Easy Pumpkin Bars with Spiced Whipped Cream Frosting

To continue on our sweet potatoes as a substitute for pumpkin theme, this week – I’m going to share a super easy recipe for pumpkin sweet potato bars.

This recipe is modified from my mom’s famous carrot bars.  They are delicious with cream cheese frosting, but I found I liked them even better with spiced whipped cream dolloped on the top. 

Tasted just like a slice of pumpkin pie!

Easy Pumpkin Bars with Spiced Whipped Cream Frosting

Ingredients

• 1/2 C brown sugar
• 4 T olive oil
• 1/4 C applesauce {unsweetened}
• 1 C sweet potato puree {or pumpkin}
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 1 1/4 C white whole wheat flour
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp. ginger
• 1/8 tsp. nutmeg
• Cream Cheese Frosting, or
• Spiced Whipped Cream

Directions

Mix together the dry ingredients in a large bowl.  This includes 1/2 C brown sugar, 1 1/4 C white whole wheat flour, 1 tsp. baking soda, 1/2 tsp. salt, 1 tsp. cinnamon, 1/4 tsp. ginger, and 1/8 tsp. nutmeg. 

Add in 4 T olive oil, 1/4 C applesauce, 1 egg, 1 C sweet potato puree and 1 tsp. vanilla.

Mix well. 

Pour into a greased 9x13 or 11x7 pan.  If you want thinner bars, go for the 9x13 pan, for bars that are slightly thicker, choose the 11x7 pan. 

Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. 

Allow the bars to cool to room temperature and prepare either the cream cheese frosting or the spiced whipped cream. 

Serve each bar with either frosting of your choosing. 

Enjoy!