Whether you love it or hate it, it’s the Pumpkin Spice time of year again, as you can see by most of the pumpkin spice memes on social media. I personally love Fall and everything to do with the season, so I enjoy when pumpkins poke their cheeky head around the corner. The smell of pumpkin and spices in the oven permeates the house and you can’t help think of hearth and home. If you don’t have any pre-mixed pumpkin spice at home, you might have some of the components:
2 tbsp. ground cinnamon
2 tsp. ground ginger
1 tsp. ground cloves
1 tsp. ground allspice
1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg
(Optional and not traditional at all, but I like to add about 1/2 teaspoon cardamom).
Pumpkin Bar
INGREDIENTS
4 eggs
1 2/3 cups granulated sugar
1 cup vegetable oil (or avocado oil, or any mild-flavored oil)
1 (15-ounce) can pumpkin puree
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
1 teaspoon fine sea salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
Cream Cheese Frosting INGREDIENTS
1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
2 tablespoons butter, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 to 3 cups sifted powdered sugar
METHOD
Heat oven to 350. Grease a 9 x 13-inch baking dish.
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, sugar, oil, pumpkin puree and vanilla extract until combined.
In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, salt and baking soda until combined.
Add the dry mixture into the wet pumpkin mixture and stir until completely combined.
Pour the batter into the prepared baking dish, and spread it out in an even layer.
Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the middle of the bars comes out clean. Transfer the baking dish to a wire rack and cool to room temperature.
In a large mixing bowl, stir together the cream cheese, butter and vanilla until combined.
Stir in the powdered sugar, adding more until it reaches your desired consistency.
When the pumpkin bar is completely cool, spread the cream cheese frosting evenly on top, and perhaps a bit of sugar and cinnamon on the top if you’re so inclined, then slice into squares.
Hopefully, this will satisfy your fix for Starbucks Pumpkin Spiced Coffees - have you seen the chemical list in those things??