5-Ingredient Pumpkin Pie Bars

If the hardest decision at your holiday table is choosing between desserts — be it a slice of pumpkin pie, a scoop of seasonal fruit crumble, or even a simple sugar cookie — these pumpkin pie bars are a sweet solution to your Thanksgiving troubles. Made with a sweet cookie crust, a spiced pumpkin filling, and a buttery oat crumble, these pumpkin pie bars will satisfy all your cravings — and they couldn’t be easier to make.

If the thought of making pie crust keeps you from baking your favorite fall desserts, ditch the homemade pastry and reach for a roll of refrigerated sugar cookie dough instead. Hot tip: You could also make these bars with your favorite gingerbread or molasses cookie dough (either store-bought or homemade). Press the dough into a thin layer so it bakes up golden and chewy.

Now, for the filling. Unlike pumpkin purée, pumpkin pie filling is already packed with warming fall spices and a touch of sugar, meaning it’s ready for spreading atop the sugar cookie crust. For the finishing touch, a buttery oat crumble is sprinkled over top.

A parchment paper sling makes it easy to remove all of the bars at once for easy slicing and serving. Wait until the bars cool completely and firm up before removing them from the pan. If this is the only dessert on the table, cut into generous squares. For potlucks or bake sales, cut into smaller pieces so everyone can have a bite!