Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting

I needed a delicious treat, so I pulled out my trusty favorite pastry cookbook (Biggest Book of Cookies – you will need no other pastry cookbook!) and thumbed through until I found this sweet delight.

I highly recommend this option from the book. I shared it with about 15 people and the average rating was about an 8.5.

The cream cheese frosting really made the treat. Half of a brick of cream cheese, half of a stick of butter, and one teaspoon of vanilla mixed together. The recipe says then to add powdered sugar starting with 1 cup and then adding an additional 1 3/4 to 2 1/4 cups, but I found that about 2 1/2 cups total sufficed for me. Of course add more or stop adding to reach the consistency you like. I think the slight less firm consistency of the frosting is what added to this pastry’s draw.

My mouth is watering just looking at it. Seriously, this bar is amazing. So carrot-cake like, yet retaining the hints of pumpkinish goodness.