Pumpkin Blondies: Easy, Soft, and Delicious Fall Treat

Pumpkin Blondies are thick, soft, and packed with cozy pumpkin spice flavor. Plus, melty chocolate chips make every moist, chewy bite feel extra special for fall baking.

Why You’ll Love These Pumpkin Blondies

Pumpkin Blondies give you everything you want from an easy fall dessert. They taste warmly spiced, sweet, buttery, and rich without requiring complicated steps.
Plus, this recipe makes 24 servings in one 9×13 inch pan. Prep takes only 10 minutes, so you can get the batter into the oven quickly.
The pumpkin keeps every square moist and tender. Meanwhile, chocolate chips add little pockets of creamy sweetness throughout each bite.

Soft, Moist, and Perfectly Spiced

These Pumpkin Blondies have a thick, soft texture that falls somewhere between a classic blondie and pumpkin cake. However, they still have enough chewiness to feel rich and satisfying.
Pumpkin pie spice gives the bars their cozy flavor. Also, vanilla adds warmth, while chocolate balances the pumpkin with extra sweetness.
If you love a stronger spice flavor, add a little extra cinnamon. As a result, the warm fall spices stand out even more.

Pumpkin Blondies vs. Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bars

You can call this recipe Pumpkin Blondies or pumpkin chocolate chip bars. In fact, both names describe these soft pumpkin bars perfectly.
Traditional blondies often have a dense and chewy texture. However, pumpkin contains plenty of moisture, so these bars turn out softer and more cake like.
Still, butter and sugar give the bars some classic blondie richness. Therefore, you get a lovely combination of soft pumpkin cake and chewy blondie textures.

Ingredients for Pumpkin Blondies

You only need familiar baking ingredients to make these Pumpkin Blondies. Better yet, each ingredient plays a simple but important role in creating their soft texture and cozy flavor.

All purpose flour gives the bars structure, while pumpkin pie spice adds warm fall flavor. Baking soda helps create a tender texture, and salt balances the sweetness.

Unsalted butter brings richness and a buttery flavor. Meanwhile, granulated sugar sweetens the batter and helps create the soft blondie texture.

A large egg helps hold everything together. Pumpkin puree adds moisture, color, and pumpkin flavor, while vanilla brings a warm sweetness.

Finally, chocolate chips add rich pockets of chocolate throughout the bars. You can use semi sweet chocolate chips or swap them for another favorite mix in.

Key Ingredients and What They Do

Pumpkin puree makes these Pumpkin Blondies especially moist. Since pumpkin adds plenty of moisture, it also creates the soft, slightly cake like center.
Butter adds richness and flavor. Meanwhile, sugar sweetens the batter and helps give each square tender edges and a satisfying bite.
Pumpkin pie spice brings cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and other warm spice notes together. Then, vanilla rounds out those flavors and makes the pumpkin taste even richer.
Chocolate chips add contrast to the spiced batter. Plus, you get bits of melted chocolate in almost every slice.

Pumpkin Puree vs. Pumpkin Pie Filling

Use plain pumpkin puree for this recipe. Pumpkin puree contains cooked pumpkin without the added sweeteners and spices that you usually find in pumpkin pie filling.
Pumpkin pie filling already contains extra ingredients. Therefore, using it can change the sweetness, spice level, and consistency of your Pumpkin Blondies.
For the most reliable result, check the can before adding the pumpkin. You want pure pumpkin rather than a prepared pumpkin pie mixture.

Chocolate Chips and Easy Mix-In Options

Semi sweet chocolate chips taste wonderful with pumpkin and warm spices. However, you can easily adjust the recipe to match what you have in your pantry.
For example, white chocolate adds a sweeter and creamier flavor. You can also leave the chocolate out completely.
Meanwhile, cinnamon chips, walnuts, candied pecans, hazelnuts, dried cranberries, or dried cherries all work well. Just choose flavors that complement the pumpkin rather than covering it.

How to Make Pumpkin Blondies

Pumpkin Blondies come together with a simple mixing method. First, prepare your pan and dry ingredients. Then, mix the wet ingredients before bringing everything together.
The recipe takes about 10 minutes to prepare and roughly 40 minutes to bake. After 20 minutes of initial cooling, the total time comes to about 1 hour and 10 minutes.

Prepare the 9×13-Inch Baking Pan

First, preheat your oven to 350°F. Then, grease a piece of parchment paper and use it to line a 9×13 inch baking dish.
The parchment makes removing the finished bars much easier. Also, it helps you lift the whole batch from the pan before slicing.

Mix the Dry Ingredients

Next, add the all purpose flour, pumpkin pie spice, baking soda, and salt to a large bowl. Whisk everything together until the spices spread evenly through the flour.
This quick step matters because you want the baking soda and spices throughout the batter. As a result, every Pumpkin Blondie gets the same warm flavor and soft texture.

