Description
Seasonal magic comes alive with these pumpkin bars, blending warm spices and creamy texture into an irresistible autumn treat. Delightful layers of rich flavor promise a comforting dessert you’ll crave throughout the crisp harvest season.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 cup pumpkin puree (canned or fresh)
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup brown sugar (packed)
Dry Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Spices and Optional Add-ins:
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and prepare a 9×13 inch baking pan by lining it with parchment paper or lightly greasing the surface.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the pumpkin puree, granulated sugar, brown sugar, and vegetable oil until smooth and well combined.
- Add the eggs one at a time, mixing thoroughly after each addition to create a uniform mixture.
- In a separate bowl, sift together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger.
- Gradually fold the dry ingredient mixture into the wet ingredients, stirring gently until just combined to avoid overmixing.
- If using, gently fold in the chopped nuts, distributing them evenly throughout the batter.
- Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan, spreading it evenly with a spatula to ensure smooth surface coverage.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean with just a few moist crumbs.
- Remove from the oven and allow the pumpkin bars to cool completely in the pan for about 1 hour.
- Once cooled, lift the bars out using the parchment paper edges, cut into squares, and serve.
Notes
- Opt for freshly roasted pumpkin puree for a more vibrant, authentic flavor that elevates the entire dessert.
- Swap out vegetable oil with melted coconut oil or applesauce to create a healthier, lower-fat version of the bars.
- Toast the optional nuts before adding them to the batter to intensify their nutty flavor and provide a delightful crunch.
- Consider creating a cream cheese frosting topping to transform these bars into a more decadent dessert perfect for special occasions.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 200
- Sugar: 16 g
- Sodium: 130 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 25 mg