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Pumpkin bacon bars
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Pumpkin Caramel Bars with Bacon

These Pumpkin Caramel Bars with Bacon are the salty-sweet dessert combination you have been craving. With bacon sprinkled on top and drippings in the pumpkin layer you are in for a treat.
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Keyword Pumpkin Caramel Bars with Bacon
Prep Time 45 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings 16 bars
Calories 390kcal

Ingredients

Bars:

Caramel Frosting:

  • 2 cups packed, light brown sugar
  • 1/3 cup water
  • pinch of table salt
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 4 oz unsalted butter, cubed
  • 4 oz cream cheese, cut into 1" pieces

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Coat a 9 x 13 baking pan with nonstick spray.
  • Cook bacon in a sauté pan over medium heat until crisp; drain on a paper towel lined plate and set aside. Reserve two tablespoons drippings.
  • Whisk together flour, baking soda, cinnamon and table salt for the bars in a medium bowl; set aside. 
  • Whisk together pumpkin puree, granulated sugar, 1/2 cup brown sugar, egg, melted butter, bacon drippings and vanilla in a large bowl until well blended. Stir in flour mixture and pecans.
  • Spread pumpkin batter evenly into prepared pan; bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 20 minutes. Let cool completely before frosting.
  • Boil 2 cups brown sugar, water and a pinch of salt for the frosting in a large saucepan over high heat, 5 minutes, swirling occasionally to prevent scorching. Whisk in cream and butter pieces. (Mixture will bubble furiously; keep whisking.) Boil 2 minutes more.
  • Transfer caramel to the bowl of a stand mixer; whip on high speed until sides of bowl are cool to the touch and caramel is thick, 10-minutes, scraping down sides of bowl as needed. Add cream cheese, 1 cube at a time, until frosting is smooth.

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 390kcal | Carbohydrates: 50.3g | Protein: 4.5g | Fat: 19.5g | Saturated Fat: 9.5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3.5g | Cholesterol: 57mg | Sodium: 303mg | Potassium: 60mg | Fiber: 1.1g | Sugar: 14.2g | Vitamin A: 81.7IU | Vitamin C: 0.8mg | Calcium: 17.3mg | Iron: 1.5mg