You must choose outfits very wisely when dealing with someone like Thanksgiving.
Believe you me, over the past few years I have learned the proper attire to wear on Thanksgiving.
I used to wear jeans. Can we just say worst decision ever? Not only do you have to completely suck it in after dinnertime comes, but jeans have to be the most uncomfortable post-Thanksgiving clothing in the world.
Then I went to dresses — cute, simple, and you can basically eat to your heart’s content without hoping and praying to God that a button doesn’t snap off your pants. The only bad thing about dresses is that you have to be quite a lady while wearing them. There’s no plopping yourself down on the couch with your legs over the side so you and your overly stuffed cousins can lie perfectly still and complain about how much you ate or how bad your stomach hurts. You do that in a dress after the age of five and people start to talk.
I finally discovered the best holiday attire in the world.
Leggings.
Leggings are the perfect go between pants and dresses. They’re kind of like pants so you don’t have to be quite as careful when you lay down for your nap in between dinner and dessert, but they’re cute enough to wear with a dress. Win. Win.
And to be perfectly honest with you (and when am I not?), Thanksgiving doesn’t stop after dinner. No, siree. Thanksgiving ends after dessert.. and coffee.. and maybe some whipped cream sprayed straight in your mouth. What? Does my family only do that? Because let’s face it — no matter how full you may say you are, when your hostess with the mostess announces that “dessert is out!”, everyone may not come running (it’s hard with that extra Thanksgiving meal weighing you down), but everyone comes. Immediately.
These pumpkin bars are basically the best thing since I have ever tried the William Sonoma Pumpkin Bar recipe my aunt usually makes for the holidays. Sadly I have not had a pumpkin bar since going gluten free — well, as of yesterday. As of today, I have had 3 pumpkin bars since going gluten free.
Someone. take. these. away. from. me!!!!!!!!!!! (x 1 million)
Gooey Pumpkin Squares
Makes: 12 squares
Difficulty: Easy
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Ready in: 55 minutes
- 2 cups gluten free flour
- 1/2 cup evaporated cane juice (or any kind of sugar will do!)
- 1/2 tsp. baking soda
- 1 tsp. vanilla
- 1/2 cup unsweetened apple sauce
- 3/4 cup pumpkin butter (I used Trader Joe’s)
- 3 flax eggs, divided
- 1/2 tbsp. flour
- 2 tbsp. evaporated cane juice
- 2 tbsp. earth balance, softened
- 2 tbsp. almond milk
- 1 tsp. cinnamon
Directions: Combine 2 cups gluten free flour, 1/2 cup evaporated cane juice, and 1/2 tsp. baking soda in a large mixing bowl. Whisk until the ingredients are combined and reserve 1 cup of the flour mix in a separate mixing bowl. In two small bowls, make your flax eggs (one in one bowl, two in the other). For the one flax egg, mix 1 tbsp. flax with 3 tbsp. water and set aside. For the two flax eggs, mix 2 tbsp. flax with 6 tbsp. water and set aside. Mix the remaining flour mix with 1/2 cup unsweetened apple sauce, 1 tsp. vanilla, and 1 flax egg. Grease an 8×8 baking dish and pour the batter into the dish, spreading evenly.
In another small bowl, mix the 3/4 cup pumpkin butter, 2 remaining flax eggs, and 2 tbsp. almond milk. Whisk until smooth, and pour over the batter in the baking dish.
Mix the remaining 1 cup flour mix with 2 tbsp. evaporated cane juice, 2 tbsp. softened Earth Balance, and 1 tsp. cinnamon. Use your hands to “cut” the Earth Balance into the flour until it is crumbly. Spread over the top of the pumpkin butter layer.
Bake in a 350 degree Fahrenheit oven for 40-50 minutes, or until golden brown.
Word of the wise — wait for these to cool because you want to be able to enjoy leftovers on Friday. Or, in my case, you want to be able to actually enjoy Thanksgiving dinner since you burned your mouth on these yesterday.
I think you understand the need for the leggings now.
Go make these you procrastinating bakers, you!
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