Harvest Pumpkin-spice Bars

Total Time: 3 hrs 35 mins Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 3 hrs 20 mins

Ingredients

• 4 eggs
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin (not pumpkin pie mix!)
• 2 cups gold medal all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1 cup chocolate chips, if desired
• 1 (3 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 1/3 cup butter or 1/3 cup margarine, softened
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts, if desired

Recipe

• 1 heat oven to 350°f
• 2 lightly grease bottom and sides of 15x10x1 inch pan (glass is best) with shortening.
• 3 in large bowl, beat eggs, granulated sugar, oil and pumpkin until smooth.
• 4 stir in flour, baking powder, cinnamon, baking soda, salt, ginger and cloves.
• 5 stir in chocolate chips, spread in pan.
• 6 bake 25 to 30 minutes or until light brown.
• 7 cool completely in pan on cooling rack, about 2 hours.
• 8 in medium bowl, beat cream cheese, butter and vanilla with electric mixer on low speed until smooth.
• 9 gradually beat in powdered sugar, 1 cup at a time, on low speed until smooth and spreadable.
• 10 spread frosting over bars.
• 11 sprinkle with walnuts.
• 12 for bars, cut into 7 rows by 7 rows.
• 13 store in refrigerator.
• 14 tastes better the day after!