Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars

This is a fall staple at our house. Makes the house smell heavenly, and they taste better than they smell. This recipe can be doubled easily and baked in a 9 x 13 pan.

• Ready In: 1 hr 15 mins
• Serves: 32
• Yields: 32 1x2inch bars

Ingredients

• 1  cup all-purpose flour
• 1⁄2 cup light brown sugar, packed
• 5  tablespoons butter, softened
• 1⁄2 cup  finely chopped pecans or 1⁄2 cup walnuts
• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 3⁄4 cup white sugar
• 1⁄2 cup solid pack pumpkin
• 2  large eggs, lightly beaten
• 1 1⁄2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1  teaspoon ground allspice
• 1  teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

1. Combine flour and brown sugar in medium bowl.
2. Cut in butter to make a crumb mixture.
3. Stir in nuts.
4. Set aside 3/4 cup crumb mixture for topping.
5. Press remaining mixture into bottom of 8 x 8 baking pan.
6. Bake in preheated 350° oven for 15 minutes.
7. Cool slightly.
8. Combine cream cheese, sugar, pumpkin, eggs, spices and vanilla in large mixing bowl.
9. Blend until smooth.
10. Pour over baked crust.
11. Sprinkle with reserved topping.
12. Bake an additional 30-35 minutes.
13. Cool before cutting into bars.