The Best Pumpkin Bars........

It is scary to think it has almost been 11 months since my last post.  I have missed my blog and sharing all my favorite recipes with you all.  When I last wrote I was seven months pregnant and was not feeling great and ready to be done with this whole pregnancy thing.   Now 11 months later, I am the momma of a 9 month old perfect little boy.  Crazy what can happen in 11 months.  While pregnant I lost all taste and desire for anything sweet and plus had a rough pregnancy so baking was not my thing for those 9 months.  But once I had Jack, my sweet tooth was back and stronger than ever.  It was like my body was making up for the last 9 months it missed out on.   And of course, as I have said thousands of times, I love fall and all things pumpkin.  I had to get on here and share the most amazing, simple and perfectly pumpkin-ee recipe ever.  I have made this several times since I saw it on a blog I enjoy reading called "i heart nap time" and it never disappoints.  It is easy to make, is moist and a perfect mix of fall spices, pumpkin and creamy cream cheese frosting.

The Best Pumpkin Bars

Pumpkin Bars

4 eggs

1 2/3 cup sugar 

1 cup vegetable oil
1 16 oz can pumpkin

2 cups flour sifted

2 tsp baking powder

2 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp salt

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp nutmeg

Cream Cheese Frosting
(I like to double the frosting)

3 oz cream cheese

1/2 cup butter

1 tsp vanilla

2cups powdered sugar

Start off by preheating the oven to 350 degrees.  Grease a 15x10 inch pan or I used my jelly roll pan which worked great too. Set aside.

In a large bowl (preferably a Kitchen Aid mixing bowl) beat eggs, sugar, oil and pumpkin until fluffy.  Then in a medium sized bowl stir together flour, baking powder, cinnamon, salt, soda, and spices. Once done with the dry ingredients, slowly add the dry ingredients to pumpkin mixture. Mix until fully combined but be careful not to over mix.  Once complete, spread batter into the greased pan. Bake for 25 minutes, or until lightly browned. My bars took just under 20 minutes to bake, so keep a close eye on them.  Once fully baked, take out and place on a cooling rack.

While bars are cooling, get started on the cream cheese frosting.  I like to double the cream cheese frosting to give it a richer taste.  So to begin, using your mixing bowl, cream together cream cheese, butter and vanilla.  Mix until light and fluffy.  Then gradually add powdered sugar. Beat the frosting until smooth and creamy.  Once bars have completely cooled frost the pumpkin bars and voila, you have a delicious and yet easy make dessert that will make your guests think you have been in the kitchen for hours baking!!!

Happy Fall Baking!