Frank's Recipes! Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting

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Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting

Makes 3 dozen large bars or 5 dozen small bars

1 3/4 cups sifted flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ginger
1/8 teaspoon allspice ( optional )
1 cup shortening or 1/2 cup each butter or margarine and shortening at room temp.
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups light or dark brown sugar, firmly packed
2 eggs, at room temp. , slightly beaten
1 cup canned pumpkin
1 cup chopped pecans or English walnuts
1 cup semi-sweet or milk chocolate pieces/chips or
1 cup sweetened white chocolate pieces or chips, or a combination
sifted confectioners' sugar or cream cheese frosting ( optional )

Sift together the first 6 or 7 ingredients, set aside. In a medium bowl, cream shortening or butter and shortening and vanilla thoroughly. Gradually add brown sugar, beating well. Add eggs and pumpkin, beating well. Stir in dry ingredients, mixing well. Stir in nuts and chocolate pieces/chips. Evenly spread batter in greased 15 1/2 x 10 1/2 x 1-inch jelly roll pan. Bake in a preheated moderate oven ( 350 degrees F ) for 30 to 35 minutes or until done. Do not over-bake. Cool thoroughly. Sprinkle confectioners' sugar over bars, if desired. Or, frost bars with cream cheese frosting, if desired. Cut into 2 x 1 1/2 inch bars.

Cream Cheese Frosting
2 ( 3 oz. ) packages cream cheese or reduced- fat cream cheese, at room temp.
about 4 teaspoon light cream or half-and-half, or milk or reduced-fat or skim milk
1 to 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
a pinch of salt
1 ( 16 oz. ) package confectioners' sugar ( about 4 1/2 cups )

In a medium bow, combine the first 4 ingredients, beating until smooth. Gradually add confectioners' sugar, beating until mixture is smooth and fluffy. Add additional cream as needed to achieve spreading consistency.

Halloween Variations
Add a few drops each of red and yellow food coloring to achieve desired orange color, if desired. Or, using a commercial tube of orange decorating frosting, make a pumpkin face on each pumpkin bar.