Pumpkin Squares

I just thought I would let you all know that I tried making the Pumpkin Squares that is in the October 2009 Family Fun Magazine. They turned out really good! I wanted to make the cider caramel sauce, but I didn't have all the ingredients, so I just frosted it with canned frosting. I used my own fresh pureed pumpkin to make it.

If you like pumpkin stuff you should try this recipe!

-Amy

For the Pumpkin squares:

1 Cup sugar

1 1/2 Cups flour

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon salt

3/4 Cup vegetable oil

1 (15 oz) can of pumpkin or 2 cups fresh pureed pumpkin

2 large eggs, lightly beaten

Ice cream for serving (optional)

For the cider caramel sauce:

1/2 Cup brown sugar, packed

1 Tablespoon cornstarch

2/3 Cup apple cider

2 Tablespoons heavy cream

1 Tablespoon butter

salt to taste

1. Heat oven to 325*. Grease a 9x13 inch baking pan and set it aside.

2. In a large mixing bowl, combine the first 6 ingredients for the squares. Add the oil, pumpkin, and eggs, and whisk until the batter is evenly blended. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top.

3. Bake the cake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 30 min. Remove the pan and allow it to cool completely on a wire rack, about 1 1/2 hours.

4. Just before serving the cake squares, make the cider caramel sauce. In a medium size saucepan, whisk together the brown sugar and corn starch. Add the cider and stir well to dissolve the other ingredients. Cook the mixture over medium high heat, whisking constantly, until large bubbles form around the perimeter of the pan, about 3 minutes. Reduce the heat to low and allow the sauce to continue to simmer until it thickens, about 2 minutes more.

5. Remove the sauce from the heat and whick in the cream and the butter. Let the sauce cool slightly, then taste it and add a pinch of salt, if necessary.

6. To serve the dessert, cut the baked cake into 3 inch squares and top each with a scoop of icecream, if you like, and a drizzle of warm cider cramel sauce. Makes 12 squares and about a cup of sauce.