Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting

Ingredients and Weight:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil or melted butter
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup pureed cooked pumpkin (fresh or canned)
• 1 package (8 oz) cream cheese
• 1/2 cup butter
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preparation Time:

• Preparation Time: 1 hour 30 minutes (including baking time)
• Cooking Time: 30 minutes

Difficulty Level: Level 3 (Moderate)

Preparation Method Steps:

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
2. In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
3. In a separate bowl, mix the sugar, oil or melted butter, and eggs until well combined.
4. Stir in the pumpkin puree until smooth.
5. Add the dry ingredients to the pumpkin mixture and mix until just combined.
6. Spread the batter into a greased baking pan.
7. Bake for 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
8. For the frosting, mix the cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract until smooth and creamy.
9. Spread the frosting onto the cooled pumpkin bars.

Nutritional Information: (Per Serving)

• Calories: 400
• Fat: 20g
• Carbohydrates: 55g
• Protein: 5g

Dish Characteristics:

• A rich and satisfying dessert with a combination of pumpkin's natural sweetness and cream cheese frosting.
• The texture of the bars is moist and dense, providing a pleasant eating experience.
• This dish is perfect for autumn or Halloween celebrations due to its pumpkin flavor.

User Comments:

1. "These pumpkin bars are amazing! The cream cheese frosting is the perfect complement to the pumpkin flavor."
2. "I love how moist these bars are. The pumpkin flavor is not too strong, making it enjoyable for everyone."
3. "The cream cheese frosting is so creamy and delicious. This is a great dessert for fall."

Special Precautions and Tips:

• Use canned pumpkin puree for convenience, or cook fresh pumpkin and puree it yourself.
• Make sure to bake the bars until they are completely cooked through to avoid any raw flavors.
• The frosting can be made while the bars are baking to save time. Store any leftover frosting in the refrigerator for up to a week.