National Cookie Month: Pumpkin Bars

Since it's October, we can't get by without at least 1 pumpkin recipe, right? We had a church dinner yesterday, and I brought a plate of these. Moist and gooey- they are particularly delicious when served warm out of the oven with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on the side (voice of experience speaking here.)

Pumpkin Bars
Makes about 2 dozen

Ingredients:
For the crust/crumble topping-
1 cup chopped nuts
1 stick + 2 T. unsalted butter, softened
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 3/4 cup flour
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
3/4 cup oats

For the pumpkin filling:
1- 15 oz can pumpkin
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 egg
1/4 cup flour
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp ground cardamom
1 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1 T. cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground allspice

Toast the nuts (do not skip this step- it makes all the difference): Place chopped nuts in a dry non-stick pan. Heat over medium heat, stirring frequently, until nuts are golden and fragrant. Be careful not to burn. Cool.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease bottom and sides of a 9x13 inch pan. Set aside.

Make the crust/crumble topping:  Cream butter and sugar until fluffy. In a separate bowl, stir together flour, salt, baking soda, oatmeal and nuts. Gradually add to butter and sugar mixture. Mixture should be crumbly.

Make the filling: Mix all ingredients together until thoroughly combined.

Place about 2/3 of the crust mixture in the bottom of the prepared pan and press down. Spread pumpkin mixture over crust. Sprinkle with remaining crust mixture; gently press crust mixture down into pumpkin.

Bake about 30-35 minutes until golden and set.
Cool slightly and cut into bars.

Click here for a printable PDF of this recipe.

Don't forget Jill Finley's "Blook Tour" this week! All of the designers below will be giving away a copy of Jill's book, so visit each of them for your chance to win:

 Sat, Oct 13:     Aurifil Threads
 Sun, Oct. 14:   Linda Lum DeBono
 Mon, Oct 15:   Madame Samm
 Tues, Oct 16:   PamKittyMorning
 Wed, Oct 17:  Amy Ellis
 Thur, Oct 18:   Stitch This (Martingale)
 Fri, Oct 19:     Chitter Chatter Designs                    
                        Gigi's Thimble
Sat, Oct 20:      Jacquelynne Steves  (right here, folks!)
Sun, Oct 21:     Henry Glass Fabrics