PUMPKIN CHOCOLATE WHOOPIE PIES and CARROT PUMPKIN BARS WITH ORANGE ICING and CHOCOLATE CHIP PUMPKIN BREAD and PUMPKIN PUDDINGS

I love all things pumpkin, and love the convenience of opening a can and scooping out the ready to use puree, as opposed to peeling, dicing, cooking and mashing to attain the same result.
I am loathe to waste any of this fabulous fruit once I delve into a can, and these three sweet, delightful recipes originated from the siren song of the open can in my refrigerator.

PUMPKIN CHOCOLATE WHOOPIE PIES

2 cups flour
2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
3/4 cup pumpkin puree
1 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup unsalted butter, melted, plus 1/4 cup, room temperature
3/4 cup cream
2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder, plus extra for dusting
1 3/4 cups confectioners' sugar

Heat oven to 350F.
In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, pumpkin pie spice, baking powder and salt. In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, pumpkin puree, brown sugar, melted butter, and 1/4 cup cream. Add flour mixture to egg mixture and whisk just until combined.
Drop dough in 2 tablespoon mounds, 1 inch apart, onto two parchment lined baking sheets. Bake until the tops of the cookies spring back when gently pressed, about 14 minutes.
Transfer to wire racks and let cool completely.
In a medium bowl, using an electric mixer, beat room temperature butter, 1/2 cup cream, cocoa powder and confectioners sugar on medium-high until fluffy, 2 minutes.
Spread filling on flat side of half the cookies, sandwich with remaining cookies.
To serve, dust with cocoa powder.
Enjoy!

CARROT PUMPKIN BARS WITH ORANGE ICING

2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon finely shredded orange peel
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 eggs, beaten
1 1/2 cups brown sugar
1 cup canned pumpkin
2/3 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup shredded carrots
1 cup chopped walnuts
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1 tablespoon orange juice, plus extra as needed

Heat oven to 350F. Grease a 15 by 10 inch baking pan, set aside.
In a large mixing bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, orange peel, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
In a medium bowl, combine eggs and brown sugar. Stir in the pumpkin, oil, milk, and vanilla. Stir in carrots and walnuts. Add pumpkin mixture to flour mixture, stirring with a wooden spoon until combined. Spread batter in prepared pan.
Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until toothpick inserted near center comes out clean. Cool in pan on wire rack.
For orange icing: In a mixing bowl, combine powdered sugar and orange juice. Add extra orange juice as needed, to make icing of drizzling consistency.
Drizzle icing over the top of the bars.
Enjoy!

CHOCOLATE CHIP PUMPKIN BREAD

2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 cup sugar
6 tablespoons butter, softened
2 eggs
1/4 cup water
1/2 can pumpkin
1 cup plus 1/4 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips
1 teaspoon raw sugar

Heat oven to 350F. Grease a loaf pan.
In a medium bowl, stir flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg until mixed, set aside. In a large bowl, beat 1 cup of sugar and the butter with an electric mixer on medium speed 1 to 2 minutes or until creamy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well. Beat in water and pumpkin on low speed. Add flour mixture, beat on low speed until moistened. Stir in 1 cup of the chocolate chips. Pour into the prepared pan. Sprinkle the top with remaining 1/4 cup of chocolate chips, and the sugar.
Bake for 1 hour and 5 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool in the pan for 10 minutes, remove to cooling rack.
Enjoy!

Recipe adapted from Betty Crocker, Fall Baking, October 2009
www.bettycrocker.com/recipes‎