Brown Sugar Maple Pumpkin Bars (Printable)
Buttery crust layered with spiced pumpkin maple filling and brown sugar streusel topping
# What You'll Need:
→ Crust
01 - 1 cup all-purpose flour
02 - 1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
03 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, cold and cubed
04 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
→ Filling
05 - 1 1/4 cups pumpkin puree
06 - 1/2 cup pure maple syrup
07 - 1/3 cup brown sugar, packed
08 - 2 large eggs
09 - 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
10 - 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
11 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
→ Streusel Topping
12 - 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
13 - 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
14 - 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
15 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
16 - Pinch of salt
# How to Make It:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line an 8x8-inch baking pan with parchment paper.
02 - Combine flour, brown sugar, and salt in a bowl. Cut in cold butter with a pastry blender or fork until mixture becomes crumbly. Press firmly into the bottom of the prepared pan.
03 - Bake crust for 10 minutes until lightly set.
04 - Whisk together pumpkin puree, maple syrup, brown sugar, eggs, pumpkin pie spice, vanilla extract, and salt until completely smooth.
05 - Pour the pumpkin mixture evenly over the pre-baked crust and spread with a spatula.
06 - Mix flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, salt, and melted butter until crumbly texture forms.
07 - Sprinkle streusel mixture evenly over the pumpkin filling. Bake for 30 minutes until center is set and topping is golden brown.
08 - Let bars cool completely in the pan. Lift out using parchment paper and cut into 16 squares.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The maple pumpkin filling tastes like concentrated fall comfort in every single bite
- That brown sugar streusel creates the most incredible crunchy texture against the creamy center
02 -
- These bars need to cool completely before cutting or the filling will not set properly and you will end up with a mess
- The crust should be warm when you add the filling, which helps prevent a soggy bottom
03 -
- Room temperature eggs incorporate more easily into the pumpkin mixture
- Use a scale to measure your pumpkin puree for consistent results every time