Ingredients
2cupsall-purpose flour
1tspbaking powder
½tspbaking soda
½tspsalt
2tspground cinnamon
½tspground nutmeg
½tspground ginger
1cuplight-brown sugar
¾cupgranulated sugar
½cupbutter,melted and whisked to cool slightly
½cupapplesauce
3large eggs
2tspvanilla extract
1½cupspumpkin,canned
cinnamon and pecans,whole or chopped, for garnish, optional
⅓cupbutter,softened
6ozcream cheese,softened
½tspvanilla extract
3cupspowdered sugar
Preparation
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a mixing bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger, set aside.
In a separate large mixing bowl, using an electric hand mixer, blend together light-brown sugar, granulated sugar, melted butter and applesauce until well combine.
Add eggs and vanilla extract and mix until well blended, then add pumpkin and mix until well blended.
Add dry mixture and mix just until combine.
Pour and spread mixture evenly into a buttered 13×9-inch baking dish and bake in preheated oven about 35 to 38 minutes until toothpick inserted into center of cake comes out with a few moist crumbs attached
Allow bars to cool completely then cut into bars and frost with Fluffy Cream Cheese Frosting (alternately you can frost bars first then cut into squares) and dust lightly with optional cinnamon and garnish with optional pecans.
In a large mixing bowl, using and electric hand mixer, whip together butter and cream cheese on medium speed until very light and fluffy, about 3 to 4 minutes. Mix in vanilla. Add powdered sugar and mix until well blended and smooth.
