Pumpkin Bars!

It has been an incredibly hot summer here on the east coast!  I find myself longing for FALL to get here so I can enjoy cooler weather, jeans and of course "comfort food!"   One thing that always makes it feel like Fall is anything pumpkin!  I had a Pampered Chef party a week ago and decided to make a batch of pumpkin bars-- I think it was my form of a "Fall Dance" to bring on the cooler weather sooner!  This was an easy make-ahead recipe and a party pleaser!!

Here is the recipe!  Enjoy!

Pumpkin "Cheesecake" Bars

Ingredients:

• (1) 16oz package yellow cake mix
• 3 eggs
• 2 Tbsp butter, melted
• 4 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice, divided
• (1) 8oz package cream cheese, softened
• (1) 14oz can Sweetened Condensed Milk
• (1) 15oz can pumpkin
• 1/2 tsp salt

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and lightly grease bottom of 15 x 10 jellyroll pan.  In a large bowl, combine cake mix, 1 egg, (melted) butter and 2 tsp pumpkin pie spice on low speed until crumbly.  Press mixture onto bottom of jellyroll pan.
2. In large mixing bowl, beat (softened) cream cheese on low until fluffy.  Gradually beat in sweetened condensed milk, then remaining two eggs, pumpkin, remaining 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice and salt.  Mix Well.
3. Pour over crust.  (You can add 1 cup of chopped pecans or another kind of nut at this point-I did not).  Bake 30-35 minutes or until set.  Cool.  Chill and cut into bars.  Store in refrigerator.