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Pumpkin Bars

If you love pumpkin pie, you'll love these pumpkin pie bars...You might even like them better. With a crust made from ginger snap cookies and pecans, what's not to love?
Course Dessert
Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Servings 12 servings

Equipment

  • 9 x 13 inch pan

Ingredients

Crust:

  • 12 ounces ginger snap cookies, about 2 ½ cups of crumbs
  • 4 ounces pecan halves, or one rounded cup about 1 cup of crumbs
  • ¼ cup sugar
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup butter, melted

Pumpkin Filling:

  • 1 cup brown sugar, packed
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 teaspoons cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon ginger
  • ½ teaspoon cloves
  • 4 eggs
  • 1 can pure pumpkin, 15 ounces
  • 1 can evaporated milk, 12 ounces

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line only the bottom of a 9x13 baking pan with aluminum foil, folding the foil so it just covers the bottom. This helps to keep the crust from burning during the long baking time. On top of the foil, add parchment paper, allowing for enough overhang to easily remove the bars from the pan. Set aside.

To make the crust:

  • Using a food processor, pulse the cookies and pecans together into crumbs.
  • Add the crumbs to a medium bowl, and stir in the sugar and salt. Then add the melted butter, and stir with a fork until everything is evenly incorporated.
  • Press tightly into the bottom of the prepared 9x13 pan. Bake crust for 8 minutes. Leave the oven on for baking the bars.

To make the pumpkin filling:

  • In a medium bowl, combine the brown sugar, salt, cinnamon, ginger, and cloves. Set aside.
  • In another bowl, beat the eggs well. Stir the canned pumpkin and the sugar mixture into the eggs. Gradually stir in the evaporated milk.
  • Pour the pumpkin mixture onto the warm crust, and return to the oven, baking for 30 to 40 minutes, or until the center is no longer jiggly - and a knife inserted into the center comes out clean. If the filling does stick to the knife, bake for an additional 5 minutes and check again.
  • When done, remove from the oven and cool on a wire rack. Allow to cool completely, then cover and refrigerate for 2 to 3 hours. Remove the chilled bars from the pan by pulling up on the parchment paper. Cut into squares and serve with whipped cream and chopped pecans.