Indulgent Pumpkin Bars with Chocolate Chips You'll Crave

Course: Cake

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Chocolate Dessert, fall recipes, Halloween Treats, Pumpkin Bars with Chocolate Chips, Pumpkin Dessert, Thanksgiving Treats

Prep Time: 15

Cook Time: 30

Cooling Time: 15

Total Time: 1

Servings: bars

Calories: 200kcal

Delicious Pumpkin Bars with Chocolate Chips, perfect for autumn gatherings and festivities.

½ cup Butter Use salted or unsalted based on preference
2 teaspoons Pumpkin Pie Spice Substitute with a mix of ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves if needed
1 cup Granulated Sugar
½ cup Brown Sugar Adds moisture and a subtle molasses flavor
1 cup Canned Pumpkin Ensure it's pure pumpkin, not pie filling
2 teaspoons Vanilla Extract Try using Mexican vanilla for an extra-tasty twist
½ teaspoon Kosher Salt
1 large Egg
1 cup All-Purpose Flour Make sure to spoon and level for accuracy
1 teaspoon Baking Powder
1 cup Semisweet Chocolate Chips Substitute with dark or white chocolate chips if desired

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and prepare a 9x13 inch baking pan. Grease it with nonstick spray or line it with parchment paper for easy removal.
Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Once melted, add the pumpkin pie spice and toast it briefly, then remove from heat.
Combine the granulated sugar and brown sugar in the melted butter until well mixed.
Stir in the canned pumpkin, vanilla extract, and kosher salt. Add the egg and mix quickly.
Fold in the all-purpose flour and baking powder gently until almost combined.
Pour the batter into the prepared pan and sprinkle the semisweet chocolate chips over the top.
Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Cool the bars in the pan before slicing them into squares for serving.

Optional: Serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.