Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bars

It's been nothing but fall victuals in the kitchen as of late--butternut squash, kale, sage and pumpkin.  I always keep canned pumpkin on hand to thicken soups and of course for baking.  Yesterday was the initiation of the oven on my new Maytag Electric Range that I am testing out as a Maytag Kitchen Moms Ambassador, so I decided that some pumpkin chocolate chip bars were in our future.

I found the recipe via some Martha Stewart publication years ago and thought I'd revisit it.  As per Martha, it calls for 2 sticks of butter, but I'd like to avoid all that cholesterol so I used coconut oil in place of it.  The results were no different, at least from my memory of the bars I made last year.  And the coconut oil added a subtle taste of coconut flavor to the bars, which was delightful.

PUMPKIN CHOCOLATE CHIP BARS 
(adapted from Everyday Food)

Ingredients
1 cup unbleached, all purpose flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
3/4 teaspoon ginger
1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon allspice
1/8 teaspoon cloves
1 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1 cup coconut oil (or 2 sticks of butter, your choice)
1 1/4 cup sugar
1 egg
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup canned pumpkin
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Spray and flour a 9x13" baking dish.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients (spices, flours, baking soda, salt).  In another larger bowl, beat the sugar and coconut oil or butter, with a mixer, then add the egg and vanilla and beat until fully combined.  Add the pumpkin, and beat on low until combined.

Add the dry ingredients 1/2 cup at a time, beating on low, then fold in the chocolate chips.

Spread it onto your pan, making sure it is pushed into the corners with the spatula.

Bake for 35-40 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean in the center (crumbs but not wet).

Allow to cool for about 10 minutes before cutting into bars.  Enjoy with coffee, hot cider or a glass of milk.

As for my first time using the Maytag range, it was great!  No worries about burnt bars, and the full door window allowed me to keep a close watch on my baking without having to open the door and let out any hot air.  More official updates on the appliances will be coming over the next few weeks.  Happy baking!
Disclosure: I wrote this post participating in an Maytag Moms Dependable Kitchen Ambassador program by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Maytag. I was provided with a Maytag kitchen appliances set, including a refrigerator, microwave, dishwasher, and range to facilitate my post.