Recipe #78 - Pumpkin Bars

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Though I try to stay away from Paula Dean recipes, this one looked too good pass up! (Cook's note: double your exercise routine for the day before consuming.)

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Be sure to set out the butter and cream cheese to soften. 

To make the bars:

Using an electric mixer at medium speed, combine the eggs, sugar, oil and pumpkin until light and fluffy. 

Stir together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, salt and baking soda. Add the dry ingredients to the pumpkin mixture and mix at low speed until thoroughly combined and the batter is smooth. Spread the batter into a greased 13 by 10-inch baking pan. Bake for 30 minutes. 

Let cool completely before frosting. Cut into bars.

To make the icing:

Combine the cream cheese and butter in a medium bowl with an electric mixer until smooth. Add the sugar and mix at low speed until combined. Stir in the vanilla and mix again. Spread on cooled pumpkin bar. 

It almost goes without saying that these were amazing. I mean, really, what's a good Paula recipe with out lots of butter, sugar and oil?! Yum.

Rating: 10

Time: 45 mins

Serves: 48 small bars or 24 large bars

Ingredients:

For the bars:

4 eggs

1 2/3 cups granulated sugar

1 cup vegetable oil

15-ounce can pumpkin 

2 cups sifted all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking soda

For the icing:

8-ounce package cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened

2 cups sifted confectioners' sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract