Nana's Pumpkin Bars
My Nana could wipe the floor with me when it comes to baking. Thankfully she is too nice to do that and is willing to share her tried and true family recipes. These bars are easily the most addictive thing you will eat all year. I could eat 5+ in one sitting and since I’ve started drinking coffee, oh my gosh, y’all. I think this is the only sweets recipe that I will eat before Zach can even get to them. I’m telling you, this is going to be your new fall favorite.
Ingredients
Bars
- 1 cup AP flour
- 1 cup light brown sugar
- ½ cup butter, softened
- ¾ cup canned pumpkin
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1½ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
- OR 1 t cinnamon, ½ t ground cloves, ½ t ground nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 2 eggs
Frosting
- 3 oz cream cheese, softened
- ½ stick of butter, softened
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- dash of salt
- ½ teaspoon vanilla
Equipment
- Kitchen scale
- Bowls
- Thoroughly greased 9×13 cake pan (I like using butter)
- you can use a mini muffin pan but be sure they are also thoroughly greased
- Kitchenaid mixer or electric hand beater
- rubber spatula
- measuring cups
- measuring spoons
- optional: 2 pastry bags for portioning if you use the muffin tin and for icing the bars
Directions
- Mise en place
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees
For the bars:
- Mix all of your ingredients together in a large mixing bowl, beat at a medium speed for 2 minutes or until completely incorporated
- Spread batter into the 9×13 pan
- Bake for 20-25 minutes. It will be firm but springy to touch.
For the frosting:
- Cream the butter and cream cheese then mix the vanilla and salt
- Slowly add in the powdered sugar and mix until you reach the icing consistency
- Wait until the bars are cooled, then ice
Notes:
- This icing recipe is great for the cinnamon rolls too
Wrong, Sarah of Tasty Fork, you flatter me way too much! This is the girl who graduated summa cum laude from the Johnson Wales Culinary School in Charlotte, N. C.!!! Me, this Nana, just loves sweets and baking is my way of making sure I can have them! Nevertheless, Sarah, thankyou! Love you.
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