It’s fall, it’s fall, it’s fall! And we all know what that means, lots and lots of pumpkin! Mmmmm sweet, tasty, delicious pumpkin. BF’s not huge on pumpkin (or so he thinks), even though he loves pumpkin pie, doesn’t mind my pumpkin bread, and devours these pumpkin bars.
Anyone who has been in Williams Sonoma in the fall knows about these pumpkin bars.
Sometimes I troll WS just to see if they have the samples out. These are one of the easiest recipes you’ll ever make. The trick to the bars’ complex flavor is using pumpkin butter instead of pumpkin puree. Some might call that “cheating”, but I call it genius.
The recipe at WS uses their Muirhead pumpkin butter (of course), but at $10.95 a jar, who wants to buy that? Don’t get me wrong, the stuff is frickin delicious, but $10.95 is a little steep, and maybe you don’t have a WS near you (you poor soul, you). Any pumpkin butter should do, just make sure you get the right amount in there – 13.5 ounces.
Though the recipe claims these are “dessert bars”, they’ve been enjoyed just as much as a “coffee cake” replacement. Whatever you do this fall, you simply must make these, they’re de-lish. Don’t let the box cake mix scare you away… I promise you won’t regret it…
Hmmm, looks like I’m running a little low on cinnamon… time for a trip to the store… Yes, I use cinnamon that much. Don’t judge me, you’re just jealous of my giant cinnamon jar…
First, place all but 1 cup of the cake mix into a medium bowl
Stir in 1/2 cup of melted butter and 1 egg until it’s thoroughly mixed, then press into the bottom of a prepared 9 x 13-inch pan.
In a separate bowl (or the same bowl, rinsed, if you’re not into wasting dishes like yours truly) mix the jar of pumpkin butter with two eggs and milk. Pour mixture over the cake mix.
Combine the reserved cup of cake mix with the flour, sugar, softened butter, and cinnamon. Mix together until crumbly. I find the best way to do this is with my (gloved) hands. Get in there real good and just keep smooshing (yes, that’s the technical term) the butter until it’s evenly distributed throughout the mixture.
Sprinkle over the pumpkin butter layer and bake at 350F for 35 – 40 minutes until golden brown. After cooled, cut into squares and enjoy these bite size pumpkin treats. Take them to work to bribe your coworkers, give them to your neighbors as a holiday gift, or feed them to your significant other to make them too fat to run away from you …. Ignore that last part.
Ingredients Instructions
https://wee-eats.com/2011/11/04/pumpkin-dessert-squares/
Ha, I troll them for samples as well! There’s one not to far from me that often has out all of their olive oils with bits of bread. These squares look awesome.
IT’S THAT TIME AGAIN, JEN!!! TROLL ALL THE WILLIAMS-SONOMAS!!!
Do I need to use pecan pumpkin butter or just pumpkin butter?
Any pumpkin butter will do, I just happen to love that kind 😉 I’ve also used Trader Joes brand pumpkin butter and it worked just fine
This recipe is definitely becoming part of my fall collection.
Awesome, Laura!
Have you ever tried this with apple butter?
No I haven’t BUT NOW I NEED TO!! I’m sure they’d be delicious!!
Made this recipe this morning with homemade apple/pear butter. Turned out great!
Yay!! Happy to hear it!!! I can’t wait to try it myself!
Unable to get Muirhead pecan pumpkin butter from Williams Sonoma. Where can I get?
WS has their own product which does not compare to Muirhead brand.