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Dessert Recipe under 300 Calories: Pumpkin Bars Recipe

October 13th, 2007 · No Comments · Print This Post Print This Post

Libby's PumpkinThere’s no question, pumpkin is the focus of much attention between Halloween and Thanksgiving.

Here’s a Pumpkin Bar recipe that I’ve been making for years. It is one of many recipes that was passed around among the Post Office ladies and other accomplished cooks and bakers in my rural Minnesota hometown.

This is a rich, delicious bar where the calorie count could be reduced, if desired, by eliminating some of the extras, like the chopped pecans, chopped raisins, and/or the icing.

Pumpkin Bar Recipe

Ingredients Calories
2 c. all-purpose flour 912
1 c. granulated sugar 768
1 egg 78
1 c. Libby’s Solid Pack pumpkin 80
1 c. vegetable shortening 1760
1/2 c. chopped pecans 412
1 c. chopped raisins 496
1 tsp. baking powder 2
1 tsp. baking soda 0
1 tsp. ground cinnamon 6
1/2 tsp. salt 0
1 tsp. vanilla extract 12
Total calories for ingredients: 4526
Calories per serving when cut into 15 servings: 302
Calories per serving when cut into 20 servings: 226

Directions

Preheat oven to 350ºF.

Sift dry ingredients together.

Cream shortening and sugar. Add pumpkin and egg. Gradually add dry ingredients blending well after each addition.

Stir in raisins, pecans, and vanilla.

Immediately spread into a greased 9" x 13" pan and bake for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the bars comes out clean.

Remember, any time you use baking soda you should get product into the oven as quickly as possible since the liquid in the batter activates the baking soda. Frost when cool.

Pumpkin Bar Frosting Recipe

Ingredients Calories
3 Tbsp. real butter 300
1/4 c. skim milk 23
1/2 c. brown sugar 408
1 c. sifted powdered sugar 496
3/4 tsp. vanilla 9
Total calories for ingredients: 1236
Calories per serving when bars cut into 15 servings: 82
Calories per serving when bars cut into 20 servings: 62

 

These bars, cut into 15 portions, are a generous size and could be used as a nice dessert to complete a meal.

These 15 portion bars are 301 calories each. If cut into 20 portions, each bar is 288 calories and are a nice size for party nibbling and snacking.

To enhance the flavor of nuts, spread on a baking sheet and toast for about ten minutes; make sure you watch carefully to avoid burning them. In this recipe you can use walnuts instead of pecans and can use chopped dates (488 calories per cup) instead of raisins.

Tags: Sumptuous Desserts under 400 Calories · Dessert Recipes · Recipes

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