in a very warm climate or prefer to extend their shelf life slightly, you can refrigerate them, but room temperature is ideal for maintaining their soft texture.

Serving Suggestions and Flavor Variations

These pumpkin chocolate chip bars are delightful on their own, but they can also be elevated with a few simple additions. Serve them warm with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream for a truly decadent dessert. A dollop of fresh whipped cream or a drizzle of caramel sauce would also be heavenly. For an extra festive touch, dust them lightly with powdered sugar before serving.

Beyond chocolate chips, consider incorporating other mix-ins to customize your bars. A handful of chopped walnuts or pecans would add a lovely textural contrast and nutty flavor. For a more intense spice profile, you could grate in a little fresh ginger or a pinch of ground cloves. You can also make a simple cream cheese frosting to spread on top once the bars have cooled for an extra layer of richness and tanginess.

Other Irresistible Pumpkin Recipes to Try!

If you’re a pumpkin enthusiast like me, there’s a whole world of delicious pumpkin recipes waiting to be explored. From breakfast to dessert, pumpkin adds a unique warmth and flavor that’s simply perfect for the cooler months. Here are some of my other favorite pumpkin creations that I’m sure you’ll adore:

• Pumpkin Spice Cake: A classic, comforting cake bursting with fall flavors.
• Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls with Brown Butter Frosting: The ultimate cozy breakfast or brunch treat.
• Chewy Cinnamon Chip Pumpkin Cookies: Soft, spiced cookies with a delightful cinnamon kick.
• Pumpkin Mac & Cheese: A savory twist on a classic comfort food.
• Pumpkin Pancakes: Start your day with a stack of fluffy, spiced pancakes.

There’s truly nothing quite like the comforting aroma and taste of homemade pumpkin treats during the autumn season. These Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bars are a fantastic way to embrace the flavors of fall, offering a perfect balance of spice, sweetness, and chocolatey goodness in a wonderfully moist bar. They’re simple to make, incredibly satisfying, and sure to become a cherished part of your fall baking repertoire.

If you give this delightful recipe a try, I would absolutely love to hear from you! Please leave a comment below to share your experience, rate the recipe, or even better, snap a photo of your beautiful bars and tag it with @TheAlexDaynes on Instagram! Your creations always make my day and inspire me to keep sharing more delicious recipes with you.

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Yield: 12 servings

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bars

Prep Time
10 minutes

Cook Time
30 minutes

Total Time
40 minutes

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup softened butter
• 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 3/4 cup light brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 15 ounces can pure pumpkin puree
• 2 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 Tablespoon pumpkin pie spice
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 cups milk chocolate chips

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. In a bowl or stand mixer, cream together the butter, applesauce, and sugars until smooth and well combined.
3. Beat in the egg and vanilla extract until fully incorporated. Add the pure pumpkin puree and mix until smooth.
4. In another bowl, whisk together the flour, pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt. Add these dry ingredients to the wet mixture and mix at a low speed until just combined.
5. Gently fold in 1 1/4 cups of the chocolate chips. (Reserve some chocolate chips to sprinkle on top).
6. Spread the batter evenly in a greased 9×13 baking dish. Top with the reserved chocolate chips.
7. Bake for 30-40 minutes, until the edges begin to pull away from the sides and look golden brown. A toothpick inserted into the center should come out clean.
8. Let the bars cool for at least 30 minutes before cutting into squares. Enjoy!