Pumpkin Bars

Pumpkin Spice Bars—Boni Fredericks
(Recipe found in the Great American Cookie Collection Cards)

2 cups graham cracker or gingersnap crumbs
7 Tablespoons butter, melted
1 2/3 cups plus ¼ cup sugar, divided
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons cinnamon
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
4 eggs
1 can (15 oz.) pumpkin puree
1 cup vegetable oil
1 can (16 oz.) cream cheese frosting
Halloween-shaped/Harvest sprinkles

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 15x11 (jelly roll) pan with parchment or foil; set aside.

In a small bowl, mix graham cracker crumbs, butter and ¼ cup sugar until well combined. Spread mixture into prepared pan. Using a measuring cup with a flat bottom, smooth mixture to form an even crust.

Bake crust until fragrant, about 6 minutes; let cool completely.

In a medium bowl, combine flour, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda and salt. In a separate bowl, beat eggs, remaining sugar, pumpkin puree and oil; stir in flour mixture.

Using a rubber spatula, spread the pumpkin mixture evenly over the cooled crust in pan.

Bake until filling pulls away from the pan, 25-30 minutes; let cool completely in pan.

Frost the top of the cooled bars with cream cheese frosting. Gently drag the tines of a fork from side-to-side through the frosting to create a wave pattern. Sprinkle with Halloween/Harvest sprinkles. Cut into 24 bars and serve.

Note: To keep the wave decoration in the frosting neat, wipe the fork each time you have pulled it through the frosting to remove any excess.

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