If you have yet to get in the mood for fall, this post will help you. I was so excited to make my first pumpkin recipe for the year and pumpkin bars were the perfect kickoff to fall. When I made these last year I made them with chocolate chips. But this time I chose to split it and make half with chocolate chips and half with cream cheese. I did this for my brother-in-law and here is why…

This past Friday we were heading to my sister-in-law’s house for game night. My brother-in-law does not like chocolate!  Please don’t ask, I have no idea what planet he is from. In order to make him happy I tried the cream cheese frosting on them. I didn’t know what I missing! Next time I make these I’m making a double batch of the cream cheese frosting and covering the whole thing.

One of the things I did change from the original recipe is add some fresh grated nutmeg. The only spice it calls for is cinnamon and I thought a little more spice wouldn’t hurt. Thankfully I was right and it really brought out the pumpkin flavor.

I hope you are now in the mood for fall and plan to make pumpkin bars. They make your whole house smell like fall!

Pumpkin Bars

• 6 eggs
• 1 1/2 cup oil (I use canola)
• 3 cups sugar
• 1 1/2 tsp vanilla
• 1 large can (29 oz) pumpkin
• 3 1/4 cup flour
• 1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
• 1 Tbsp cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp ground or freshly grated nutmeg
• 1 1/2 tsp. salt
• Chocolate Chips (optional)

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Whisk the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt together in a bowl.
3. Mix together eggs, oil, sugar, vanilla, and pumpkin. Fold in dry ingredients and pour into jelly roll pan, 13 x 18 baking sheet pan.
4. If using chocolate chips sprinkle the chips over the pumpkin mixture.
5. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.  Frost with cream cheese frosting, if using.

Cream Cheese Frosting:

• 1 (8 oz) package of cream cheese
• 8 Tablespoons butter, softened
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla

Blend together cream cheese and butter until smooth.  Beat in powdered sugar and vanilla.

Source: Slightly adapted from Real Mom Kitchen