Frosted Pumpkin Spice Cookie Bars

This site runs ads and generates income from affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy. Soft pumpkin spice cookie bars with tangy maple cream cheese frosting and a beautiful two-tone finish. Perfect for fall gatherings! Know Before You Scroll Servings: 16 barsPrep: 20 minutes minsCook: 27 minutes mins Canned pumpkin, butter, brown sugar, flour, warm spices, cream cheese, maple syrup, and orange gel food coloring. Warm pumpkin spice, brown sugar, tangy cream cheese, vanilla bean, and a subtle hint of maple. Easy. The frosting looks fancy, but the decorating technique is surprisingly simple. 9×13-inch metal baking pan, electric mixer, parchment paper, two piping bags, and a small offset spatula. If the frosting feels too soft to pipe, refrigerate it for 15–20 minutes before decorating. This helps the design hold its shape without making the frosting overly sweet. Vanilla extract works instead of vanilla bean paste, and you can leave out the cardamom if you don’t have any. The first sign of fall always makes me crave pumpkin spice. There’s something about those warm, fragrant spices mixed with the richness of pumpkin that makes me want to get straight into the kitchen and start bakin...