Pumpkin Spice Crumb Bars: The ultimate quick and easy fall dessert. Featuring a rich pumpkin filling and an irresistible spiced crumb topping, these bars are a seasonal must-make!

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Irresistible Pumpkin Spice Crumb Bars: Your Go-To Fall Dessert

As the leaves begin to turn golden and the air fills with a crisp chill, there’s an undeniable craving for comforting, spice-infused treats. Nothing captures the essence of autumn quite like pumpkin spice, and these Pumpkin Spice Crumb Bars are here to become your new favorite fall tradition. Forget the fuss of a pie; these delightful bars offer all the warmth and flavor of a classic pumpkin dessert with a fraction of the effort, making them a perfect choice for busy bakers and dessert enthusiasts alike.

Crumb bars hold a special place in the world of baking. Their inherent simplicity is a major appeal: a single dough mixture cleverly serves as both the sturdy base and the delectable crumbly topping. This ingenious method not only saves time but also ensures a cohesive flavor profile throughout the entire bar. The versatility of crumb bars is truly limitless, allowing for endless variations in fillings to suit any craving or season. For this recipe, we’ve drawn inspiration from the beloved Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte and built upon a foundational sour cream crumb bar recipe, enhancing it with the creamy goodness of Greek yogurt. The result is a dessert that’s not only incredibly delicious but also beautifully balanced in its harmonious blend of flavors and textures.

Why These Pumpkin Spice Crumb Bars Are a Fall Essential

If the thought of making a full-fledged pumpkin pie for your fall gatherings feels a bit daunting, but your heart still yearns for the iconic taste of pumpkin, these bars are your ideal solution. They offer all the beloved flavors of pumpkin pie in a convenient, easy-to-serve format. While I often find myself crafting other seasonal favorites like my Cherry Pie Crumb Bars or my delightful Strawberry Pie Sour Cream Crumb Bars, this pumpkin rendition consistently emerges as a top contender, especially when autumn arrives.

Each layer of these Pumpkin Spice Crumb Bars plays a crucial role in creating a truly memorable dessert experience:

The Golden Crust: The base layer forms a perfectly sturdy foundation, capable of holding the rich filling and generous topping without crumbling. Yet, with every bite, it magically melts in your mouth, leaving a buttery, subtly spiced sensation.
The Creamy Pumpkin Filling: Nestled between the crust and the crumb, this luscious filling is made with pumpkin puree and Greek yogurt (or sour cream, for a richer taste). It bakes into a velvety, light pumpkin pie-like layer, infused with warming spices that evoke all the cozy feelings of fall. The tang of the yogurt perfectly balances the sweetness of the pumpkin.
The Irresistible Crumb Topping: The crowning glory of these bars! Baked to golden-brown perfection, this crunchy layer boasts delightful mounds of cinnamon and brown sugar goodness. It provides a textural contrast that makes these bars utterly addictive, delivering a satisfying crunch with every forkful.

The combination of these three layers creates a symphony of textures and flavors – a tender crust, a smooth and spiced pumpkin center, and a sweet, crunchy topping. It’s a fall dessert that truly has it all!

Mastering Your Pumpkin Spice Crumb Bars: Tips for Success

Crafting these magnificent bars is incredibly straightforward, but a few key tips can elevate your baking experience and ensure perfect results every time:

Precision in Preparation: Always start by thoroughly greasing and lining your baking pan with parchment paper. This simple step is crucial for effortless removal and clean cuts, preventing any sticking disasters. The parchment paper creates “handles” that allow you to easily lift the entire slab of bars out of the pan once cooled.
The Perfect Crumb Mixture: When combining your crust ingredients, mix until the dough just comes together. Overmixing can lead to a tough crust. Remember to reserve a generous portion (about ¾ cup) of this mixture specifically for the topping. This dual-purpose dough is what makes crumb bars so wonderfully simple!
Don’t Skimp on Cooling: Patience is a virtue, especially with crumb bars. Allowing the bars to cool completely in the pan is essential. This gives the filling ample time to set properly and the crust to firm up, ensuring clean, beautiful squares when you cut them. Cutting them too early might result in a messy, crumbling dessert.
Embrace Flavor Adjustments: While Greek yogurt lightens the filling and adds a lovely tang, feel free to substitute with an equal amount of full-fat sour cream for a richer, more traditional flavor profile. Both options yield fantastic results, so choose what best suits your preference.
Enhance the Spice: If you’re a true pumpkin spice aficionado, consider adding a pinch of nutmeg or allspice to your crumb mixture for an even deeper, more complex flavor. You can also lightly toast the spices before adding them to amplify their aroma.
Serving Suggestions: While these bars are absolutely divine on their own, a drizzle of warm caramel sauce takes them to an extraordinary level of indulgence. Imagine them alongside a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream or a dollop of freshly whipped cream. They also pair wonderfully with a hot cup of coffee, tea, or, of course, a homemade pumpkin spice latte!

