Fall Pumpkin and Nut Squares
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Difficulty:
easy
Difficulty
Preparation:
15 min.
Preparation
ready in 1 hr
Ready in
Ingredients
for
24
- Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter (at room temperature)
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 2 cups flour
- ⅛ tsp kosher salt
- 1 cup cream cheese (at room temperature)
- 1 cup light brown sugar
- 2 cups Pumpkin puree
- 2 eggs
- 1 ½ cups Evaporated milk
- 2 Tbsps pure Maple syrup
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp ground ginger
- ¼ tsp kosher salt
- ground cloves
- ¾ cup Macadamia Nuts (whole)
Preparation steps
1.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. For the crust, cream the butter and sugar until light in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Combine the flour and salt and, with the mixer on low, add to the butter until just mixed.
2.
Dump the dough onto a well-floured board and gather into a ball. Flatten the dough with floured hands and press it into a 9 by 13 by 2-inch baking sheet, building up a 1/2-inch edge on all sides. Chill.
3.
Bake the crust for 15 to 20 minutes, until very lightly browned. Let cool on a wire rack. Leave the oven on.
4.
For the filling, while crust is baking, prepare the pumpkin filling. Beat together the cream cheese and the brown sugar on medium speed until smooth and creamy, scraping the sides of the bowl as needed, about 3 minutes. Add the pumpkin and mix on low speed until completely incorporated. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well until fully incorporated and scraping down the sides of the bowl between each addition. Add the evaporated milk, maple syrup and vanilla, and beat until well combined, about 1 minute. Add the cinnamon, ginger, salt, and cloves and mix on low to incorporate.
5.
Pour the filling over the prepared crust and then gently scatter macadamia nuts on top and tap the pan on the counter to remove any air bubbles. Bake until the filling is set in the center, about 30 to 35 minutes. Remove from oven and set on a wire rack to cool. Once the bars have cooled to room temperature, you can cut and serve them, or you can refrigerate them and serve them chilled.
