Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting

I recently spent some time visiting a friend out of town and she made these delicious pumpkin bars. I didn’t have my good camera with me, but I snapped a quick picture with my iPad and asked for the recipe so I could share it with you. Enjoy!

I wish you could smell the lovely aroma this cake is filling the room with!

Items used to make this recipe:

(affiliate links)

• 10x15 jelly roll pan https://amzn.to/36aD2C8

• pure pumpkin puree https://amzn.to/3JkDsEc

• pure vanilla extract https://amzn.to/3ovS9fE (this one is my favorite)

• vanilla bean paste https://amzn.to/3HhfWXZ (again, this is my fav)

• offset spatula https://amzn.to/2o7PoVn

• hand mixer https://amzn.to/3uLUwiy

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Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting

makes 24 servings (10x15 jelly roll pan)

Printable Recipe

Ingredients

Bars:

• 4 large eggs, room temperature

• 1 2/3 cup sugar

• 1 cup vegetable oil

• 15 ounce can 100% pure pumpkin puree

• 2 cups all purpose flour

• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

• 2 teaspoons baking powder

• 1 teaspoon baking soda

• 1 teaspoon fine salt

Frosting:

• 2 cups confectioners sugar, sifted

• 8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature

• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature

• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste

• 1/8 teaspoon fine salt

Directions

To make the bars:

1. Preheat oven to 350F, place rack in center position, and have an ungreased 10x15-inch jelly roll pan ready to go.

2. In a large mixing bowl, combine the eggs, sugar, oil, and pumpkin puree; set aside

3. In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, and salt; stir flour mixture into pumpkin mixture until no traces of dry flour remain.

4. Pour batter into pan and bake for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean.

5. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely before frosting.

To make the frosting:

1. In a medium mixing bowl, use a hand mixer to combine the frosting ingredients until light and fluffy (you can add a splash of milk if needed).

2. Spread frosting evenly over cooled pumpkin bars.

Note

• store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to a week.

adapted from Taste of Home

Sweet Pumpkin Spice Bread

It’s October which means pumpkin spice season has arrived. I like a few pumpkin spice things, but I know some people who are completely obsessed. They go gaga for everything pumpkin spice. Whether you fall into that obsessed category or not, you’ll love this simple quick bread. And feel free to use canned pumpkin puree (not canned pie filling), which is often less fibrous than fresh pumpkin puree.

Note: If you’d like to try making your own pumpkin puree, pick up a sugar pumpkin from your local farmer’s market. Cut it in half and scoop out the seeds, place it cut side down on a rimmed, oiled half sheet pan, piercing the halves in several places with a sharp knife. Bake in a 400F oven for about 30 minutes, or until the flesh is soft and can easily be scooped out. Cool completely, then puree in a food processor or blender until smooth (you can skip this step if your pumpkin isn’t too fibrous).

Start by preheating the oven to 350F and place the oven rack in the lower middle positions. Prepare your pan by spraying with Baker’s Joy; set aside until needed.

In a mixing bowl, combine the pumpkin, applesauce, sugar, and eggs.

Whisk to combine.

In another mixing bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cloves, cinnamon, and nutmeg.

Whisk well to combine.

Pour the pumpkin mixture into the flour mixture and mix well with a rubber or silicone spatula.

No traces of dry ingredients should remain.

Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake as directed below.

Cool completely before serving. Enjoy!

Items used to make this recipe:

(affiliate links)

• 8x4-inch professional loaf pan https://amzn.to/2QomBF2

• Baker’s Joy https://amzn.to/2IxCkiv

• flat whisk https://amzn.to/2QoorFM

• serrated bread knife https://amzn.to/2OuEULj

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PUMPKIN SPICE BREAD

makes one 8x4-inch loaf (1 pound)

Printable Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 cup pumpkin puree (fresh or canned)

• 4 ounces applesauce

• 1 1/3 cup granulated sugar

• 2 large eggs

• 1 1/2 cup all purpose flour

• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

• 1/2 teaspoon fine salt

• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves

• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg (or double if using dried)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350F, coat a 8x4-inch metal loaf pan with Baker’s Joy spray, and place oven rack in lower center position.

2. In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the pumpkin puree, applesauce, sugar, and eggs; set aside.

3. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together flour, nutmeg, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cloves, and cinnamon.

4. Pour pumpkin mixture into flour mixture and whisk until no dry lumps remain.

5. Spread batter evenly in prepared loaf pan and bake for 50-60 minutes or until a wooden skewer inserted in the center (and all the way down to the bottom of the pan) comes out clean.

6. Remove bread from oven and rest for 10-15 minutes before unmolding.

7. Allow bread to cool completely on a rack before slicing.

Notes

• To make pumpkin puree, preheat oven to 400F. Cut pumpkin in half, scoop out and remove seeds. Place halves, cut side down, on an oiled half sheet pan. Pierce skin with knife in several places. Bake for about 30 minutes or until the outer skin softens and gives under pressure. When cool enough to handle, scoop flesh and use a food processor or blender to puree (you can skip this step if your squash doesn't have a stringy texture).

• Freeze leftover pureed pumpkin in 1-cup portions so you can bake a fresh loaf whenever the mood strikes.

• This bread freezes beautifully when vacuum sealed or wrapped well in plastic followed by heavy-duty foil, being sure to seal very well. Thaw overnight in the fridge before unwrapping.