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Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bars

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bars
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Delight in these moist Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bars, bursting with warm fall spices and rich, gooey chocolate chips. Perfectly tender with a balanced blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves, these bars offer a comforting and delicious treat for any occasion, easy to make with simple pantry staples.

Ingredients

Scale

Dry Ingredients

  • 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour (or gluten-free flour blend)
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp baking soda
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • ½ tsp ground nutmeg
  • ⅛ tsp ground cloves

Wet Ingredients

  • 2 large eggs (or flax eggs for vegan)
  • ½ cup vegetable oil
  • 1 cup brown sugar, packed
  • 1 cup pumpkin puree (canned or fresh)
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

Add-ins

  • 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (use dairy-free chips for vegan)

Instructions

  1. Preheat and Prepare: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease or line a square baking pan with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ease removal.
  2. Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves until evenly combined.
  3. Combine Wet Ingredients: In another bowl, beat the eggs with vegetable oil, brown sugar, pumpkin puree, and vanilla extract until smooth and fully incorporated.
  4. Bring It All Together: Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, stirring gently until no flour pockets remain. Avoid overmixing to keep the bars tender.
  5. Fold in Chocolate Chips: Gently fold in the chocolate chips, distributing them evenly throughout the batter without overworking.
  6. Bake and Cool: Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean with a few moist crumbs. Let cool completely before slicing into bars.

Notes

  • Measure flour accurately by spooning and leveling to avoid dense bars.
  • Mix until just combined to prevent tough texture.
  • Use fresh ground spices for vibrant, aromatic flavor.
  • Bring eggs and pumpkin puree to room temperature before mixing.
  • Check for doneness starting five minutes before baking time ends to avoid overbaking.
  • For gluten-free version, use a gluten-free flour blend.
  • For a vegan adaptation, substitute eggs with flax eggs and use dairy-free chocolate chips.
  • Add chopped nuts like walnuts or pecans for added texture and flavor.
  • Enhance flavors by drizzling caramel or chocolate ganache on top if desired.

Nutrition

Keywords: pumpkin bars, pumpkin chocolate chip bars, fall dessert, moist pumpkin bars, chocolate chip pumpkin bars, easy pumpkin dessert, gluten-free pumpkin bars, vegan pumpkin bars

Find it online: https://jamescookes.com/pumpkin-chocolate-chip-bars/