Pumpkin is a Thanksgiving Favorite

It's hard to believe that Thanksgiving is only days away; do you have your menu ready?  Besides the turkey, desserts always take center stage; pumpkin, pecans, walnuts and chocolate!  Pumpkin desserts seem to be a favorite at our house...pie, cake, cookies or bread!  However, if you are not a fan of pumpkin, you should give this recipe a try!  I promise you can't eat just one!  Even though they are called Pumpkin Bars, they are so moist and the icing is so creamy, you will most likely need a fork!  I hope you will take time to enjoy dessert, as you begin to relax after your Thanksgiving feast!

Pumpkin Bars

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

Icing

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

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
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 2 greased 9 x 13-inch baking pans. Bake for 25-30 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, one cup at a time, and mix at low speed until combined. Stir in the vanilla and mix again. Spread on cooled pumpkin bars.

Options: Add chopped pecans or walnuts to batter; or sprinkle over frosting.4 eggs