Cream the Butter and Sugar

In another large bowl, beat the unsalted butter until it looks pale and creamy. Then, add the granulated sugar and continue beating until the mixture turns light and fluffy.
Creaming the butter and sugar adds lightness to the mixture. Plus, it helps create the tender texture that makes these bars so satisfying.

Add the Pumpkin, Egg, and Vanilla

Next, mix the egg into the butter mixture. Then, add the pumpkin puree and vanilla extract.
Mix until everything comes together smoothly. However, you do not need to beat the mixture longer than necessary.
At this point, the batter should smell sweet, buttery, and warmly spiced. In fact, this is when the kitchen starts to feel like fall.

Combine the Wet and Dry Ingredients

Gradually add the dry ingredients to the pumpkin mixture. Then, stir only until you no longer see dry streaks of flour.
Avoid vigorous mixing at this stage. Otherwise, the Pumpkin Blondies can develop a tougher or heavier texture.

Fold in the Chocolate Chips

Next, gently fold the chocolate chips into the batter. You can use about 1 to 1 1/2 cups, depending on how chocolatey you want the finished bars.
Then, spread the batter evenly into your prepared pan. Try to keep the surface level so the center and edges bake as evenly as possible.

Bake the Pumpkin Blondies at 350°F

Place the pan into your preheated 350°F oven. Then, bake the Pumpkin Blondies for 35 to 45 minutes.
Start checking around the 35 minute mark because ovens can vary. A toothpick inserted into the center should come out clean when the bars finish baking.
However, watch the top as the center finishes. If it becomes too brown, loosely cover the pan with foil and continue baking.

Cool Completely Before Slicing

After baking, let the bars cool in the pan for about 20 minutes. Next, transfer them to a wire rack and let them finish cooling.
Waiting can feel difficult when the kitchen smells this good. However, warm Pumpkin Blondies can crumble when you cut them.
Therefore, give the bars enough time to set before slicing. You will get cleaner squares with a much neater appearance.

Tips for the Best Pumpkin Blondies

A few simple baking habits can make a big difference. Most importantly, pay attention to mixing, baking time, and cooling.
These Pumpkin Blondies need enough time to bake through without drying out. Therefore, use visual clues and the toothpick test instead of relying only on the timer.

Avoid Overmixing the Batter

Once you add flour, mix the batter gently. Stop as soon as the wet and dry ingredients come together.
Overmixing can make baked bars tougher. Instead, use a gentle hand so the finished Pumpkin Blondies stay soft and tender.
Also, fold the chocolate chips in just until they spread throughout the batter. You do not need to keep stirring once everything looks evenly combined.

How to Tell When Pumpkin Blondies Are Done

Start checking the bars after about 35 minutes. Insert a toothpick into the center because that area usually takes the longest to bake.
The toothpick should come out clean when the bars finish. However, try not to push it directly through a melted chocolate chip, since melted chocolate can make the toothpick look wet.
The center should also look set rather than loose. Then, remove the pan promptly so the bars stay moist.

What to Do If the Top Browns Too Quickly

Sometimes the top can brown before the center finishes. If that happens, loosely place foil over the baking dish.
Then, continue baking until the center passes the toothpick test. The foil helps protect the surface while the middle gets the extra oven time it needs.
Keep checking near the end of baking. As a result, you can avoid drying out your Pumpkin Blondies.

How to Get Clean, Neat Slices

First, let the bars cool completely. Cutting them while warm can make their soft centers crumble.
Next, lift the cooled bars from the baking dish with the parchment paper. Then, place them on a flat cutting surface.
Use a sharp knife to cut the bars into squares. Also, wiping the knife between cuts can help keep the edges neat.

Pumpkin Blondie Variations and Add-Ins

These Pumpkin Blondies taste delicious exactly as written. However, the simple pumpkin batter also gives you plenty of room to play with different flavors.
You can change the chocolate, increase the spices, or add nuts and dried fruit. Therefore, one basic recipe can give you several fall dessert combinations.

White Chocolate Pumpkin Blondies

Replace the semi sweet chocolate chips with white chocolate chips for a sweeter variation. White chocolate tastes creamy against the warm pumpkin spice flavor.
You can also combine white and semi sweet chocolate. As a result, every square gets a fun mixture of rich and creamy chocolate flavors.

Extra-Spiced Pumpkin Blondies

If you love bold fall spices, add an extra 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon. The cinnamon strengthens the cozy flavor without changing the basic recipe.
Also, extra cinnamon works especially well with chocolate chips or nuts. Therefore, this variation makes a great choice for anyone who loves strongly spiced pumpkin desserts.

Nuts, Dried Fruit, and Cinnamon Chips

Walnuts, candied pecans, and hazelnuts add crunch to the soft bars. Meanwhile, dried cranberries and dried cherries add little bursts of sweet and tart flavor.
Cinnamon chips also pair beautifully with pumpkin. In fact, you can combine them with nuts for even more texture.
Just keep your additions balanced. You still want the pumpkin and warm spices to remain the main flavors.

