Pumpkin Perfected

If there is one thing that comes out of my kitchen that ALWAYS receives rave reviews and recipe requests, it is this.   

I present to you, The Pumpkin Bar.

If you are not usually pumpkin fan, take heart!  Before you close the browser, let me tell you, these will change your relationship with pumpkin.  It's a lot to promise, but I promise.  Dare I say I hate pumpkin pie?  I do.  But these?  These are my jam.

Although they are called pumpkin bars, they are really similar to cake.       

The recipe comes from my mom, and she's made them as long as I can remember.  She apparently got the recipe from a BetaSigmaPi cookbook that was compiled 30 years ago.  My mom for the win!

Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting

Prep: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 20-25 minutes

Oven Temp: 350 degrees

Yield: Depending on how you cut them...at least 20, but as many as 36 bars

For the Bars you'll need: 

4 eggs

1 cup oil (I do half cup oil, half cup applesauce)

2 cups pumpkin (a can gets me close enough)

2 cups sugar (yep, you read that right)

2 cups flour

1 tsp salt

2 tsp baking soda

1 tsp cinnamon

For the icing you'll need: 

3oz cream cheese, softened (I use low fat and you can't tell!)

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

4 Tbsp margarine or butter, softened

First, Preheat the oven to 350, and then grease and flour a 10x15 pan.  Also make sure your cream cheese is on the counter softening. 

LETS DO THIS.

To make the Bars:

Combine flour, salt, baking soda & cinnamon.

In another bowl, mix eggs, sugar & oil until lemon colored, once blended, add pumpkin gradually while mixing.

Add the flour mixture to the pumpkin mixture and make sure everything is blended well.

Spread the batter in your greased and floured 10x15 pan, and bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes (depending on your oven).  

 I test them in the middle with a toothpick - just make sure it comes out clean!  If it doesn't, they need more time.

That's what I'm talkin bout!

Now, it's time for the Cream Cheese Frosting Amazingness.

Dare I say I also normally don't care for cream cheese flavored...anything?  Truth.  And a word of warning:

DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT try to take a shortcut by buying store-bought frosting.  You'll be seriously disappointed in the end result.  I was.  And as a result of my impatience, ended up taking my sweet three month old Adelaide to Target  in the pouring rain to get the goods to make the real deal.  DON'T DO IT!

To make the cream cheese frosting just blend the softened cream cheese, butter/margarine, powdered sugar, and vanilla until smooth.  Spread over the bars.  I also like to sprinkle some cinnamon sugar on top of the frosting for some additional pizazz, but that's that's totally a judgement call.  

Cut those babies up into bars and ENJOY!