Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bars

You guys! I wanted something autumny for dessert tonight, so made these pumpkin chocolate chip bars and they were so good! Fluffy, pumpkiny goodness, you should make them right now! I found the recipe inspiration here, but I modified it a bit. The main thing I changed was cutting the butter back from one cup to a half to make the recipe a smidge healthier. For the other half cup, I used unsweetened applesauce. I was really pleased with these, and so were the husband and baby. Becks LOVED them and kept following me around the kitchen in his walker smacking his lips asking for more.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bars
Yield: About 24 bars (one 13 x 9 inch pan full)

2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons cinnamon
3/4 teaspoon ginger
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon allspice
1/4 teaspoon cloves
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter, room temperature
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
1 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup pumpkin puree
3/4 cup chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line a 13 x 9 inch pan with parchment paper. Sift together flour, baking soda, salt and spices. Beat together butter, applesauce and sugars. Beat in egg, vanilla and pumpkin puree until well mixed, scraping down sides of bowl as needed. Add half of the flour mixture at a time, mixing until well combined. Stir in chocolate chips. Spread mixture into prepared pan and bake 30-35 minutes, or until it looks set and a toothpick comes out clean. Let cool in pan for at at least 15 minutes before removing. Hope you enjoy!