How to Store Pumpkin Blondies

Pumpkin Blondies stay soft for several days when you store them correctly. However, always let the bars cool completely before packing them away.
Trapping warmth inside a container can create extra moisture. Therefore, wait until the bars reach room temperature first.

Storing at Room Temperature

Place completely cooled blondies in an airtight container or storage bag. Then, keep them at room temperature for up to 3 days.
Keep the container closed between servings. As a result, the bars hold onto their soft and moist texture longer.

How to Freeze Pumpkin Blondies

These Pumpkin Blondies also freeze well, which makes them handy for planning ahead. First, let the baked bars cool completely.
Then, wrap them securely and place them inside a freezer safe container. You can keep the blondies frozen for up to 3 months.
For extra convenience, freeze individual portions. That way, you can remove only as many pieces as you need.

How to Thaw Frozen Blondies

Remove the amount you want from the freezer. Then, let the blondies thaw at room temperature for several hours before serving.
Once thawed, they should regain much of their original soft texture. Plus, individual squares usually thaw faster than a whole batch.

Pumpkin Blondies FAQs

These easy Pumpkin Blondies require basic baking techniques. Still, a few common questions can come up because pumpkin changes the texture of traditional blondie batter.

Other Recipes You May Enjoy

If pumpkin season always makes you want to bake and cook everything pumpkin, try these favorites next:

1. Creamy pumpkin ricotta stuffed shells make a cozy savory dinner when you want pumpkin beyond dessert.
2. Soft pumpkin cookies with cream cheese frosting offer another tender pumpkin treat with a creamy finish.
3. Moist pumpkin chocolate chip bread combines pumpkin and chocolate in an easy sliceable loaf.
4. Cinnamon sugar pumpkin donut muffins bring together warm pumpkin flavor and a sweet cinnamon sugar coating.
5. Easy crustless pumpkin pie cupcakes give you individual pumpkin treats without making a traditional crust.
6. Quick and easy homemade pumpkin butter adds cozy pumpkin flavor to toast, muffins, pancakes, and more.

Final Thoughts

Pumpkin Blondies make fall baking simple, cozy, and delicious. You get soft pumpkin bars filled with warm spices, vanilla, butter, and plenty of chocolate in every batch.
Plus, the recipe takes just 10 minutes of prep and uses one 9×13 inch pan. After baking and cooling, you have 24 soft squares ready for family, friends, parties, or an afternoon treat.

Also, you can find more seasonal recipe inspiration from Ellie’s Microwave Recipes on Pinterest. It is a handy place to save ideas when your next pumpkin craving hits.

Pumpkin Blondies

Ellie

These Pumpkin Blondies are thick, soft, moist, and warmly spiced with pumpkin, vanilla, and chocolate chips. They come together quickly and make an easy fall dessert for sharing.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 40 minutes mins

Cooling Time 20 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr 10 minutes mins

Course Dessert, Snack

Cuisine American

Servings 24 blondies

Calories 240 kcal

Equipment

• 9×13-inch baking dish
• Parchment paper
• Large mixing bowls
• Whisk
• electric mixer
• Rubber spatula
• Wire cooling rack

Ingredients

  

• 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice
• 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 cup unsalted butter
• 1 ¾ cups granulated sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 ½ cups pumpkin puree
• 2 tablespoons vanilla extract
• 1 to 1 ½ cups chocolate chips

Instructions

 

• Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease parchment paper and use it to line a 9×13-inch baking dish.
• Whisk the flour, pumpkin pie spice, baking soda, and salt together in a large bowl.
• In another bowl, beat the butter until pale and creamy. Add the sugar and beat until light and fluffy.
• Mix in the egg, pumpkin puree, and vanilla extract until combined.
• Gradually add the dry ingredients to the pumpkin mixture and mix just until combined.
• Fold in the chocolate chips. Then spread the batter evenly in the prepared baking dish.
• Bake for 35 to 45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. If the top browns before the center finishes baking, loosely cover the pan with foil.
• Cool the blondies in the pan for 20 minutes. Then transfer them to a wire rack and let them cool completely before slicing.

Notes

The finished bars have a texture somewhere between a traditional blondie and cake. For a stronger spice flavor, add an extra 1/2 to 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon. You can replace semi-sweet chocolate chips with white chocolate chips or leave them out. Other tasty additions include dried cherries, dried cranberries, cinnamon chips, walnuts, candied pecans, or hazelnuts. Let the bars cool before slicing because warm bars can crumble. Store completely cooled blondies in an airtight container or bag for up to 3 days. For freezing, wrap cooled blondies securely and place them in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature for several hours before serving.

Keyword Fall Desserts, Pumpkin Blondies, Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bars, pumpkin recipes