It may be hard to stick to a healthy lifestyle during the holidays, especially when you are faced with pumpkin pie, chocolate cake, cookies, candy, and pecan pie. However, it is possible to stay on track when you plan ahead and substitute a healthy, yet delicious, alternative. Here is a step-by-step recipe to create yummy and healthy pumpkin cream cheese bars for your Thanksgiving dessert.
Ingredients Needed:
- One 8-ounce package of fat free cream cheese (softened)
- One box of angel food cake mix
- One 15-ounce can of pumpkin puree
- ¾ cup of water
- ¾ cup of powdered sugar
- One teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice
- One teaspoon of cinnamon
Instructions:
First, you’ll need to preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Next, mix together the pumpkin puree with the water. Add the entire can of pumpkin puree to a mixing bowl and mix in ¾ cup of water with a hand mixer. Blend them together until they’re completely combined. Next, add the teaspoon of cinnamon with the teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice and the entire box of angel food cake. Once again, mix with a hand mixer until the entire bowl is completely combined.
Next, take the softened cream cheese and place it into a separate bowl. It may be easier to add it in after you’ve separated it into fourths. Add two tablespoons of warm water, two tablespoons of powdered sugar, and blend them with the cream cheese with a hand mixer. Make sure there are no lumps before moving on to the next step.
Grease a baking dish with cooking spray and pour half of the pumpkin mixture into the bottom. Next, pour half of the cream cheese mixture on top of the pumpkin mixture. Take a butter knife or a spatula and draw it through the mixture, as if you were drawing swirls or figure eights. This will create a nice, evenly blended marbled effect on your bars. Once you’re satisfied with your design, pour in the rest of the pumpkin mixture, followed by the cream cheese mixture. Repeat the marbling with a knife or spatula.
Place your baking dish into the oven and set a timer for 30 minutes. If you aren’t sure if yours bars are done, stick a toothpick into the center and see if it comes out clean. If not, put them back in for five minutes. Once your bars have cooked, let them cool away from the heat.
This recipe makes 24 pumpkin cream cheese bars, so cut accordingly. Enjoy!
