Share A Spoon: Pumpkin Spice Bars

Queen Bitch, Brandee over at Think Tank Mama has this fun weekly gathering where you can share recipes. It's called Share A Spoon and this week she is asking for dessert recipes.

I know this is a "Weight Loss" kind of place but that doesn't mean we should deprive ourselves!

Using healthy ingredients such as natural sugar and applesauce in place of oil, you can tweak any recipe to make it healthier! Portion control is the key to success!

Here is a great Pumpkin Bar Recipe! You can change it up to make it your own. Add bittersweet chocolate chips, or pecans. Omit the frosting for a healthier treat. Never follow a recipe to the letter - make it your own and have fun!

Pumpkin Bars With Maple Frosting

Ingredients:

1 cup Egg Beaters (or 4 eggs)
1 cup Brown Sugar
2/3 cup Turbinado Sugar
1 cup unsweetened applesauce
15-ounce can pumpkin puree
2 cups unbleached flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Mix at medium speed, combine the eggs, sugars, applesauce and pumpkin until texture is light and well mixed. Stir together the flour, baking powder, spices, salt and baking soda. Add dry ingredients to the pumpkin mixture and mix at low speed until the batter is smooth. Spread into a greased 13 by 10-inch baking pan. Bake for 30 minutes or until "toothpick check" by placing a toothpick in the center if it comes out clean the cake is done, if it comes out with goop on it then cook it a bit longer.

Let cool completely before you add frosting.

Maple Buttercream Frosting (naughty naughty but yummy!)

Ingredients:

3 cups confectioners' sugar
1 cup butter
2 tsp maple extract
1/2 tsp ginger

Directions:

Whisk together sugar and butter until well blended or use a mixer and mix on medium speed for approx 3 minutes.

Add maple extract and continue mix until light and fluffy. Sprinkle in ginger and stir well.

Spread over cooled pumpkin bars and garnish with a pinch of turbinado sugar to the top of each bar if desired.

Do you have a favorite recipe to share? If so please join in on the fun at The Tank!