Pumpkin Bars

I love love love to cook; the kitchen is definitely one place in this world where I am in my element.
In honor of fall, my favorite October treat: Pumpkin Bars.  I made these a few years ago, and staring at the recipe it became obvious that they were lacking something.  The addition of semi-sweet chocolate chips is my doing, and it brings 'yummy' to 'simply amazing'.  Don't turn up your nose until you try it!  

 These are super easy to make, a huge hit at parties, and extremely addictive.  Most ingredients are pantry staples, with the exception of the canned pumpkin and chocolate chips.

I recommend using high-quality name brand pumpkin and chocolate for these!

PUMPKIN BARS 

2 cups all-purpose flour (I always use unbleached)

1 1/2 cups sugar

2 tsp baking powder

2 tsp ground cinnamon

1 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 tsp ground cloves

4 beaten eggs

1 15-ounce can of pumpkin (get a high-quality brand, make sure it's pure pumpkin and NOT pumpkin pie mix! ! ! !)

1 cup cooking oil (you can substitute plain applesauce for a low-fat version)

and the secret ingredient:

1 package of semi-sweet Girhadelli chocolate chips

**Note:  you can substitute 2 1/4 tsp pumpkin pie spice for the cinnamon and cloves if you wish.

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Preheat oven to 350.  If you used applesauce instead of oil, grease your pan.  If you used oil, do not grease the pan. I use a 11 x 15 glass pan (large cake/baking pan).  You can probably use a slightly smaller one if you don't have a large one.

In a large bowl stir together the flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, baking soda, salt, and cloves.  Stir in the beaten eggs, pumpkin, and oil/applesauce until combined.

Fold in the chocolate chips :)

Spread into your baking pan, and bake for 25-30 minutes or until a wooden toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

Enjoy!