Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bars are one of those easy fall desserts that make the whole kitchen smell like pumpkin spice and chocolate! They’re soft, chewy, loaded with chocolate chips, and packed with cozy pumpkin flavor in every bite. Even better, this recipe starts with chocolate chip cookie mix, so you get a delicious homemade-tasting fall treat without spending all afternoon in the kitchen. With pumpkin puree, pumpkin pie spice, and plenty of semi-sweet chocolate chips, these bars have everything I want when fall baking season rolls around. They only take about 10 minutes to prep, making them perfect for Thanksgiving dessert trays, Halloween parties, bake sales, or simply an afternoon treat with a hot cup of coffee.
They’re also wonderfully easy to slice and share. Make a batch for the family, tuck a few into lunchboxes, or wrap some up for friends and neighbors. That combination of warm pumpkin spice and melty chocolate is pretty hard to resist!
A budget-friendly fall cookie bar recipe that can be thrown together in 10 minutes. Then get it baking and allow the aroma to fill your entire home with warm pumpkin spice smells.
Once the bars have cooled slice and serve them up to family, and friends, or package them up for a fall gift for someone.
What Are Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bars
This is a chocolate chip cookie base that has other ingredients added to create a pumpkin-flavored cookie that is loaded with sweet chocolate chips in each bite. This pumpkin chip bar recipe is a sliceable cookie bar.
If you are a fan of bars, try out these snickerdoodle cheesecake bars for another sweet fall-inspired dessert. Or if you enjoy chocolate try these German Chocolate bars.
Reasons You Will Love This Recipe
- An affordable dessert to make.
- Minimal ingredients are required.
- Starts with a boxed cookie mix for easy prep.
- Uses real pumpkin puree and pumpkin spice for rich pumpkin flavor.
- Sliceable and great for serving a crowd.
Ingredients Needed
Cookie Mix – I bought a bag of chocolate chip cookie mix at the store. This is the base for the cookie bars.
Chocolate Chips – Add even more rich morsels by adding extra chocolate chips into the batter.
Pumpkin – Pumpkin puree is used to add pumpkin flavor and also is the wet ingredient needed.
Pumpkin Spice – Buy or make pumpkin pie spice to help bring out those warm fall flavors.
Flour – All-purpose flour is needed to help create the perfect texture for the bars.
Variations to Recipe
I love these bars exactly how they are. But there are easy ways to change up the flavor to create changes that work well with the recipe. Give them a try if you don’t like an ingredient or find swapping fits your preference better.
- I have used sugar cookie mix and it works the same. It will alter the flavor just a bit but is still delicious.
- Swap the chocolate chips with peanut butter chips, white chocolate chips, etc.
- Add in 1/3 cup chopped pecans or walnuts for added crunch.
- Instead of sprinkling the top of the cookie bars with chocolate chips, melt the chocolate and drizzle on top.
- Opt for a chocolate ganache topping to spread over the top of the bars.
- Add in 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon for added warm spice flavor.
Tips For Success
Hand Mix
Since this recipe uses minimal ingredients you will find it is very easy to mix with a spatula and a large bowl. The only wet ingredient in the recipe is the pumpkin puree.
Don’t Overmix
Make sure that when you are mixing up the cookie dough batter you do not overmix. Otherwise, the bars will become dense and hard.
Parchment Paper
Lining your pan with parchment paper is going to ensure you can easily remove the bars without them tearing. I add clips to the sides to hold the parchment paper in place as I am pouring the batter into the pan.
Once the bars cool a bit you can then hold the parchment paper and lift and the bars come right out of the pan. This is a great bakery-style tip for those who want a gorgeous clean-cut bar to serve up guests.
Spread Evenly In Pan
Use a spatula (I prefer a rubber spatula) to spread the cookie dough batter into an even layer. This is going to help ensure the bars bake up evenly.
Extra Chocolate Chips
You will see I sprinkled extra chocolate chips on top of the bars, and it adds a gorgeous presentation value but also lots of sweet chocolate flavor in each bite.
Clean Slices
If you didn’t know you can use a plastic knife or even a sharp knife to get nice clean lines. Make sure between each slice you wipe the knife blade clean, to prevent tearing of the cookie bars.
Storing
Make Ahead
Go right ahead and make these pumpkin chocolate chip bars a day ahead of when you plan to serve them up. Just allow the bars to fully cool then cover and store at room temperature until you are ready to serve.
Room Temperature
Store the bars at room temperature in a sealed container for 3-4 days. You will find like all cookies out there these bars will begin to dry out kind of fast.
