Description
Homemade pumpkin pie bars blend classic autumn spices with creamy condensed milk for a delightful dessert. Rich, velvety layers promise comfort in each bite, inviting warm memories of seasonal gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
Crust and Crumb Topping:
- 1 cup (225 g / 8 ounces) salted butter, softened to room temperature (or unsalted butter + ½ teaspoon salt)
- 3 cups (360 g / 12.7 ounces) all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled
- ¾ cup (150 g / 5.3 ounces) brown sugar
Filling Ingredients:
- 1 can (15 ounces / 425 g) canned pumpkin (not pumpkin pie mix)
- 1 can (14 ounces / 400 g) sweetened condensed milk
- 2 large eggs
Spices and Additional Ingredients:
- 1 cup (125 g / 4.4 ounces) chopped pecans
- 3 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
Instructions
- Prepare the oven environment by positioning the rack centrally and heating to 375°F, ensuring uniform temperature distribution.
- Create a non-stick foundation for the bars by generously coating a 9 x 13-inch baking pan with butter and layering parchment paper with overhanging edges for effortless extraction.
- Craft the rustic crust by blending flour, brown sugar, baking powder, ground cinnamon, and chopped pecans in a large mixing vessel until thoroughly integrated.
- Incorporate softened butter into the dry mixture, gently working until a crumbly, textured dough emerges with delicate pecan fragments.
- Strategically set aside 1 1/2 cups of the crumbly dough for the topping, then firmly compress the remaining mixture into the prepared pan, creating a compact, even base layer.
- Construct the silky pumpkin filling by whisking canned pumpkin, sweetened condensed milk, eggs, cornstarch, and warm spices until achieving a luxuriously smooth consistency.
- Delicately cascade the pumpkin mixture over the crust, ensuring complete and uniform coverage across the entire surface.
- Sprinkle the reserved crumb mixture atop the pumpkin layer, creating a rustic, textured landscape.
- Bake for 28-34 minutes, monitoring until the top transforms into a golden, appetizing bronze hue.
- Allow the bars to cool naturally on a wire rack, reaching room temperature before transferring to the refrigerator for a minimum of 3 hours.
- Once thoroughly chilled, leverage the parchment paper to extract the entire dessert from the pan.
- Slice into elegant squares using a sharp knife, revealing the layers of flavor and texture within each bar.
Notes
- Prep Like a Pro: Line your baking pan with parchment paper for effortless bar removal and cleanup.
- Crumb Topping Secret: Reserve 1 1/2 cups of crust mixture to create a delightful, crunchy top layer.
- Make-Ahead Magic: These bars taste even better when chilled overnight, allowing flavors to meld perfectly.
- Texture Triumph: The combination of pecans in the crust and smooth pumpkin filling creates an irresistible contrast.
- Serving Tip: Cut into 18-24 squares for perfect portion control at gatherings or family dessert time.
- Storage Hack: Store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, keeping the bars fresh and delicious.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 364
- Sugar: 22 g
- Sodium: 205 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 42 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 46 mg