Perfect Pumpkin Bars
On the fourth day of Halloween week, my goblin said to me,
Make me a terrifying treat,
Something spooky and tasty!
And I obliged…
with these perfect pumpkin bars…
For goblins, ghouls, ghosts and humans alike.
But after the ghouls and goblins had snacked on their share,
Two little owls came to stare.
“But pumpkin bars are a fall treat!” Hoot howled.
“Pumpkin bars are not for goblins and ghouls,” Who protested.
“They’re for school carnivals, crisp fall days, big leaf piles and big family dinners.”
As they peered longingly at the pumpkin bars,
Their beaks smacking in envy,
I hid a smile in my elbow,
So they wouldn’t see.
“Dear little owls,” I replied,
“The pumpkin bars can be eaten for any occasion,
Any reason, by any person,
Close and near or far and wide.”
“They’re rich and full of flavor,” I continued as they began to drool,
“Like the best pumpkin bread or muffin.
“But they’re light and so fine on your tounge,
And that cream cheese icing–man it’s something.”
The two little owls glared at me,
gnashing their beaks and snarling,
“Well don’t just stand there–
Give us one and quit bragging!”
So I gave them each a bar,
And stood back and waited.
They shoved it into their beaks,
And with wide eyes, shouted their praises.
“This is amazing!” they cried in unison.
“It’s thick and light,
Full of pumpkin flavor but as sweet as cinnamon rolls,
Rich but not heavy,
Why–it’s the ultimate pumpkin treat!”
And with a plate of bars clutched in their talons,
The two little owls flew off to hoard their treats.
And as the goblins and ghouls spread the word,
To the vampires and werewolves,
And the owls to their friends at the pumpkin patch,
Like the hungry turkeys,
I thought to myself,
“I must get to baking!”
Perfect Pumpkin Bars
From Sugar Bitches: just Desserts Cookbook
4 eggs
1 2/3 cup sugar
1 cup oil
1 16 oz. pumpkin
2 cups flour
2 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking soda
Use an ungreased 15x10x1 inch jelly roll pan. Preheat 350 degrees. Mix the first four ingredients until light and fluffy. In a separate bowl, add the remaining ingredients and mix. Add to pumpkin mixture a little at a time, mix well. Spread in the pan and bake 25-30 minutes. Cool and frost with cream cheese icing.
Cream Cheese Icing
1 – 3 oz. pkg cream cheese
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 t. vanilla extract
2 cups powdered sugar
Cream cream cheese and butter. Add vanilla and stir. Add powdered sugar a little at a time, beating until smooth.
Stay tuned, Invisible Friends! Tomorrow we have a new scary story and Saturday, our new spectacularly spooky Creative lady of the Pond! It’s a surprise, so stay tuned!!
October 29th, 2009 at 3:49 am
Sometimes I worry that Who feels Hoot can be overshadowing him. Just something to think about.
October 29th, 2009 at 4:40 am
Well, if a wise owl says they’re delicious, who am I to argue! What a fun recipe presentation!
October 29th, 2009 at 4:41 am
Delicious!
October 29th, 2009 at 5:08 am
Yum! Cream cheese icing makes everything taste even better!
October 29th, 2009 at 5:31 am
Loving each and everything about these bars…. Yum!
October 29th, 2009 at 5:34 am
I live for pumpkin foods. Of course, anything with cream cheese icing is even better!
October 29th, 2009 at 5:34 am
Nice!!
Love the dessert!
Thanks for stopping by my blog!
October 29th, 2009 at 5:46 am
i’ve said it before and i’ll doubtless say it again—i’d eat cream cheese frosting off a shoe if I had to. these bars are delightful, miranda, and i’m liking the bar-to-frosting ratio.
October 29th, 2009 at 5:55 am
Ooooh, its those darling little owls again! Love your pumpkin bars, they look totally delish.
October 29th, 2009 at 6:00 am
this has me craving my momma’s pumpkin bars like whoa!
kHm
October 29th, 2009 at 6:17 am
I’m gonna miss those little owls…those bars look delicious…might be something I can make to impress the family on Thanksgiving!
October 29th, 2009 at 6:24 am
Yum! Those pumpkin bars look fantastic, love the cream cheese icing!
October 29th, 2009 at 6:34 am
Yum. Look so good!
October 29th, 2009 at 6:35 am
I like the bars! Good idea for this time of year
October 29th, 2009 at 6:54 am
I love anything pumpkin…but I REALLY want those adorable owls!
October 29th, 2009 at 7:03 am
hope you have enough for the hungry turkeys!! those look tasty
October 29th, 2009 at 7:28 am
I learned a long time ago to never argue with a wise old owl
. Your pumpkin bars sound delicious.
October 29th, 2009 at 7:38 am
you are such a cute girl. I love your page and love this blog. Yum to pumpkin! the bars look so great!!
October 29th, 2009 at 7:38 am
Typically I don’t like pumpkin anything – aside from Pumpkin Spice Latte’s and pumpkin patches, of course – but the cream cheese icing sold me. I need to make these! I only hope the Wise Owl doesn’t try to snatch them from me!
October 29th, 2009 at 7:43 am
You always have the most delicious recipes!
October 29th, 2009 at 8:18 am
I lvoe pumpkin bars!!! God i wish i had an oven so could bake up a batch or two of these right now. And that’s not just the PMS talking. :p
October 29th, 2009 at 8:26 am
Those pumpkin bars sound amazing! I am going to make them this weekend! And I still think your wreath is adorable!
XOOX
Jen
October 29th, 2009 at 8:30 am
Man those look awesome. I think I have everything I need at home to make them too.
