Nothing warms the heart in the fall like the cinnamony taste of baked pumpkin goodies, especially when the ice-cold rain falls, as it has been here in Vermont lately.
Here are a few recipes that my family has enjoyed.
Pumpkin Bars
2 cups all-purpose flour
1.5 cups brown sugar (white is okay, too)
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking soda
0.25 teaspoon salt
0.5 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice (or 0.25 teaspoon ginger or cloves)
4 beaten eggs
1 16-oz can pumpkin
1 cup cooking oil
~ In a large mixing bowl, stir together the dry ingredients (the first seven ingredients).
~Stir in the eggs, oil, and pumpkin until combined.
~Pour into an ungreased 15x10x1 inch baking pan.
~Bake in a 350-degree oven for 25 to 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
~Cool in the pan on a rack for 2 hours.
~Top with Cream Cheese Frosting (recipe follows).
Cream Cheese Frosting
~Beat 3 oz. of softened cream cheese, one quarter cup of softened butter, and 1 teaspoon of vanilla until light and fluffy.
~Slowly add one cup of sifted powdered sugar and beat well.
~Gradually beat in another cup or so of sifted powdered sugar to make frosting a spreadable consistency.
Pumpkin Muffins
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
0.25 teaspoon salt
0.25 teaspoon baking soda
0.5 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice (or .25 teaspoon nutmeg and 0.125 teaspoon ginger)
1 cup canned pumpkin
0.5 cup milk
2 eggs
5 tablespoons + 1 teaspoon butter, softened
1 cup all-purpose flour
0.5 cup chopped walnuts
0.5 cup raisins
~Grease or spray a 12-cup muffin tin.
~In mixer bowl, combine the first seven ingredients.
~Add the pumpkin, milk, eggs, and butter and beat with an electric mixer on low until blended.
~Beat on medium-high speed for 2 minutes.
~Add the remaining 1 cup flour and beat until blended.
~Fold in walnuts and raisins.
~Spoon into muffin pan.
~Bake 25 – 30 minutes in a 350-degree oven, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
~Cool in pan for 10 minutes on rack.
~Enjoy hot or cool longer.
