Simply Made Sunday - Pumpkin Squares

It felt good to get back in the kitchen with R for some fun baking this week. I found this incredibly delicious recipe for Pumpkin Squares in Family Fun Magazine.

Ingredients:
1 cup sugar
1 1/2 cups flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice
1/2 tsp salt
3/4 cup vegetable oil
1 (15 -ounce) can of pumpkin
2 large eggs lightly beaten


Step 1: Heat oven to 325. Grease a 9 x 13 inch baking pan and set aside.
Step 2: In a large mixing bowl, combine the first six ingredients. Add the oil, pumpkin, and eggs and whisk until the batter is evenly blended.

Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top.

Step 3: Bake the cake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 30 minutes. Remove the pan and allow it to cool completely on a wire rack, about 1 1/2 hours.

The recipe says this makes 12 squares but they are really big so you can definitely cut them smaller.

You could stop right there and enjoy the squares topped with ice cream or whipped cream, but if you want to increase the deliciousness factor, top them with cider caramel sauce. This recipe is also from Family Fun Magazine. C helped us out with the sauce.

Ingredients:
1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
1 TBSP cornstarch
2/3 cup apple cider
2 TBSP heavy cream
1 TBSP butter
salt to taste

Directions: In a medium size saucepan, whisk together the brown sugar and cornstarch. Add the cider and stir well to dissolve the other ingredients.
Cook over medium-high heat, whisking constantly, until large bubbles form around the perimeter of the pan, about 3 minutes. Reduce the heat to low and allow the sauce to continue to simmeruntil it thickens, about 2 minutes more.

Remove from heat and whisk in heavy cream and butter. Taste, and if necessary, add a pinch of salt.

Make these now; you will love them!!!!!!!

For more great recipes, visit Raising Itty-Bitty Bookworms and check out Simply Made Sunday.