Chewy Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars
Chewy Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars combine the cozy flavors of real pumpkin puree and warm fall spices with indulgent semi-sweet chocolate chips. These soft, chewy bars offer the perfect texture and rich pumpkin flavor, making them an ideal treat for autumn afternoons, festive gatherings, or anytime snacking.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30-35 minutes
- Total Time: 45-50 minutes
- Yield: 16 bars 1x
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten Free (with gluten-free flour substitution)
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
Wet Ingredients
- 1 cup pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling)
- ⅓ cup vegetable oil
- ¾ cup brown sugar, packed
- ⅓ cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
Add-ins
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare: Set your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease or line an 8×8 inch baking pan with parchment paper for easy removal of your cookie bars.
- Mix Wet Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together pumpkin puree, vegetable oil, brown sugar, granulated sugar, and eggs until smooth and creamy.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, sift together all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger to ensure even distribution.
- Bring It Together: Gradually add the dry ingredients into the wet mixture, stirring just until combined—be careful not to overmix to keep bars tender and chewy.
- Fold in Chocolate Chips: Gently fold the chocolate chips into the batter, making sure they’re spread evenly throughout for gooey pockets in every bite.
- Bake and Cool: Pour the batter into your prepared pan, smoothing the top with a spatula, and bake for about 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out with a few moist crumbs. Allow the bars to cool completely before slicing.
Notes
- Measure flour correctly using spoon and level method to avoid dry, crumbly bars.
- Do not overmix the batter to maintain soft and chewy texture.
- Use fresh or canned pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling) for best flavor.
- Check doneness starting at 30 minutes to avoid overbaking.
- Allow bars to cool completely in pan before slicing for best results.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar (1/16th of recipe)
- Calories: 180 kcal
- Sugar: 15 g
- Sodium: 140 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 25 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 35 mg
Keywords: pumpkin, chocolate chip, cookie bars, chewy, fall dessert, autumn treats, pumpkin spice, easy baking