Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- In a medium bowl, combine the graham cracker crumbs, sugar, and melted butter. Mix well until evenly moistened.
- Press the mixture firmly into the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking pan. You can use the bottom of a measuring cup to help create an even layer.
- Bake the crust for 8-10 minutes, or until lightly golden brown. Let cool slightly while you prepare the filling.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the pumpkin puree, sweetened condensed milk, eggs, pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, salt, and vanilla extract until smooth and well combined.
- Pour the pumpkin filling evenly over the pre-baked graham cracker crust.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the filling is set around the edges but still has a slight jiggle in the center. Don't overbake, as the filling will continue to set as it cools.
- Remove from the oven and let cool completely in the pan on a wire rack.
- Once cooled, cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours before cutting into bars. This will allow the filling to fully set and make them easier to slice.
- Cut the cooled Pumpkin Pie Bars into squares or rectangles.
- Serve chilled and garnish with your favorite toppings, such as whipped cream, caramel sauce, or chopped nuts.
Notes
Make sure to use 100% pure pumpkin puree, not pumpkin pie filling. Don't overbake the bars; the filling should still have a slight jiggle in the center. Let the bars cool completely at room temperature and then chill them in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours for the filling to set properly. Feel free to adjust the spices to your liking. You can bake the bars up to 2 days in advance and store them in the refrigerator. Store, covered tightly with plastic wrap or in an airtight container. They will keep in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Consider adding chocolate chips, pecan streusel topping, maple glaze or cream cheese swirl for variations.