Ramona
October 29th, 2009 at 8:45 am
Thankyou for this amazing looking recipe!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And for House on Elm street. Your blog is absolutely SPOOKTACULAR this week!
October 29th, 2009 at 9:19 am
cute photos and a recpie can try!!!
love ya!
October 29th, 2009 at 9:55 am
Yummy!! I hope I have a chance to try these!
October 29th, 2009 at 9:59 am
Pumpkin and cream cheese. Have to have it!
October 29th, 2009 at 10:32 am
Yummy, I will take one right now if you please!
October 29th, 2009 at 10:35 am
Those bars look so scrumptious!! Love that adorable wreath!
October 29th, 2009 at 11:07 am
These bars seem very tasty, and they are surely softer than the nougat!
October 29th, 2009 at 11:07 am
Pumpkin baked goods are my favorite part of this time of the year! Thanks for sharing =)
October 29th, 2009 at 11:12 am
I’m crazy about this gooey looking pumpkin dessert!
Figures that hoot and who would go nuts over this!
October 29th, 2009 at 11:22 am
Oh yes, now that you’ve told me where she is, I see her! Thanks!
October 29th, 2009 at 11:44 am
They look good, especially with the cream cheese frosting. Thor wants some, too. He does prefer his pumpkins to be cooked, although I nearly peed myself laughing at him eating little pieces cut out for eyes and noses.
October 29th, 2009 at 12:04 pm
…..HE, the 13 year old, yes, he loved(!!) your spooooky story….even if it took a little time to read, to translate it; but together we had a lot of fun……!
Thank you and waiting with joy for some more spoooooooky stories!
have a wonderful day!
ciao elvira
October 29th, 2009 at 12:13 pm
Oh how delicious! I love all things pumpkin.
October 29th, 2009 at 12:23 pm
What a tempting recipe Miranda. Yum!
October 29th, 2009 at 12:23 pm
Of course these can’t be fattening……with only one cup of oil and cream cheese. I’m saving your recipe……it looks better than mine
October 29th, 2009 at 1:35 pm
These bars look incredible! Cream cheese frosting is divine!
October 29th, 2009 at 1:45 pm
Sorry, I forgot to say, of course you can enter your delicious recipe!
October 29th, 2009 at 1:50 pm
Annnnd I’m trying to lose weight. Fail.
Those look sooooo yummy. You make the best treats. Why can’t we live closer? I think we would make excellent neighbors!
October 29th, 2009 at 2:26 pm
YUM. Why did I have to decide to watch what I eat around the holidays. I’m a silly silly girl.
October 29th, 2009 at 3:30 pm
Heaven!
October 29th, 2009 at 4:48 pm
Thanks for sharing this. And I just learned today that pumpkins are GOOD for you, too…full of antioxidants. PLUS, the skin is a good exfoliant and age-defying mechanism for your face. So, after that ol’ jack-o-lantern is used up…
October 29th, 2009 at 4:57 pm
Mmmm…I’m trying this one too!
October 29th, 2009 at 5:28 pm
I’ve always wanted to try pumpkin bars, but always afraid they’ll be too much like cake instead. It looks so yummy with the glaze.
October 29th, 2009 at 9:18 pm
I must have a pumpkin bar!
October 29th, 2009 at 9:19 pm
Yummmm And I love all the Fall colors.
October 29th, 2009 at 10:17 pm
Yum!! And I particularly like that it has cream cheese frosting, not the nasty sickeningly sweet buttercream frosting!
October 29th, 2009 at 10:24 pm
I’m drooling over the keyboard here… that frosting looks too delicious!
October 30th, 2009 at 12:29 am
Thank you for the recipe! I am going to make the bars tomorrow
October 30th, 2009 at 5:22 am
Pumpkin and cream cheese is a stellar combo, necessary to get me through the cold season.
October 30th, 2009 at 5:55 am
YUMMMMMY! I love the cream cheese frosting on top- I bet that makes these just to die for. Hope you guys have a nice halloween
October 30th, 2009 at 7:25 am
These are sooooooo scrumptious!! Love the cream cheese icing!
October 30th, 2009 at 8:14 am
Yum! I love pumpkin stuff. If I get my act together I’m going to make pumpkin muffins today!!!!
October 30th, 2009 at 8:58 am
Pumpkin bars rock. Its Autumn in a cake!
October 30th, 2009 at 9:22 am
Those pumpkin bars look delicious! Great job with the story too
Your blog is adorable!
October 30th, 2009 at 12:39 pm
Mmmmmmmmmm they look delicious!!! Thank you for submitting them in All Through the Year Cheer event
October 30th, 2009 at 3:08 pm
Yum Yum Yum! The pumpkin bars look scary delicious =)
October 30th, 2009 at 6:42 pm
Yummo!!
October 30th, 2009 at 8:36 pm
I just adore those little owls and the pumpkins bars are scrump-tious!!
October 31st, 2009 at 12:29 pm
wow!! they are sooo cute!! and those bars making me drool already!! yummm!!
November 1st, 2009 at 8:50 pm
Great post!
And, I ♥ LURVE ♥ cream cheese icing! I’m totally making these pumpkin bars… SOON!
Love that sweet kitty, too!
November 2nd, 2009 at 3:50 pm
Pumpkin bars by Sugar Bitches just have to be good – mmmm….
November 6th, 2009 at 11:56 pm
Mmmmm…pumpkin…love anything pumpkin!!
November 10th, 2009 at 3:25 pm
Hmmmm, they don’t look so tasty. And what’s up with the owl? And why are there a dozen pictures of those sad looking pumpkin bars?