PUMPKIN BARS

Here is Anna's Favorite!! I got this recipe off ALLRECIPES.COM years ago, and the pan is gone in a day. We make this one almost every week during the fall and winter.

*now the gals that I used to work with always made theirs with cream cheese frosting...but we eat it without frosting. The kids eat it plain, and I eat mine with a bit of butter. (watching too much Paula Deen I guess)

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 cup butter, melted
1 cup white sugar
1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract

375 degrees

Grease a jelly roll pan, can also use a 9x13 pan.

Stir together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon; set aside.
In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until smooth. Mix in the pumpkin then beat in the eggs one at a time. Stir in vanilla. Gradually blend in the dry ingredients. Spread the mixture evenly into the prepared pan.
Bake for 35 to 45 minutes until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

*you can also use chocolate chips or walnuts.

*sometimes I put nuts just on one half...One half for kids, one half for Dad

Cream Cheese Frosting:

Just in case you want to try...it is a good frosting for other cakes and cookies. It is kinda my standard frosting. Everyone likes it but me...I don't really like frosting :) LOL

1/2 cup butter, softened
8 ounces cream cheese
4 cups confectioners' sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

mix well with mixer on high speed. You can add food coloring to color it, or add milk to thin it down too.