Pumpkin Pie Snickerdoodle Bars
In case you haven’t noticed, I’ve been obsessed with pumpkin this fall. I can’t stop baking with it. Luckily, Hubby hasn’t gotten sick of it yet. Although I doubt he’ll be eating any pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving this year!
I saw these bars pop up and I knew I needed to make them. I took them to a retreat and they went over really well. I do think the snickerdoodle bar layer was a bit underbaked so maybe next time, I might prebake that layer for about 10 minutes? If you’re looking for a treat to take into work or share on Thanksgiving that’s a bit unique, I highly recommend this recipe. I had more than one person ask me for the recipe.
Another great thing about this recipe is that you can mix the multiple layers in the same bowl! I was a bit apprehensive about doing this (it was the OCD side of me that was apprehensive), but I decided to just go with it. So much easier than washing the bowl for my mixer mid-recipe!
Update: I have made these a few more times and baking the snickerdoodle layer first is definitely the right answer! I have updated the recipe below to reflect my changes.
Pumpkin Snickerdoodle Bars
Ingredients:
Snickerdoodle Layer
3 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups packed brown sugar
1 cup butter, at room temperature
2 eggs, at room temperature
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
Pumpkin Pie Layer
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup white sugar
1 stick butter, at room temperature
1 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
2 eggs, at room temperature
1 1/2 cups canned pumpkin
Topping
2 tablespoons white sugar
2 teaspoons cinnamon
Drizzle
1 oz white chocolate, chopped
1/4 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350F. Lightly grease a 9x13 inch pan and lay a piece of parchment paper across the pan, so that it extends the pan slightly. The parchment paper is an optional step, but it will make it easier to get the bars out later
To make snickerdoodle layer
Sift together flour, baking powder and salt and set aside. In large bowl, beat together butter, sugar, egg and vanilla until smooth.
Stir in the flour mixture until well blended. Spread evenly in prepared pan (I got my hands wet to spread it because it was very thick).
To make pumpkin pie filling
In a mixer bowl (you can use the same one you used to make the snickerdoodle batter) with a paddle attachment, mix together butter and sugar. A dd the rest of the ingredients and mix until well combined. This layer will be less thick and more pourable. Pour over the snickerdoodle layer, smoothing out the top.
Combine white sugar and cinnamon in a little bowl. Evenly sprinkle cinnamon sugar mixture over the top of the batter.
Bake for 33-40 minutes (I baked for 34 minutes, and as I said, they could have used another 3-4 minutes) or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the pan comes out clean. Let the bars cool completely. They will deflate a bit and remain a bit pie-like on the top layer. The bars that are closer to the edges of the pan will be more firm.
After the bars are completely cool, place the chopped white chocolate into a bowl or zip-lock bag and melt on low power. When it's completely melted, add the pumpkin pie spice and mix (or knead if using a zip lock bag). Use a spoon or cut a small corner off the bag and drizzle the melted chocolate over the top of the bars and let it cool and harden.
Use the parchment paper to lift the bars out of the pan. Place on a cutting board and cut into bars. Store in a covered container.
Recipe from Dozen Flours
I am Jen the Beantown Baker. Engineer by day and baking maven by night. Hubby serves as my #1 fan and official taste tester. We got hitched back in 2006. Barefoot. In the sand. With the waves crashing behind us. It was one of the best decisions we’ve ever made. 
I think it’s very interesting that KAF has you freeze after baking. With most yeast things, you can pop them in the freezer before the second rise, and then take them out the night before, let them have a slow rise in the fridge, and then leave them out until they are proofed and then bake. It seems so much easier to just partially bake them. Interesting.
All the flavors sound incredible!
1. Pumpkin cinnamon rolls are fabulous, and these look great!
2. I love the tip about pre-baking the rolls before freezing. I will definitely be employing that technique :).
These sound AMAZING! I’ve been fearful of making cinnamon rolls- both for the baking and having them around- this is great to know though! Thanks!
No fair using my recipe and then making prettier cinnamon rolls than me. Hmph!
Oh well, I suppose it’s worth it to find about this great freezing trick!
Wow, do those look and sound delicious! Thanks for the info on how to freeze the rolls. I think I’ll attempt yeast soon.
Thanks for sharing the tip on freezing cinnamon rolls. I seriously love KAF’s helpful hints on their blog and website!
ok what a brilliant idea!! I love making pumpkin cinnamon rolls, I just made a batch last weekend 🙂
Oh YUM! Thanks for the freezing tips. I wanted to make my kids homemade cinnamon rolls this weekend, but like you, didn’t want them sitting around to tempt me! Does the pumpkin make the rolls really moist? I’m saving this recipe.
Rhondi – I found the dough to be similar to other cinnamon roll dough as far as the moistness goes.
I haven’t had cinnamon rolls in such a long time! I can’t wait to try these.
These look great – the pumpkin is such a nice touch. Love the freezing tips!
Hello as I am sure you know here in Italy we use the yeast in very many recipes. To freeze some dough leavened with baking powder (such as croissants or Daddy), some experts have advised me after giving shape to freeze before the final rise, then remove from freezer the night before putting in the oven thawing, and morning turn on the oven and cook as usual. I must tell you that I tried and the result was perfect.
Ciao Flavia
Yum! I LOVE cinnamon rolls and pumpkin cinnamon rolls are definitely a nice change-up from the usual plain cinnamon rolls. Great recipe!
pumpkin cinnamon rolls!? get out of town!? these look ah-mazing!!!!
I love your freezing tip! I actually haven’t tried making cinnamon rolls yet, but will soon! It’s nice to know you can make them the night before too and then just finish baking in the morning.
delicious a favourite I make similar
I never knew pumpkin cinnamon rolls existed until now. Looks and sounds divine!