Gluten Free Pumpkin Bars

🧡 Say Hello to Autumn in a Bite: Pumpkin Spice Bars with Maple-Cheese Frosting That’ll Make You Fall in Love!

Gluten Free Pumpkin Bars

If fall had a favorite child, it’d be these gooey, sweet, pumpkin spice bars that hug your taste buds like a chunky knit sweater. These cozy bars are packed with nutrient-dense goodness, slathered in a maple-laced cheesy frosting, and—spoiler alert—your kitchen will smell like a Yankee Candle store exploded (in the best way). Whether you’re whipping these up for a pumpkin patch potluck or bribing your kids to finish their homework, these bars deliver warm hugs and sass in every slice.

My mother in law was recently diagnosed with Celiac disease and so I thought I would try and make a gluten free treat. It’s pumpkin season and I thought this would be the perfect treat. It’s relatively healthy and super easy to make.

I added a maple syrup frosting and it had a good balance to the pumpkin bars. Matt kept calling pumpkin cake and he said it was good. The kids loved it and begged for more.

🎃 Let’s Talk Pumpkin Perfection

So here’s the story: I had half a can of pumpkin staring me down from the fridge door—right next to the almond butter that’s been begging for a moment. Boom. Recipe inspiration. Add a little fall flair, a dash of sass, and that signature LouLou-style frosting twist… and baby, you’ve got a treat worth writing home (or a blog post) about.
These bars are easy enough for the beginner baker, but tasty enough to fool even your most gourmet friends into thinking you slaved all day. Let’s break this recipe down like we do best—with flavor, facts, and fun

Gluten Free Pumpkin Bars

Ingredients

Bars

1/2 cup pumpkin
2 eggs
1/2 cup almond butter
1/3 cup honey
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar

Frosting

3 tablespoons salted butter, room temperature
3 laughing cow cheese triangles, room temperature
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 tablespoon maple syrup
1 1/2 cup powdered sugar or until desired consistency

🔥 Calorie Count (Per Bar)

Approximately 180 calories per serving (based on 12 servings per batch).
It’s like treating yourself to a pumpkin spice latte, but with fewer bucks and no foam mustache.

🥕 Nutritional Facts (Per Bar)

Nutrient	Amount
Calories	~180 kcal
Protein	~4g
Carbs	~20g
Fat	~10g
Fiber	~2g
Added Sugars	~10g
Vitamin A (pumpkin!)	High
Calcium	Moderate

Gluten Free Pumpkin Bars

Directions

Preheat the oven 350 degrees. Grease a 9×9 pan and line with parchment paper.
In a medium bowl put in the pumpkin, almond butter, eggs, honey, salt, pumpkin pie spice and baking soda. Using a spatula stir the ingredients until incorporated.
Then add in the apple cider vinegar and stir again until blended.
Bake for 35 minutes or until the batter is no longer jiggly.
While the bars cool, mix together all the ingredients from the frosting and blend until smooth. Frost and enjoy!

👉 Health Boosts:

Almond butter = healthy fats + protein
Pumpkin = vitamin A bomb
Laughing Cow cheese = calcium and creaminess with fewer calories than cream cheese

🍁 Cooking Tips: LouLou GIRLS-Style

Use a spatula, not a whisk – Pumpkin + almond butter = thick mixture. A whisk will cry trying to mix this.
Don’t skip the vinegar! The apple cider vinegar reacts with baking soda for extra fluff. Science, baby.
Room temp matters – Make sure your butter and cheese are soft enough to dance. Cold ingredients = chunky frosting.

🌈 Recipe Variations to Spice Things Up

Feeling adventurous or just low on pantry staples? Try these sass-approved swaps:

Swap almond butter for peanut butter or sunflower butter
Honey can be replaced with maple syrup or agave
Add chocolate chips or chopped pecans for crunch drama
Use whipped cream cheese instead of Laughing Cow for a bolder frosting
Go gluten-free with confidence—this recipe is already flourless!

👶 Kid Tips: How to Win Over Mini Taste-Testers

Call it “Pumpkin Cake” instead of “Spice Bar”—marketing is everything, mama!
Add sprinkles on top of the frosting—they’ll think it’s dessert royalty
Serve with a tiny glass of milk in a fancy cup—kids love tiny fancy things

🛒 Grocery Hacks for Smart Bakers

Laughing Cow Cheese is often hiding in the deli section. Ask for it by name—it’s a sneaky little triangle!
Buy canned pumpkin in bulk when it goes on sale post-Halloween. Freeze portions in zip-top bags for future baking.
Look for store-brand almond butter—often way cheaper and just as creamy.
Powdered sugar too pricey? Blitz granulated sugar in a blender until fluffy. DIY queen moment.

Gluten Free Pumpkin Bars

💬 Final Thoughts: Why You’ll Make These Again

These bars are moist, dense, perfectly spiced, and that frosting? A tangy-sweet cloud that hits like dessert fairy dust. They’re the kind of treat that makes your kitchen the go-to house on the block. They freeze beautifully (not that you’ll have leftovers), they travel like champs, and they scream “I’m festive AND I bake.” Win-win-win.

Gluten Free Pumpkin Bars

🎉 Conclusion: Your Fall BFF in Bar Form

You don’t need a PSL in hand to embrace the pumpkin life. These bars are warm, inviting, and downright cozy. The kind of recipe that turns an average Tuesday into a snuggly little celebration. Whether you’re baking with your littles, bringing a tray to book club, or simply spoiling yourself (yes, queen), these pumpkin spice bars are your delicious ticket to fall fabulousness.

Bake ‘em. Frost ‘em. Brag about ‘em.

Lou Lou Girls would totally approve. 💁‍♀️