Recipe: Pumpkin Nut Bars and Colonial Pumpkin Bars for Gayle, IL

Hi Gayle:-) Here are two recipes for you to try that I found on the internet. I have not tried either one so I hope one of them will be something that you enjoy.

PUMPKIN NUT BARS

1/2 cup shortening
1 cup brown sugar
2 eggs, beaten
1 tsp. vanilla
1 cup sifted all-purpose flour
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. each baking powder and baking soda
1/4 tsp. each ginger and nutmeg
2/3 cup pumpkin
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
FROSTING:
1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
2 tbsp. each shortening and orange juice
1 tbsp. grated orange rind

Cream shortening and sugar; add eggs and vanilla.

Sift together dry ingredients; add in thirds alternately with pumpkin; fold in nuts. Spread in greased 9x13-inch pan.

Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Cool.

Combine ingredients for frosting; beat until smooth. Frost and cut into bars.

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COLONIAL PUMPKIN BARS
Makes 3 dozen

These can also be frozen with or without the frosting, for later use.

3/4 cup butter
2 cups white sugar
4 eggs, beaten
1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin puree
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 cup chopped walnuts
FROSTING:
1 (3 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1/3 cup butter, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 cups sifted confectioners' sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Butter and flour a 10x15 inch jellyroll pan.

In a large bowl, cream together 3/4 cup butter and white sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the pumpkin.

Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg; stir into the pumpkin mixture. Mix in walnuts. Spread evenly into the prepared pan.

Bake for 30 to 35 minutes in the preheated oven, or until toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool completely before frosting.

FROSTING:
In a medium bowl, mix together the cream cheese, 1/3 cup butter, and vanilla until smooth. Gradually blend in sugar, then beat until smooth. Spread over cooled pumpkin bars. Cut into squares.