Pumpkin Bars With Chocolate Chips

Pumpkin Bars with Mini Chocolate Chips

Every fall season I look forward to all the pumpkin desserts. This time of year you can plan on one pumpkin dessert at my house per week and this time around it’s these decadent Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bars! They are a breeze to throw together and you’ll love that buttery, pumpkin, spice, and chocolate chip flavor combination. This is what fall is all about.

Ingredients Needed for This Recipe

All-purpose flour Pumpkin pie spice Baking soda Salt Unsalted butter, softened Granulated sugar and light brown sugar Egg Vanilla extract Canned pumpkin Mini semi sweet chocolate chips

How to Make Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bars

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line and butter baking dish.

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

In the bowl of an electric stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together butter and sugar until well combined.

Mix in egg and vanilla, then blend in pumpkin.

Add flour mixture and mix just until combined.

Then fold in all but 3 Tbsp of the chocolate chips.

Spread batter evenly into prepared pan, sprinkle top evenly with remaining 3 Tbsp chocolate chips.

Bake in preheated oven until bars are set (a toothpick should come out clean or with a moist crumb), about 30 – 35 minutes. Cool completely then lift bars from pan using parchment, cut into squares.

Can I Use My Own Pumpkin Pie Spice Blend?

I used pumpkin pie spice for simplicity but a homemade blend would work just as well. Use 1 3/4 tsp cinnamon, 1/2 tsp nutmeg, 1/2 tsp ginger and 1/4 tsp cloves.

Can I Use Regular Size Chocolate Chips?

If you don’t have mini chocolate chips on hand regular size chocolate chips will work here too. I think even white chocolate chips would be delicious if that’s what you’ve got.

Can I Use Fresh Pumpkin?

For consistent results I like to use canned pumpkin when baking. If you have fresh on hand you need to use up it should work but if it’s seems really wet I’d transfer to several layers of paper towels and wrap remove some of the excess moisture.

Can I Freeze These Bars?

These bars will freeze well. Just use parchment paper between bars so they don’t stick.

Can I Use Only Granulated Sugar?

We’ve all had those moments where we go to the pantry to reach for the brown sugar only to find it’s gone. Nooooo. But don’t worry just use another 1/2 cup granulated sugar here and it will be fine.

Do I Have to Line the Baking Dish with Parchment?

I like to line the baking dish to remove lift and bars easily but if you don’t have any on hand simply spray the baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.