Frosted Pumpkin Bars

Sometimes publishing companies email me and ask if I would like to review a cookbook. Most of the time I say YES because I love cookbooks. I have a bookshelf full of them and I have many more picked out in my Amazon shopping cart. Someday I would like to write a cookbook of my own, too.



Sometimes I turn down an offer because it might be a topic that I'm not interested in blogging about. BUT, when a publisher asked if I'd like to review Robin L. Olson's "The Cookie Party Cookbook" I accepted the offer. Books about cookies are my favorite kinds of books. Except for these.



This cookbook is called "The Ultimate Guide to Hosting a Cookie Exchange", and with 331 pages, it really is. There's more information about cookie exchanges in here than I'll ever need. I feel good that I own this guide though, in case I ever have to plan a massive cookie exchange.

I don't think I have enough friends to hold a cookie exchange. Awwww.
*Tears falling*



I'm not much of an organizer of events like cookie exchanges; I leave that for other people to do and then I just come to the event, stress free! However, I feel like maybe this is the right time in my life to hold a cookie exchange. What if local readers (all three of you guys! Thanks for the support!!) and I held a cookie exchange somewhere in Springfield... like in December? Wouldn't that be fun?! But it also could be super awkward for everyone. Heh heh heh. Maybe we could meet at a bar and get a few drinks in us so it wouldn't be awkward.

Cookie exchange at a bar what?



Back to the cookbook. With 176 recipes, it's packed with just about every cookie you could want, including classic cookies, international cookies, bars, tartlets, turtles and easy treats. The book also informs how to host a cookie exchange, creative invitation ideas, themes for parties, and ideas for prizes and parting gifts. Here's a link to the author's website if you would like more information about her or cookie exchanges.



I chose a simple recipe that I knew everyone would like: Frosted Pumpkin Bars.
This recipe was quick to make and very easy. You make a spiced pumpkin cake batter and spread it into a jelly roll pan and bake for twenty minutes. After cooling, you frost the pumpkin cake with cream cheese icing and slice into bars.

Then, drive to your sister and boyfriends' place of employment and give the bars to their coworkers.


Frosted Pumpkin Bars (Adapted from The Cookie Party Cookbook by Robin L. Olson)
Printable Recipe

2 1/4 cups all purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1 (16 oz) can pumpkin puree
4 large eggs
1/2 cup finely chopped walnuts, toasted

Frosting
4 ounces cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
2 2/3 cups confectioners' sugar
1 tablespoon milk or cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Coat a 15x10x1 jelly roll pan with cooking spray.

In a medium mixing bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, pumpkin pie spice and cinnamon. In a large mixing bowl, using a mixer on medium speed, beat together butter, granulated sugar and pumpkin until creamy - about 2 minutes. Beat in eggs until well combined - about 2-3 minutes. Reduce mixer speed to low and gradually beat in flour mixture until just combined. Beat in walnuts until just combined.

Scrape and smooth batter into prepared pan. Bake 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into cake comes out with moist crumbs attached. Cool completely on a wire rack.

To make the frosting, beat cream cheese in a large mixing bowl using a mixer on medium speed until creamy. Beat in butter until creamy. Beat in confectioners' sugar, cream and vanilla until well combined and smooth - about 2-3 minutes. Spread frosting over cake, sprinkle with extra cinnamon if desired, and slice into bars.

Makes 4 dozen bars