Frosted Pumpkin Cranberry Bars

By Spookie

With tangy dried cranberries tucked inside and a creamy brown butter frosting, these mildly spiced pumpkin bars are doubly delightful. It's a good thing the recipe makes lots, because once you taste one, you won't be able to resist going back for more! -Barbara Nowakowski, Mesa, Arizona

Ingredients

• FILLING:
• 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1-1/4 cups sugar
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 3 eggs
• 1 can (15 ounces) solid-pack pumpkin
• 3/4 cup butter, melted
• 3/4 cup chopped dried cranberries
• BROWN BUTTER FROSTING:
• 1/2 cup butter
• 4 cups confectioners' sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 4 to 6 tablespoons milk

Preparation

Step 1

In a large bowl, combine the first six ingredients. In another bowl, whisk the eggs, pumpkin and butter; stir into dry ingredients until well combined. Stir in cranberries.
Spread into a greased 15-in. x 10-in. x 1-in. baking pan. Bake at 350° for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack.
For frosting, in a large heavy saucepan, cook butter over medium heat for 5-7 minutes or until golden brown. Pour into a large bowl; beat in the confectioners’ sugar, vanilla and enough milk to achieve spreading consistency. Frost bars.