Who can say no to pumpkin and cream cheese this time of year? Combine better-for-you products with a bit of self-indulgence, and you’ll end up with our delicious Pumpkin Bars. These sweet treats will be a hit at your next get-together. Or keep them all to yourself, we won’t tell. Grab all the ingredients you need at your local store and start creating!
DIRECTIONS
Preheat the oven to 350°F.
Grease a 10 x 15 baking sheet with Clearly by Best Choice cooking spray.
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, allspice, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the brown sugar, oil, pumpkin purée, vanilla, and eggs. Stir the wet ingredients until everything is well combined.
Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix until the ingredients are just combined.
Spoon the batter onto greased pan, spreading out until even.
Bake for 20-25 minutes or until toothpick inserted comes out clean.
Remove the pan from the oven and let the contents cool completely in the pan. This may take 15 to 20 minutes.
For the frosting, use an electric mixer to combine the ingredients. Beat together the room temperature cream cheese and butter on medium-high speed for 2 minutes.
Add the vanilla and powdered sugar. Start mixer slowly so the sugar does not fly out of the bowl.
Increase the electric mixer speed and beat the frosting until it is creamy and whipped.
Use a spatula to frost the pumpkin bars.
Cut the pumpkin bars into small squares and decorate with sprinkles, nuts, zest, or cinnamon, if desired.
Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week.
