Pumpkin Squares

‘Tis the season for pumpkins! That’s right, Thanksgiving is next week…it’s time to get your rear into gear and whip up some pumpkin treats! Houses start to smell amazing, families come together, and bellies begin to be filled. I love this time of year! Love it! In general I’m not a big sweets guy, but even I indulge with a treat or two during holiday time! ;) This year I’m trying out some pumpkin squares!

The three layers in these squares look so festive. They’re one of those treats that you see and instantly want to gobble up. And trust me, you’ll probably become addicted to this dessert pretty easily. If you want proof, ask my mom and dad. Each of them had 3 squares in less than 5 minutes. Excessive, yes, but oh so hard to resist!

Apparently there are a few similar recipes floating around the internet. But since I’m oblivious, I had no idea about their existence until I started writing this post! And here I thought I was being original and inventive! Haha…oh well, they’re still freakin’ delicious and have a few twists to set them apart from the pack. Like the cinnamon and fresh nutmeg. The spices are warmly inviting, and compliment the cookie crust and pumpkin filling so nicely. Not to mention the crumbly topping. It’s like a floury sugary crumbly snow that you want to lick up. It’s really tasty. Basically, think of this recipe as a lemon square gone pumpkin.

Leave a comment to let me know what you think!

1 cup butter (2 sticks, room temperature)

2/3 cup granulated sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 1/3 cups flour

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

2 eggs

1 cup brown sugar

1 cup pumpkin puree

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon (or pumpkin pie spice)

Nutmeg (to taste)

Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

In a medium bowl, mix together 1 stick of butter, 1/3 cup granulated sugar, and 1/4 teaspoon vanilla. Then mix in 1 cup flour. Press dough into a 13×9 inch pan (this will be the bottom layer of the bars). Bake for 5 minutes. Remove from oven.

Reduce heat to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

In another bowl, mix together the baking powder, salt, eggs, brown sugar, cinnamon, and pumpkin with 1/3 cup flour and 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla. Spread this layer on top of the crust.

In a third bowl, mix together the remaining 1 cup flour, 1 stick butter, 1/3 cup granulated sugar, and 1/4 teaspoon vanilla. Mix until it resembles wet sand. Sprinkle these crumbles over the pumpkin layer.

Bake for 30-32 minutes. Cool completely before slicing into squares. Sprinkle with a little cinnamon and desired amount of fresh nutmeg.

Enjoy!