Pumpkin Cream Cheese Bars

Time: 45 minutes

Yield: 18 bars

Recipe Creator: Christy

Ingredients – Filling

8oz cream cheese, softened

1/4 cup sugar

1 egg

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Ingredients – Batter

1 cup canned pumpkin puree

1 cup sugar

1 egg

1/3 cup vegetable oil

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice (or nutmeg + cinnamon)

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

Directions

1) Preheat the oven to 375^oF.

2) Spray a 9×13 baking pan with cooking spray and set aside.

3) Make the filling: With a hand mixer blend together cream cheese, sugar, egg, and vanilla until smooth. Set aside.

4) Make the batter: Combine the pumpkin, sugar, egg and oil in medium mixing bowl and mix until well combined. Next stir in the flour, pumpkin pie spice, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Mix well to fully combine.

5) Pour batter into prepared baking tray, making sure to evenly spread it along the bottom.

6) Add dollops of the cream cheese mixture over the batter. Once done, using a butter knife cut vertical lines into the mixture, this will combine the filling and batter while still having each maintain a pronounced, marble look.

7) Bake for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

8) Using a lightly wet knife, cut into squares once completely cooled. This is done to avoid the bars breaking up.