Easy Pumpkin Pie Bars

Delicious pumpkin pie flavor and pecans on the top. This recipe is so easy to make. It is the perfect dessert for fall.

Ingredients

1 -15 oz. can pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling)
1 - 12 oz. can evaporated milk
1 1/2 c. sugar or use 3/4 c. brown sugar and 3/4 granulated sugar
2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1/2 to 1 tsp. ginger
1/4 tsp. cloves
3 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
1 box yellow or butter cake mix
1 c. butter, melted
1-1/2 c. pecans or walnuts, chopped

Frosting

 1 - 8 oz. pkg. cream cheese, softened
1-1/2 c. powdered sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
1 - 12 oz. pkg. frozen whipped topping, thawed

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°.  Spray a 13 x 9 baking dish with cooking spray. 

In a large bowl, beat the pumpkin, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves, eggs, and vanilla until thoroughly combined.  Add the milk and blend well. Pour into the prepared pan. 

Sprinkle the cake mix over the top of the pumpkin layer. Drizzle the melted butter over the top of the pumpkin/cake mix layer, but do not mix it in. 

Sprinkle the top with the chopped pecans.

Bake at 350° for 1 hour or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Place the pan on a wire rack to cool. 

Prepare the frosting.

In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese, powdered sugar and vanilla until smooth. Fold in the whipped topping. 

Frost the pumpkin Frost dessert. Store in the refrigerator.

You can omit the frosting and just serve this with a dollop of whipped cream, or with a scoop of ice cream and maybe even a little caramel sauce drizzled over the top!