Pumpkin Bars

I love fall flavors, especially pumpkin.  I've never baked with it before, and didn't know what to make.  After looking on other blogs for pumpkin recipes, I finally settled on pumpkin bars.  The cream cheese frosting is a perfect finish to these moist, cake-like bars.  I'm glad I shared these with others- I could have eaten the whole pan by myself!

Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting

Ingredients:

For the Pumpkin Bar:

Boxes I made for desserts

1. 4 eggs
2. 1 2/3 cups granulated sugar
3. 1 cup vegetable oil
4. 15-ounce can pumpkin
5. 2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
6. 2 teaspoons baking powder
7. 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
8. 1 teaspoon salt
9. 1 teaspoon baking soda

For the Cream Cheese Frosting:

1. 8-ounce package cream cheese, softened
2. 1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
3. 2 cups sifted confectioners' sugar
4. 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 13 by 9-inch baking pan.
2. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment combine the eggs, sugar, oil and pumpkin on medium speed until light and fluffy.
3. In a large bowl whisk together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, salt and baking soda.
4. Hand mix the dry ingredients into the pumpkin mixture until just combined. Do not overmix. Spread the batter into the prepared 13 by 9-inch baking pan. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean. Transfer to a wire rack and allow to cool completely.
5. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment combine the cream cheese and butter until smooth. Add the sugar and mix at low speed until combined. Stir in the vanilla and mix again. Spread on cooled pumpkin bars.

Pumpkin Bars-on left

Found at http://sweetpeaskitchen.com/2010/09/24/pumpkin-bars-with-cream-cheese-frosting/