Pumpkin Brownies

Some of our winter scenery.

The kids and I paid a long overdue visit to and old friend today and were planning on lunch and some sledding.  Being a cold and blustery winter day, I thought some nice spicy pumpkin bars would be a perfect treat.  The kids love these things and they're pretty simple to make.  I got the recipe from a blog that unfortunately no longer exists and its original name is "Chocolate Chip Spice Bars".  Joey gave them the name of "Pumpkin Brownies" and that is a pretty accurate description.  They are cinnamon-ey like pumpkin bars but have a more dense brownie-like texture.  Whatever you want to call them, they're just plain wonderful.

Pumpkin Brownies fresh out of the oven.
 And my spiffy new mixer in the background.
Thanks, Dad :)

Here's the recipe:

Ingredients:

2 cups all purpose flour

1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice 

1 teaspoon baking soda

3/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup butter, room temperature

1 1/4 cup sugar

1 large egg

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 cup canned pumpkin

1 package (12 oz.) semi-sweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line a 9 x 13 pan with foil.   You want it to overlap on all sides. (or just spray with vegetable oil spray)

In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, pie spice, baking soda, and salt.  Set aside.

Cream together butter and sugar until smooth. Add egg and vanilla until combined.  Add the pumpkin puree.  Its going to look curdled.  Don't panic.  Its supposed to be this way.

Slowly add in the dry ingredients.  Mix until just combined.  Now for the best part, fold in the chocolate chips.  Spread the batter evenly into your prepared dish.  Bake until edges begin to pull away from the sides or a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.  This should take about 35-40 minutes. 

Make sure to cool completely.  Next just lift out of the pan, remove foil and cut into bars.

I just love these things.  I've made them several times now and they are a hit every time.  Seriously, you have to try these, just make sure you have plenty of milk on hand. :)

The remains of a few hardy wildflowers.
More of our local nature.