Happy Halloween!

Boo! When my aunt told me that she was having a Halloween party for my 9 year-old cousin Adam and his friends I knew I had to be involved. So I volunteered to help her execute the party, and also to bring a treat. I wanted to bake something cute and festive, so when I spotted these pumpkin bars from Taste of Home I knew I had to make them. For all the pumpkin treats I've baked in the last few years, I've never made any that called for pumpkin pie filling as these did. The moist filling makes these sweet and very tender. I followed the recipe exactly, except I just used decorating gel for the faces instead of melted chocolate as the recipe suggests. I also left out the nuts because I was worried that some of the kids might have allergies.

I can't get over how adorable these are! I can't wait to share them with the kiddies at the party tonight! Happy Halloween!

Halloween Pumpkin Bars

1-1/2 cups pumpkin pie filling
2 cups sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
4 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup chopped pecans (I omitted)
1 can (16 ounces) cream cheese frosting
Yellow and red food coloring
Candy corn
Decorating gel

In a large mixing bowl, beat the pumpkin, sugar, oil, eggs and vanilla. Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt; gradually add to pumpkin mixture and mix well. Stir in pecans. Pour into a greased 15-in. x 10-in. x 1-in. baking pan. Bake at 350° for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack.

Tint frosting orange with yellow and red food coloring. Frost bars; cut into 35 squares. For eyes, place two pieces of candy corn on each bar. Decorate faces as desired with gel.