Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting

Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting
By Jennifer Carlisle


Fall is my favorite time of year! I love the cooler weather, wearing jeans, sweaters and hoodies, the smells of all the spices and tastes of all the flavors. Pumpkin is one of my favorites that features the smells of cinnamon and nutmeg- which I use in these bars. This recipe makes enough bars to share with family and friends. Bring it to a pot luck, Sunday dinner, or as a gift for a friend- I guarantee you will make people smile with these bars! I love the spice of the bars. They are light and cake-like topped with a sweet cream cheese frosting. When I make these I like to allow the bars to cool completely, spread on the frosting, then store in the fridge until ready to serve. When ready cut into slices and your frosting will stay intact.
Celebrate fall this year by making these bars for those you love. Enjoy!!

Bars: 

1 cup all purpose flour 

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp cinnamon

Dash of nutmeg

1 cup sugar

2 eggs

1 cup canned pumpkin

1/2 cup vegetable oil 

Frosting:

4 oz cream cheese softened

6 Tbsp butter softened 

1 tsp vanilla

2 cups powdered sugar

Directions for bars:

Preheat oven to 350 F. Grease a 13"x9" baking dish. Combine dry ingredients-flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg and sugar in a medium bowl. In another bowl whisk eggs. Add oil and pumpkin. Mix well. Combine wet ingredients with the dry ingredients. Mix well. Pour into greased dish and bake for 20-25 min or until toothpick comes out clean. Cool. Frost with cream cheese frosting. 

Directions for frosting:

In an electric mixer combine cream cheese and butter. Beat well. Add in vanilla, beat. Add powdered sugar 1/2 cup at a time mixing slowly until well combined. Mix everything together on medium speed until a whipped consistency. Spread on bars and chill in fridge. Then cut. Serves 12 bars.