31 Days of Savoring: Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bars

Savoring Pumpkin Bars

Tis the season for pumpkin!  And I love pumpkin.  This is my favorite time of year with the warm flavors of vanilla and pumpkin wafting through the air.  There's just something fun and whimsical about jack 'o' lanterns lined up on a porch.  Or the joy of walking through a pumpkin patch with childlike wonder.  I love it!

So when I turn to dessert recipes this time of year, my kitchen is filled with the smell of pumpkin.  We've already made two different pumpkin recipes this week and I'm sure there's more to come.  A few weeks ago, I came across this Pumpkin Blondies recipe and immediately bookmarked it.  Pumpkin and Chocolate may sound like an odd combination, but once you try it, you'll be hooked.  Much like we've been hooked on these Pumpkin Cheesecake Brownies.  I played with the recipe a little bit.  Swapped the butter for applesauce, cut out some sugar, and came up with a yummy, somewhat healthy Blondies.  These would be perfect carving pumpkins.  Enjoy!

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bars
Adapted from My Baking Addiction

1 1/3 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup white flour
1 Tbsp pumpkin pie spice
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp baking soda
dash of salt
1 cup applesauce
1 to 1 1/4 c. sugar
1 egg
2 tsp vanilla
1 (15 oz) can of pure pumpkin puree
1 cup chocolate chips

1. Preheat oven to 350.  Grease a 9 x 13 pan with nonstick spray.

2. Mix together all wet ingredients except pumpkin.  Slowly add dry ingredients except chocolate chips.  Mix in pumpkin until well incorporated.  Fold in chocolate chips (approx 1/2 bag).

3. Spread mixture evenly in pan.  Bake until edges are browned and pull away from pan.  Check middle to make sure it's done.  Will bake approx 35-40 minutes.  Cool in pan.  Will yield 24 bars.