Pumpkin Cheesecake Snickerdoodle Bars (Print View)

Layered bars with cinnamon-sugar snickerdoodle base and creamy pumpkin cheesecake infused with spices.

# Components:

→ Snickerdoodle Cookie Base

01 - 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1 teaspoon cream of tartar
03 - 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
04 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
05 - 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
06 - 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
07 - 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
08 - 2 large eggs
09 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

→ Cinnamon Sugar Mixture

10 - 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
11 - 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

→ Pumpkin Cheesecake Layer

12 - 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
13 - 3/4 cup canned pumpkin purée
14 - 1/3 cup granulated sugar
15 - 1 large egg
16 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
17 - 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

# Method:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 9x13-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang for easy removal.
02 - Whisk together flour, cream of tartar, baking soda, and salt in a bowl until evenly mixed.
03 - In a large mixing bowl, beat softened butter with granulated and brown sugar until light and creamy. Add eggs and vanilla extract, beating well.
04 - Gradually add the flour mixture to the butter mixture, mixing just until combined to form the snickerdoodle dough.
05 - Combine granulated sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl to create the cinnamon sugar mixture.
06 - Press approximately two-thirds of the snickerdoodle dough evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan. Sprinkle half of the cinnamon sugar mixture evenly over the dough.
07 - Beat cream cheese until smooth. Add pumpkin purée, granulated sugar, egg, vanilla extract, and pumpkin pie spice. Mix until creamy and fully incorporated.
08 - Spread the pumpkin cheesecake mixture evenly over the cookie base. Drop the remaining snickerdoodle dough by spoonfuls over the cheesecake layer, allowing gaps. Sprinkle with remaining cinnamon sugar mixture.
09 - Bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until the center is set and a knife inserted comes out mostly clean with a few moist crumbs.
10 - Cool completely in the pan on a wire rack, then refrigerate for at least 2 hours before removing and slicing into bars.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The thick, pillowy cookie layer and creamy pumpkin top make every bite a surprise—don’t tell anyone how simple it really is.
  • This bar always draws attention at potlucks, and even folks who claim not to like pumpkin end up sneaking a second piece.
02 -
  • Rushing the chilling step left me with a delicious but gooey mess—patience pays off if you want perfect squares.
  • Swapping pumpkin pie filling for purée really does change the flavor—it’s worth double-checking the can.
03 -
  • Use parchment paper with a generous overhang to lift the bars without any drama.
  • Always let the layers cool completely—if you slice too early, the cheesecake won’t hold and you’ll get messy bars (delicious, but not pretty).
Return