Fall is by far my favorite time of year. I love the cooler temps, the changing leaves, football and of course pumpkins!! So many yummy pumpkin recipes and so little time. My go to favorite recipe and the one my friends and family can't seem to get enough of is pumpkin bars. So moist, full of flavor and who can say no to cream cheese frosting?
I've had this recipe for what seems an eternity and I do not remember where I found it. Could have been a website or one of my little grandma's old cookbooks that I've 'borrowed' over the years. Oh my little grandma how I miss you and you were another reason to love fall because October was your birth month and I loved celebrating with you. I'm sure my love of baking, at the very least my love of sugar, came from my little grandma. She is gone but never forgotten!
Now for my go to fall pumpkin bars. . . . .
ALWAYS start with Libby's 100% pure pumpkin (make sure not pie filling). I do make my own pumpkin filling but I save that for pumpkin pies and have never tried in my pumpkin bars. I know how yummy these turn out with Libby's so why stray?
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| Libby's pure pumpkin a MUST for yummy pumpkin bars |
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| wet ingredients mixed separately |
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| dry ingredients mixed separately |
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| Ingredients mixed together. Isn't that a beautiful fall color? |
Baked, frosted and ready to eat!
Pumpkin Bars
4 eggs
1 2/3 cups sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
15-ounce can of pumpkin
2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
Pre-heat oven to 350.
Spray a 10 x 13 pan with cooking spray and set aside.
Combine eggs, sugar, oil and pumpkin and mix with electric mixer at medium speed. Mix until well combined. In a separate bowl stir together flour, baking powder, cinnamon, salt and baking soda. Add the dry mix to wet ingredients and mix at low speed until combined. Pour batter into prepared pan and place in oven to bake for 30 minutes. If toothpick comes out clean it's ready to removed if not put back in oven for 3 - 4 minutes. I've never had to bake for over 35 minutes but oven temps vary so just be sure to keep a close eye on it that it doesn't burn. Once cooked remove from oven and let cool completely before cutting into bars or frosting.
Cream Cheese frosting
8 ounce package of cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup butter, softened
2 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Combine cream cheese and butter and mix at low speed until smooth. Slowly add powdered sugar and mix at low until well combined, add vanilla and mix again. Spread or pipe frosting onto cooled bars.
I hope you enjoy these as much as I do!
Unitl next time,
Newman
