Getting sick of the pumpkin posts yet? NEVER! This is what November is for, my friends, and seeing as December begins next week, I knew I had to bring you at least one more great pumpkin recipe. This one is the best because it's also very simple and easy to whip together.
A luscious treat that takes nearly zero effort? Count me in!
I made these before making the trek to Central Mass to my parents house a couple Sundays back. Believe it or not, I hardly ever bring them the treats I make for this blog. Give or take a few holidays where I am assigned a dessert, I always end up baking on Sundays and bringing the treats to my office or sending them to Cody's. My poor parents hear of all these tasty things but hardly get their paws on any!
So I changed that but also took on too many things before heading to their house. Does anyone else find that they squeeze too many things into one day? I do it all the time. Cody always has to calm me down when I work myself up over it.
On this particular day, I spent the morning at Jazzercise (oh you know I'm serious!) and then came home to shower and hopefully bake something before leaving for my parents' house. As I ran from room to room, getting dressed and doing my hair, I had a moment of "why oh WHY do I do this to myself? Why do I shove baking into a day that's already lined up?" but these came together so quickly and so easily, my anxiety didn't stand a chance.
I was pleasantly surprised to find myself relaxed and ready to go earlier than anticipated. Thank you, pumpkin bars. Thank you for being you - simple, easy, and so yummy!
So maybe I didn't try to take on too much before heading to my parents' house? Hmm. I may not take on a cheesecake or Baked Alaska before hitting the road anytime soon, but these bars? They're totally do-able and I think you'll agree that they're mighty tasty.
By the way, I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend. I wish you nothing but fantastic food, overly full bellies, and quality time with friends and family.
And hey, if you happen to find yourself frantically cleaning and getting ready for the holiday and you realize you need to make a dessert? Just whip these up. You won't regret it.
Simple & Easy Pumpkin Bars
Adapted from the Cookie Bible
Ingredients
- 2 cups flour
- 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 cup + 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 3/4 cups (1 1/2 sticks) butter, softened
- 1 egg
- 1 1/2 cups pumpkin puree
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Cinnamon sugar for sprinkling on top (optional)
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Grease or line a 9x13 baking pan (I lined mine with foil).
- Mix together your flour, pumpkin pie spice, baking powder, salt, and baking soda in a medium bowl.
- In a mixer (or large bowl with hand mixer), beat brown sugar and butter until light and fluffy.
- Beat in egg until blended.
- Add your pumpkin and vanilla and mix until combined (mixture may appear curdled here - it's normal).
- Gradually add flour mixture to your wet mixture and beat at low speed until just combined.
- Spread batter evenly in prepared pan.
- Bake for 25 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.
- Cool completely in pan on wire rack.
- Slice into squares, diamonds, or use cookie cutters!
- Top with some cinnamon sugar (optional).
- Stack on a plate and eat each and every one with a loved one or all by your bad self.
