A Pumpkin Journey: One Bite at a Time

In the mood for an easy, delicious cake that can be eaten for breakfast, a snack or dessert?? And that is full of the flavors of fall?? And is almost healthy? Good. Me too. Fortunately, I have the best resource at my very fingertips thanks to the recipe that is Almost Healthy Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Squares (or in my case, a bundt) courtesy of my lovely sister and in-house pastry chef, Ellen. Not to be ignored, I've decided that her twin and my other sister, Lexi, should be in on the taste-testing as well. After all, two opinions are better than one! I'd bet however, on this one, that our opinions will be the same. I defy folks to make it and eat just one portion. It's impossible!! From the airy-light, yet somehow dense texture of the cake, with gooey chocolate chips in every bite, to the subtle flavors of cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger, it's a winner on all counts. I topped mine with a bit of powdered sugar but it needs no accompaniment. Normally, I'm all about the ice cream and whipped cream toppings on all things baked, but this needs nothing. Warm and gooey, sweet and savory, I cannot stop the fork! It gets better with each bite and would be a sure fire crowd pleaser for your next holiday meal. It's like a chocolate chip pancake meets pumpkin pie, perfect for the coming months when it will (eventually) cool off. So without further adieu, here it is the BEST EVER Almost Healthy Chocolate Chip Squares recipe (doubled, and baked in a bundt, in my case!).

1 cup flour
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ginger
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
2 large eggs
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1 cup pumpkin puree
1/4 cup milk
1/4 cup oil
1/2 cup chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350° then mix all ingredients (except chocolate chips) with hand mixer until smooth, folding the chocolate chips in at the end. Grease an 8X8 pan (or bundt if doubling..) and pour batter in and pop in oven. Bake 20-25 minutes (about 45 if doubled..) and pull out of oven once cake is done. It will double in size and when pricked with knife will be gooey and moist. You don't want to overcook this bad boy!!

Helping hands...

                                            Almost there...you wanted cracked and craggy...

                                                    Pumpkin perfection in every bite!!!

Adapted from http://www.handletheheat.com/2012/09/almost-healthy-pumpkin-chocolate-chip-squares.html