Best Orange Pumpkin Mousse Squares Recipes

THE BEST PUMPKIN BARS I'VE EVER HAD

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F (177°C) and grease a 10×15 inch baking pan. Or line the pan with parchment paper with enough overhang on the sides to easily lift the bars (as a whole) out.
• Whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and pumpkin pie spice together in a large bowl. Set aside. Whisk the oil, eggs, brown sugar, granulated sugar, maple syrup, pumpkin, and vanilla extract together until combined. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and use a mixer or whisk until completely combined. Batter will be thick.
• Spread batter into the prepared pan. Bake for 28-35 minutes. Baking times vary, so keep an eye on yours. The bars are done when a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. If you find the top or edges of the bars browning too quickly, loosely tent with aluminum foil.
• Remove the bars from the oven and set the pan on a wire rack. Cool bars completely. (After about 45 minutes of cooling, you can place the bars in the refrigerator to speed things up!)
• In a large bowl using a handheld or stand mixer fitted with a paddle or whisk attachment, beat the cream cheese and butter together on high speed until smooth and creamy. Add confectioners' sugar, vanilla, pumpkin pie spice, and salt. Beat on low speed for 30 seconds, then switch to high speed and beat for 2 minutes. If you want the frosting a little thicker, add an extra 1/4 cup of confectioners sugar. Spread the frosting on the cooled bars. To help "set" the frosting, refrigerate for 30 minutes before slicing and serving. This makes cutting easier and less messy.
• Enjoy with or without a fork, but definitely grab a napkin!
• Cover leftover bars tightly and store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. If you skipped the frosting, cover and store plain pumpkin bars at room temperature for up to 3 days or in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

PUMPKIN MOUSSE

Steps:

• In a large bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth; add pumpkin, pudding mix and pie spice. Gradually beat in milk. Fold in whipped topping. , Spoon 1/4 cup mousse into eight serving dishes. Crumble 16 gingersnaps; sprinkle over mousse. Top each with remaining mousse. Refrigerate until serving. Top with whipped cream and additional crushed gingersnaps just before serving.

ORANGE-SPICE PUMPKIN BARS WITH BROWNED BUTTER FROSTING

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Grease bottom and sides of 15x10x1-inch pan with shortening; lightly flour (or spray with baking spray with flour).
• In large bowl, beat bar ingredients with electric mixer on low speed, scraping bowl occasionally, until moistened. Beat on medium speed 2 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally. Spread batter evenly in pan.
• Bake 23 to 27 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool completely, about 1 hour.
• In 2-quart saucepan, heat butter over medium heat, stirring constantly, until light golden brown. Remove from heat. Stir in powdered sugar, vanilla and enough milk until smooth and spreadable. Immediately spread frosting over cooled bars. Refrigerate about 15 minutes or until set. For bars, cut into 8 rows by 6 rows. If desired, garnish each bar with orange peel strip.

THE BEST PUMPKIN SQUARES

Steps:

• Mix all of the Pumpkin Square ingredients together.
• Place in a (greased) jelly roll pan and bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes.
• For the frosting, mix all the ingredients together, adding the powdered sugar one cup at a time.
• Wait for the pumpkin squares to cool before topping with the frosting.