Freezing
Want to freeze the bars for later? Use a freezer bag or freezer container and freeze for 2-3 months. Then when you want to eat thaw on the counter at room temperature.
Frequently Asked Questions About Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bars
What are Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bars?
Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bars are an easy fall dessert made with chocolate chip cookie mix, pumpkin puree, pumpkin pie spice, flour, and extra semi-sweet chocolate chips. They have all the cozy flavors of pumpkin season combined with the chocolatey goodness of a classic chocolate chip cookie bar.
Do I use pumpkin puree or pumpkin pie filling?
Use pumpkin puree, not pumpkin pie filling. This recipe calls for ¾ cup of pumpkin puree. Pumpkin pie filling already contains added sugar and spices, which could make the finished bars too sweet and change their intended flavor.
Why is my Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bar dough so thick?
Don’t worry—a thick dough is exactly what you want for this recipe. After adding the pumpkin puree to the chocolate chip cookie mix, flour, pumpkin pie spice, and chocolate chips, the mixture will be thick. Press it evenly into your parchment-lined 9×9-inch pan using a spatula or your hands.
How do I know when Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bars are done?
Bake the bars at 350°F for 22–28 minutes. Insert a toothpick into the center; they’re ready when it comes out without wet cookie batter. If you happen to hit a melted chocolate chip, test another spot before deciding they need more time.
Why do you add flour to chocolate chip cookie mix?
The recipe uses ¼ cup all-purpose flour in addition to the packaged cookie mix. The extra flour helps balance the added moisture from the pumpkin puree and gives these pumpkin chocolate chip cookie bars the right consistency, so don’t skip it.
Can I use different chocolate chips?
Absolutely. The original recipe uses semi-sweet chocolate chips, which balance the sweetness and pumpkin spice beautifully. You could experiment with milk chocolate, dark chocolate, or even white chocolate chips if that’s what you have on hand.
Can I make Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bars ahead of time?
Yes! Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bars are a great make-ahead fall dessert for Halloween parties, Thanksgiving, potlucks, or family gatherings. Bake and cool them ahead of time, then keep them covered until you’re ready to slice and serve.
Why are my Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bars underbaked in the middle?
If the edges look done but the center still contains wet batter, the bars simply need a little more oven time. Make sure you spread the thick dough into an even layer in the 9×9 pan, and use the toothpick test rather than relying solely on the baking time. Your oven may need closer to the full 28 minutes.
How long should Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bars cool before cutting?
Let the bars cool in the pan for about 15 minutes before removing and slicing them. This gives the freshly baked bars time to set. For especially neat, clean squares, you can allow them to cool a little longer before cutting.
Are Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bars good for Thanksgiving?
Definitely! These easy Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bars make a fantastic Thanksgiving dessert, especially if you want an alternative to traditional pumpkin pie. They make 16 servings, are easy to transport, and combine two crowd-favorite flavors—pumpkin spice and chocolate—in one simple fall dessert.
Final Thoughts
There’s just something about pumpkin and chocolate together that makes a dessert feel extra cozy. These Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bars are simple enough for an ordinary weeknight but delicious enough to bring out for Thanksgiving and all those fun fall get-togethers. I especially love recipes like this because I can put a pan in the oven and suddenly everybody seems to find their way into the kitchen. James is usually ready to grab one as soon as they’re cool enough to cut, Ariya loves anything with plenty of chocolate chips, and with baby Cameron here too, those simple little family moments feel even sweeter these days.
Serve these bars slightly warm when the chocolate is still a little gooey, or let them cool completely for those pretty, clean slices. Either way, I have a feeling they’ll disappear quickly, so you might want to sneak one away for yourself before James and the kids realize they’re ready!
More Pumpkin Recipes
I love all things pumpkin! Here are a few more of our favorite fall-inspired desserts that will win over a crowd in minutes!
Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bars
Ingredients
- 1 17.5 ounce bag of chocolate chip cookie mix
- ¾ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips divided
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 3 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
- ¾ cup pumpkin puree
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Then line your 9×9 pan with parchment paper. Set it to the side.
- Next, in a bowl mix up the chocolate chip cookie mix, 1/2 cup of chocolate chops, flour, and pumpkin pie spice.
- Now you will fold in the pumpkin puree and mix until it is fully combined. The dough will be thick.
- Press the dough into the baking pan and spread it to an even layer. You can use a spatula or your hands.
- Sprinkle the remaining chocolate chips on top of the cookie bars.
- Bake for 22-28 minutes or until the bars are fully baked. Stick a toothpick in and if it comes out clean of wet cookie batter the bars are done.
- Let the bars cool for 15 minutes and then remove the bars from the pan and slice and serve.
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