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Pumpkin Pie Bars

Want all the yum of pumpkin pie without the hours of baking? My Pumpkin Pie Bars recipe brings you heaping helpings of those classic flavors in a cookie bar
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Keyword bars, desserts, Fall Desserts, fall recipes, pie bars, pumpkin, Pumpkin Bars, pumpkin desserts, Thanksgiving, thanksgiving desserts
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Servings 16 pie bars
Calories 301kcal
Author Kathleen

Ingredients

  • 1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar divided
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar firmly packed
  • 3/4 cup unsalted butter cold
  • 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats uncooked
  • 1/2 cup walnuts chopped
  • 8 ounces cream cheese softened
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 (15-ounce) can pumpkin solid packed
  • 1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 teaspoons bourbon
  • 1 cup butterscotch chips

Instructions

  • Heat oven to 350°F. Line 13×9-inch pan with foil, with ends of foil extending over sides; grease foil.
  • Mix flour, 1/4 granulated sugar, and brown sugar (1/2 cup) in a medium bowl; cut in butter (3/4 cup) with a pastry blender or 2 knives until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in oats (1 cup) and walnuts (1/2 cup). Reserve 1 cup oat mixture; press remaining onto bottom of prepared pan. Bake 15 min.
  • Beat cream cheese (8 ounces), remaining sugar, eggs (3 large), vanilla (1 teaspoon), bourbon (2 teaspoons), canned pumpkin (15 ounces), and pumpkin pie spice (1 tablespoon) with mixer until well blended. Pour over crust; sprinkle with reserved crumb mixture and a handful of butterscotch or chocolate chips (1 cup).
  • Bake for 25 minutes or until the center sets; cool 10 min. Use foil to transfer dessert from pan to wire rack; cool completely.

Notes

  1. Oats: The addition of oats gives this treat a wonderfully hearty base that transforms any ordinary fruit bar into pie bars. But be sure to use old-fashioned rolled oats, not quick-cooking oats, which will break down much faster and not give you the structure you want.
  2. Bourbon: So these can be made without any alcohol if you don't care to use them. Try apple cider instead. If you want to swap out a different flavor, try rum, brandy, or cognac; or 
  3. Spice: Was the store out of pumpkin pie spice? No worries! Cinnamon is the predominant flavoring in that spice mix, so feel free to use that as a substitute. Or you can always make your own spice arrangement with a mix of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, and cardamom!
  4. Cream Cheese: The cream cheese element adds a perfect cheesecake twist to these bars. But if you forgot to let your cream cheese soften (I do this all. the. time.), you can get the same effect by quickly microwaving your cream cheese.

Nutrition

Serving: 1/16 of the recipe | Calories: 301kcal | Carbohydrates: 32g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 70mg | Sodium: 105mg | Potassium: 91mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 17g | Vitamin A: 510IU | Calcium: 37mg | Iron: 1.1mg