Pumpkin Pie Bars Bat Crust (Print View)

Spiced pumpkin and chocolate bat crust make festive bars perfect for autumn parties and Halloween celebrations.

# Components:

→ Bat Cookie Crust

01 - 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
03 - 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
04 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
05 - 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
06 - 1 cup granulated sugar
07 - 1 large egg
08 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

→ Pumpkin Pie Filling

09 - 1 cup canned pumpkin purée
10 - 2/3 cup evaporated milk
11 - 2 large eggs
12 - 2/3 cup packed light brown sugar
13 - 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
14 - 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
15 - 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
16 - 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
17 - 1/4 teaspoon salt

→ Optional Garnish

18 - Powdered sugar, for dusting

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 9x13-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang for easy removal.
02 - In a medium bowl, whisk together all-purpose flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt.
03 - In a large bowl, cream softened butter and granulated sugar with an electric mixer or whisk until light and fluffy. Beat in egg and vanilla extract until fully incorporated.
04 - Gradually add the dry ingredients into the wet mixture, mixing until a smooth dough forms.
05 - Reserve one third of the dough. Press the remaining dough evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan to create the crust.
06 - Roll out the reserved dough to 1/4-inch thickness. Use a bat-shaped cookie cutter to cut out bat shapes. Set the bat cookies aside.
07 - In a clean bowl, whisk together pumpkin purée, evaporated milk, eggs, packed light brown sugar, ground cinnamon, ground ginger, ground nutmeg, ground cloves, and salt until the mixture is smooth.
08 - Pour the pumpkin filling evenly over the crust. Arrange the bat-shaped cookies on the surface of the filling.
09 - Bake in preheated oven for 40 to 45 minutes, until the center is just set and a toothpick inserted comes out mostly clean.
10 - Cool completely in the pan on a wire rack. Lift bars from the pan using the parchment overhang. Cut into bars and dust with powdered sugar if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Uses familiar pantry ingredients for both crust and filling
  • Perfect for making ahead and sharing at parties
  • Chocolate cookie crust balances the warmly spiced pumpkin perfectly
  • Creative touches like the bat shapes make these fun for kids and adults
02 -
  • High in fiber and vitamin A from the pumpkin
  • Keeps well at room temperature for hours perfect for potlucks
  • You can freeze leftovers easily for up to three months
  • Chocolate cookie crust is always a hit especially with the bat shapes my mom once joined the kids assembly line and decorated a whole tray with extra bats we laughed about her "bat brigade" for weeks
03 -
  • Do not overbake Watch for barely set custard in the center for creamy bars
  • Roll bat cutter dough on lightly floured parchment to prevent sticking and keep shapes crisp
  • Let bars cool fully before lifting from pan for clean cuts and perfect presentation
  • Use fresh spices for bold flavor Old spices lose potency and complexity

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