1-Preheat the oven: First, preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 10×15-inch baking pan to set the stage for perfectly baked bars.

2-Mix the dry ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together 2 cups all-purpose flour, 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon, and 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice until well combined.

3-Mix the wet ingredients: In another bowl, combine 1 cup vegetable oil, 3 large eggs, 1 cup packed brown sugar, 1/3 cup granulated sugar, 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup, one 15-ounce can of pumpkin puree, and 1 ½ teaspoons pure vanilla extract; mix until smooth.

4-Combine wet and dry ingredients: Now, gently mix the wet ingredients into the dry ones until just combined don’t worry if a few lumps remain, as this keeps the texture tender.

5-Bake the bars: Spread the batter evenly in your prepared pan and bake for 28 to 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean; the pan size can affect the texture, so keep an eye on it.

6-Cool bars and prepare frosting: Once baked, let the bars cool completely before moving on to the frosting step. To make the frosting, beat 8 ounces of softened full-fat cream cheese and ¼ cup of softened unsalted butter until smooth, then gradually add 3 cups confectioners’ sugar, 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract, ¼ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice, and 1/8 teaspoon salt, beating until creamy.

7-Frost and chill: Spread the frosting evenly over the cooled bars, refrigerate for 30 minutes to set, then slice and serve for a treat that’s moist and full of flavor.