Pumpkin bars with cream cheese frosting are the kind of treat that feels like a warm hug. When autumn hits and the leaves start tumbling like confetti, this recipe is what I reach for first. The base is perfectly spiced—not too strong, not too shy—and the frosting? Silky, tangy, and the kind of thing you ‘accidentally’ taste test with a spoon more than once. You don’t need to be a pastry chef, either. If you’ve ever stirred cake mix in a bowl, you’ve already got what it takes. It’s one bowl for the batter, one for the frosting, and a whole lot of cozy, cinnamon-scented joy. I make these for fall potlucks, lazy Sundays, or just because the kitchen feels better when it smells like pumpkin. This recipe fits right in with sweet easy recipes, easy dessert recipes, and all those easy baking recipes Pinterest is obsessed with. It’s simple, nostalgic, and yes—ridiculously good. Especially cold out of the fridge when the frosting gets just a little firmer. You’ve been warned.