Pumpkin Breakfast Bars

I sort of went overboard on the canned pumpkin right before the holidays and still have a bunch in my makeshift pantry, so I thought I’d put it to good use.  With Valentine’s Day approaching and an unpredictable amount of candy on the horizon, I didn’t want to make anything too sweet, so I came up with these breakfast bars.  Sure, they are made with butter and sugar, but these hearty bars are also packed with protein and vitamin A.  Try them with your morning coffee or as an afternoon snack.

2 1/2 cups whole wheat pastry flour*
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp cloves
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1 stick butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup packed brown sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 can pumpkin
1 1/2 cups chopped pecans
1 cup raisins, chopped dates, or dried fruit of your choice

Preheat oven to 350º  Combine flour through nutmeg and set aside.  In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar.  Add eggs, then vanilla, then pumpkin.  Add in flours.  Mix in nuts and raisins.  Smooth batter into a greased 9 x 13 pan and bake for 45 minutes.  Let cool before slicing into bars.

* May substitute white flour

Tags: pumpkin bread recipes, pumpkin breakfast bars, valentine's day