PUMPKIN CREAM CHEESE BARS

Ingredients

  • 1-1/3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 3/4 cup sugar, divided
  • 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
  • 3/4 cup cold butter, cubed
  • 1 cup old-fashioned oats
  • 1/2 cup chopped pecans
  • 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened, cubed
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon ground allspice
  • 1 teaspoon ground cardamom
  • 1 can (15 ounces) solid-pack pumpkin
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 3 Eggs, lightly beaten

Preparation

Step 1



Preheat oven to 350degrees. In a small bowl, mix flour, 1/4 cup sugar and brown sugar; cut in butter until crumbly. Stir in oats and pecans. Reserve 1 cup for topping. Press remaining crumb mixture onto bottom of a greased 13x9-inch baking pan. Bake 15 minutes. In a small bowl, beat cream cheese, spices and remaining sugar until smooth. Beat in pumpkin and vanilla. Add eggs; beat on low speed just until blended. Pour over warm crust; sprinkle with reserved crumb mixture. Bake 20-25 minutes or until a knife inserted near the center comes out clean and filling is set. Cool on a wire rack. Serve or refrigerate, covered, within 2 hours. Cut into bars.