Apple Pumpkin Cake Bars
Super moist and flavorful Apple Pumpkin Cake Bars, crowned with an apple-pear streusel topping and a cinnamon cream cheese drizzle! Your new favorite fall treat is here!
Servings 12
Calories 335kcal
Ingredients
Apple-Pear Compote
- 2 pounds apples peeled and chopped (I used 4 Gala)
- 1 1/2 pounds pears diced (about 3)
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla bean paste
- 1/2 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
Streusel Crumble
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/3 cup unsalted butter slightly softened
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- pinch salt
Pumpkin Cake
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 cup pure pumpkin puree
- 1 cup light brown sugar packed
- 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 2 large eggs
Cinnamon Cream Cheese Icing
- 2 ounces cream cheese room temperature
- 1/3 cup confectioners sugar sifted
- 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
Instructions
Apple-Pear Compote
- Place apples and pear in medium saucepan with ginger, water, lemon juice, sugar, cinnamon, and vanilla bean paste. Bring to a boil to dissolve the sugar.
- Reduce heat to medium low and simmer under a lid for 16-20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the fruit is semi-translucent. Remove from heat and allow to cool. Strain before use.
Streusel Topping
- Place dry ingredients in a medium sized bowl. Cut in butter with your fingers, a fork, or a pastry blender until butter is incorporated and streusel chunks have formed.
- Store in refrigerator until ready to use.
Pumpkin Cake
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 9x13 baking pan with nonstick spray and set aside.
- In a small bowl, whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and pumpkin pie spice together until combined.
- In a large bowl, combine the pumpkin puree, brown sugar, applesauce, and eggs. Stir with wooden spoon until combined.
- Add the dry mixture to wet ingredients and stir until just combined.
- Pour mix into prepared 9x13 pan. Gently drop strained Apple-Pear compote on top of cake, then top with streusel mixture.
- Bake for 30-40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow cake to cool completely in pan, then cut cake into 2-inch bars.
Cinnamon Cream Cheese Icing
- In a small bowl, stir the sifted confectioners sugar and cinnamon into the cream cheese with a rubber spatula until well combined.
- Microwave icing for 30 seconds until thin and drizzle on cake bars.
Notes
The Cinnamon Cream Cheese Icing recipe makes just enough for this dessert!
Nutrition
Calories: 335kcal | Carbohydrates: 66g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 46mg | Sodium: 179mg | Potassium: 293mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 46g | Vitamin A: 3495IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 63mg | Iron: 1.6mg