Gluten Free Pumpkin Bars

It wouldn’t be right if we didn’t make some amazing pumpkin bars the first week of October, right?! And this recipe just happens to be gluten free so you feel just a little less guilty having one for a treat.  I haven’t been into the pumpkin spirit yet because the weather has been really nice lately.  We were even on our jet skis until mid-September!  But now it’s really starting to feel like fall, so it’s time to bake like fall too.  These were a hit at our house. I hope you love them too!

Ingredients:

Pumpkin Bars:

• 1 cup gluten free flour (I used King Arthur Gluten Free Flour)
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup pure cane sugar
• 2/3 cup canola oil
• 1 can (15 oz) pure pumpkin

Cream Cheese Frosting:

• 8 oz cream cheese, softened
• 1/4 cup grass fed butter, softened
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 3 cups powdered sugar

Directions:

Pumpkin Bars:

1. Pre-heat the oven to 350.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, cinnamon, salt, pumpkin pie spice, and baking soda.
3. Add eggs, sugar, and oil to the flour mixture bowl.  Once well combined, add the pumpkin and whisk until fluffy.  You can use an electric mixer for this too, just don’t “over-mix.” Make sure there are no chunks of flour left!
4. Pour the batter into a greased 9×9 pan.  Bake for 30 minutes, or until the edges start to brown slightly.  Double check the middle of your batter with a toothpick too!  If it is still not done, bake for 2-4 minute increments until it is baked through.
5. Let the bars cool completely before frosting.

Cream Cheese Frosting:

1. Combine cream cheese, butter, and vanilla extract.  I highly suggest using an electric mixer to do this rather than just a spoon!
2. Add powdered sugar 1/2 cup at a time, and keep mixing between.  Repeat until all cups of the powdered sugar are added and the frosting is nice and smooth.
3. Wait until those pumpkin bars are cooled, and then it’s time to get frosting!
4. Slice the bars in any shape you want, and serve them at your fall party or for your late-night snack!

Enjoy!!