These delightful bars are not just for intimate family desserts. If you’re planning a get-together, a potluck, or a holiday feast, simply double the ingredients and bake them in a 9″x13″ pan. They’re guaranteed to be a crowd-pleaser, disappearing faster than you can say “pumpkin spice!”

More Irresistible Crumb Bar & Fall Dessert Recipes

If you’ve fallen in love with the simplicity and deliciousness of crumb bars, you’ll be thrilled to explore more variations. Here are some other fantastic recipes to inspire your baking adventures:

Sour Cream Crumb Bars (the classic, original recipe that started it all!)
Strawberry Pie Sour Cream Crumb Bars (a bright and fruity delight for warmer months)
Frosted Chocolate Chip Yogurt Bars (a decadent treat that combines two favorites)
Cherry Pie Crumb Bars (another fantastic fruit-filled option)
Caramel Apple Crumb Bars (perfect for apple season and caramel lovers)
Pumpkin Pie Bars (a streamlined take on the traditional pumpkin pie)

Each recipe offers a unique spin on the beloved crumb bar concept, ensuring there’s always something new and exciting to bake.

Pumpkin Spice Crumb Bars Recipe Card

Beautifully cut pumpkin spice crumb bars displayed on a white plate, ready to be enjoyed.

Pumpkin Spice Crumb Bars Recipe

Author: Anna

My favorite crumb bars get a fall makeover with pumpkin and spices! They are a perfect addition to your latte! This recipe yields 16 squares of deliciousness.

Prep Time: 15 mins

Cook Time: 25 mins

Total Time: 40 mins

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Servings: 8 people

Calories: 349 kcal

Ingredients

For the Crust and Topping:

½ c unsalted butter, melted and cooled to room temperature
½ c light brown sugar
1.5 c all-purpose flour
½ tsp baking soda
½ tsp baking powder
¼ tsp salt
1 tsp ground cinnamon
¼ tsp ground cloves

For the Filling:

1 c Greek yogurt or sour cream
½ c canned pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling)
¾ c granulated sugar
2 Tbsp all-purpose flour
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F (190°C). Prepare an 8-inch square baking pan by greasing its sides and bottom thoroughly. Line the pan with parchment paper, allowing some overhang on the sides to create “handles” for easy removal. Set aside.
For the Crust and Topping: In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the 1.5 cups all-purpose flour, light brown sugar, baking soda, baking powder, ground cinnamon, ground cloves, and salt until well combined.
Pour the melted and cooled unsalted butter into the dry ingredients. Mix until a crumbly dough forms.
Reserve approximately ¾ cup of this mixture to be used later as the crumb topping.
Press the remaining dough evenly into the bottom of your prepared 8-inch square pan to form the crust. Set aside.
For the Filling: In a large mixing bowl (or the bowl of a stand mixer), combine all the filling ingredients: Greek yogurt (or sour cream), canned pumpkin puree, granulated sugar, 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour, egg, and vanilla extract. Mix on medium speed until all ingredients are thoroughly combined and the mixture is smooth.
Carefully pour the creamy pumpkin filling evenly over the pressed crust in the pan.
Evenly sprinkle the reserved ¾ cup crumb mixture over the pumpkin filling.
Bake for 25 to 28 minutes, or until the crumb topping is beautifully golden brown and the filling appears set.
Once baked, remove the pan from the oven and allow the bars to cool completely in the pan on a wire rack. This is a crucial step for the filling to set and for clean cuts.
Once cooled, use the parchment paper overhangs to lift the entire slab of bars out of the pan. Place on a cutting board and cut into 16 squares.

Notes

Store any leftover Pumpkin Spice Crumb Bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days to maintain freshness and flavor.

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