Pumpkin Shortbread Bars – Lauren’s Newest

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In the event you’re in search of a scrumptious fall deal with that captures all the comfy flavors of the season, these Pumpkin Shortbread Bars are a must-try! With a buttery, crumbly shortbread crust and a creamy pumpkin filling topped with toasted walnuts, chocolate chips, and a drizzle of caramel, this recipe has all the precise flavors and textures in every chunk. These bars are a singular twist on basic pumpkin pie, providing that very same spiced filling however with the wealthy, crumbly base of a shortbread cookie. Whether or not you’re a pumpkin spice fan or simply within the temper for one thing candy, these Pumpkin Shortbread Bars will hit the spot.

Why You’ll Love this Pumpkin Shortbread Bar Recipe

These Pumpkin Shortbread Bars supply the very best of each worlds: the creamy pumpkin filling you like in a conventional pumpkin pie, paired with the crumbly, buttery goodness of a shortbread crust. They’re preferrred for fall gatherings or as a easy deal with at residence. Plus, they’re straightforward to make forward, retailer nicely, and may even be frozen if you wish to take pleasure in them later. You’ll love how they mix easy elements right into a wealthy, crowd-pleasing dessert with no need a complete lot of time or effort.

Elements Wanted for Pumpkin Shortbread Bars

That is a simple recipe and a lot of the elements you probably have in your pantry already! If you wish to double this recipe, use a bigger pan like a 9×13 baking dish. Right here’s all the pieces you should collect up:

For the shortbread crust–

• All-purpose flour – Kinds the bottom of our shortbread dough.
• Granulated sugar – Provides sweetness to the crust.
• Butter – use chilly butter; this helps the shortbread crust type good, coarse crumbs and maintain up nicely.
• Salt – Balances the sweetness and enhances taste.
• Vanilla extract – Provides a delicate trace of taste to the crust.

For the pumpkin filling-

• Pure pumpkin puree – Offers the basic pumpkin taste we love.
• Brown sugar – Provides sweetness and moisture to the filling.
• Floor Cinnamon and floor nutmeg – Important heat spices for seasonal taste.
• All-purpose flour – Helps thicken the creamy filling.

For the toppings-

• Semi-sweet chocolate chips – Provides a contact of wealthy chocolate to enhance the pumpkin.
• Toasted walnuts, chopped – For crunch and nutty taste.
• Caramel sauce – Drizzle excessive for a contact of sweetness. You need to use store-bought or do-it-yourself.

Variations

• Pumpkin Pie Spice – Swap out cinnamon and nutmeg for a premade pumpkin pie spice mix.
• Pecans – Use toasted pecans as an alternative of walnuts for a special taste.
• Dairy-Free – Substitute dairy-free butter and chocolate chips.
• Gluten-Free – Strive utilizing a gluten-free flour mix within the crust for a GF model.
• Extract – Shortbread cookies style wonderful with almond extract.

How you can Make Pumpkin Shortbread Bars

For full recipe particulars, together with ingredient measurements see the printable recipe card on the backside of this submit. Listed here are my step-by-step instructions for making this pumpkin pie shortbread bars:

1. Preheat + Prep Pan

Preheat oven to 325° F. Line an 8×8 sq. dish with parchment paper or foil and spray flippantly with cooking spray. Put aside.

Professional Tip: In case you are taking these Pumpkin Shortbread Bars to a perform of some kind and wish them to look good, I’d suggest lining your 8×8 dish with parchment or foil for straightforward removing and ready till they’re utterly cool earlier than eradicating and chopping.

2. Put together the Shortbread Base

In a big bowl, mix flour, sugar, chilly butter, salt, and vanilla extract till the dough types. Press evenly into the underside of the pan. Put aside.

2. Make the Pumpkin Filling

In a special giant bowl, whisk collectively pumpkin puree, brown sugar, floor cinnamon, floor nutmeg, and flour. Stir till easy.

3. Assemble the Bars

Pour the pumpkin combination over the shortbread crust and easy the highest creating a good layer. Sprinkle nuts and chocolate chips over prime and press flippantly into filling.

Drizzle caramel sauce over prime of your complete dessert.

4. Bake

Bake the bars for 45 minutes to 1 hour, or till the filling units and the perimeters flip golden brown.

5. Cool + Serve

Cool Pumpkin Pie Bars utterly earlier than eradicating. Lower into 16 equal squares and serve. (*I occurred to place mine into the fridge and ate a chunk chilly and truly most well-liked it that manner! So perhaps give {that a} attempt to see if you happen to’d like that higher than heat or at room temperature.)

Storage + Make Forward Instructions

Retailer any leftover bars within the fridge in an hermetic container for as much as per week.

To Make Forward: Make them the evening earlier than, and retailer in an hermetic container at room temperature or within the fridge.

To Freeze: Wrap the cooled bars tightly in plastic wrap, then retailer in an hermetic container for as much as 3 months. Thaw at room temperature.

Extra Pumpkin Dessert Recipes to Strive!

These Pumpkin Shortbread Bars are the proper dessert for fall, combining that creamy pumpkin filling with a buttery shortbread base and candy toppings. Excellent for any event, these bars are an effective way to rejoice pumpkin season with out the effort of a conventional pie crust. Get pleasure from a slice of fall with every chunk! Printable recipe card is beneath, completely satisfied baking! 🙂

In the event you make this recipe, I might actually admire it if you happen to would give it a star score and depart your overview within the feedback! When you have an image of your completed dish, submit it on Instagram utilizing the hashtag #laurenslatest and tagging me @laurens_latest.