Description
These Pumpkin Pie Bars offer a delightful twist on traditional pumpkin pie, featuring a buttery baked crust topped with a smooth, spiced pumpkin filling. Perfect for fall gatherings or holiday celebrations, they are easy to prepare and can be enjoyed chilled with a garnish of whipped cream or powdered sugar.
Ingredients
Scale
Crust
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
Filling
- 1 can (15 oz) pumpkin puree
- 3 large eggs
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Garnish
- Whipped cream or powdered sugar
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking pan or line it with parchment paper to ensure easy removal of the bars.
- Make the Crust: In a mixing bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, powdered sugar, and melted unsalted butter. Stir until a uniform dough forms. Press this dough evenly into the bottom of your prepared baking pan. Bake in the preheated oven for about 15 minutes or until the crust is lightly golden brown.
- Prepare the Filling: While the crust is baking, whisk together the pumpkin puree, eggs, granulated sugar, heavy cream, milk, vanilla extract, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves, and salt in a large bowl. Mix until the filling is smooth and well blended.
- Assemble and Bake: Pour the pumpkin filling over the pre-baked crust, spreading it evenly with a spatula. Return the pan to the oven and bake for 40 to 45 minutes. The filling should be set and a toothpick inserted into the center should come out clean.
- Cool and Chill: Remove the pan from the oven and allow the bars to cool completely at room temperature. After cooling, refrigerate the bars for at least 2 hours to help them firm up for easy slicing.
- Serve: Slice the chilled pumpkin pie bars into squares. Garnish with whipped cream or a dusting of powdered sugar before serving for an extra touch of sweetness.
Notes
- For best results, use pure pumpkin puree and not pumpkin pie filling which contains added spices and sugar.
- Ensure the crust is fully baked before adding the filling to avoid a soggy bottom.
- The bars are best served chilled but can be stored at room temperature for a few hours if needed.
- Adjust spices according to taste preferences for a milder or stronger flavor.
- These bars can be made a day ahead and refrigerated, making them perfect for holiday parties.
