An early nip of fall in the air got me thinking “pumpkin squares” and, next thing you know, I was cranking up the oven and zipping open a can of Libby’s 100% pure pumpkin. And, honest and truly, these are 100% scrumptious. They are incredibly moist and flavorful, but the spices are not at all overpowering…just the perfect blend of cinnamon and nutmeg. Irresistible.
FROSTED PUMPKIN SQUARES
Ingredients
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 4 eggs
- 1 can (16 oz.) pumpkin
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 1 cup vegetable oil
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
CREAM CHEESE FROSTING
- One 8 oz. package of cream cheese (room temp.)
- 1 stick of butter (room temp.)
- 3 3/4 cup sifted confectioners' sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
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Sift together first six ingredients and set aside. In a large mixing bowl, beat together remaining ingredients. Gradually add flour mixture to wet mixture and beat well. Spread batter in a 9 x 13" baking pan that has been sprayed with non-stick cooking spray. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 - 30 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool pan on wire rack and frost with your favorite frosting. (mine happens to be cream cheese 😉
CREAM CHEESE FROSTING
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Mix cream cheese and butter together on low speed until well blended. Add the confectioners' sugar a little at a time until it is all blended. Add vanilla extract and continue to mix for another minute or two, until the frosting is fluffy.
I found it easier to cut the frosted pumpkin squares after they had been refrigerated for a bit…the frosting was set and a lot less messy.
Hope you enjoy them!!
“A”
Yeah I can vouch for these, they are incredible. I have to bake for “Coffee-and…” at work and these will be perfect for that!
Hope everyone enjoys them as much as we did, Carol!
I made these today for our staff “Coffee-and…” and they devoured them! I baked it in a jelly roll pan so they were “thinner”. The frosting was so delicious, perfect for these pumpkin bars. Yeah, I’ll be making these again soon.
Great idea, Carol!! I’m going to try the jelly roll pan next time. Glad the staff loved them, and thanks for the update!
Love this! I was about to say that I would make this today, but just realized that though I meant to buy canned pumpkin today, I forgot! Oh we’ll, I will bookmark it and make it when my own pumpkins are ready to cook and purée. Looks beautiful. I just found you through Pillows a la Mode – so glad I did!
Welcome, and thanks for visiting, Heidi! Sorry about the canned pumpkin…sounds a lot like what often happens to me at the grocery store, even when I have a list! (It’s nice to know I’m in good company 😉 I’ve never made pumpkin puree, but I’ll bet it’s yummy. Let me know how it works out in this recipe. Looking forward to hearing from you again! Ann
These look delicious!! I will definitely have to try them out, thanks.
I hope you do try them, and let me know what you think! Enjoy!
In a world where canned pumpkin doesn’t exist (i.e. outside USA) I’m presuming I can substitute with equivalent amount of boiled to heck’n’gone butternut/other-type-pumpkin-thingy??? These sound too good to not try out!
Your blog is beautiful, by the way. I found you as I was checking out the “Just Desserts” theme showcase page.. and am glad that I had a look!
What? No canned pumpkin in South Africa????? I may just have to send you some 😉
I found you on Ravelry and WOW! Your knitting is a-MA-zing. So is your blog…many interesting topics and beautiful photographs!
Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to comment. Alyssa (aka “little a”) designed our site using the “Just Desserts” theme and I couldn’t be more pleased.
Good luck with the pumpkin squares…they really are worth the effort!
Ann
Hah! It would probably get “lost” in the mail! Thanks for having a look around my blog – although I totally wasn’t expecting a reciprocal visit..I’m not really into “like-HAVING-to-respond-to-like” blogging – but it’s appreciated, none-the-less!