Pumpkin Pie Bars

A cookie crust with all the goodness of pumpkin pie piled on top!  What's not to love? I made these for an after school snack for my pumpkin lovers and they demolished the batch!  

Cookie Crust:

3 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 cup oatmeal
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
2 cups packed brown sugar
1 cup butter, at room temperature
2 eggs, at room temperature
2 tsp. vanilla extract

Pumpkin Pie Filling

8 oz. cream cheese, softened
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3 large eggs
1 (15 oz.) can pumpkin puree
1 1/2 Tbs. pumpkin pie spice
1 tsp. vanilla extract


Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Line a 13x9-inch baking pan with parchment paper or foil, extending the foil over the edges of the pan. Stir together flour, baking powder, oatmeal, cinnamon, and salt and set aside. In a large bowl, beat together butter, sugar, eggs, and vanilla until smooth.
Beat in the flour mixture until well blended. Spread evenly in prepared pan. (I used my fingers to  press into the pan and slightly up the sides).

In a large bowl, combine the cream cheese, sugar, eggs, pumpkin puree, pumpkin pie spice, and vanilla. Mix on medium speed until smooth. Pour the filling into the pan and smooth over the crust. Bake for 35 minutes or until the center is set.  Remove from the oven and cool.