I’m honored to be a part of the 2013 Kraft Tastemaker Community, where I am teaming up with Kraft Foods to bring you family friendly recipes using common ingredients found in your pantry!
I can’t hold myself back… it’s well into September now, which I think is quite the safe time to go full throttle pumpkin. Goodbye white pants and shoes, hello pumpkin!
I love summer, there’s no doubt about that, but I love fall just as much. Our family always takes a trip out to the apple orchard and pumpkin patch for a full day of fall activities. It is one of my most favorite days each year! Plus, as a photographer, I can’t help but love the photo opportunities at the pumpkin patch. The light is always the most wonderful, golden hue and the natural props all around are just too hard to pass up. By the time the sun sets, my kids are pictured out but my heart is always full and happy!
So let’s talk pumpkin treats, shall we? There are so many great pumpkin recipes out there… it is such a versatile ingredient with so many uses! I decided to take one of my favorite foods (brownies) and add two secret ingredients to them. Pumpkin puree and JELL-O Pumpkin Spice Flavor Instant Pudding. Once I made the brownies I topped them with a rich and creamy Cool Whip Whipped Topping frosting!
Why am I calling these “magic” bars? Well I’ve talked before about how JELL-O Instant Pudding is my secret ingredient in so many recipes (sweet bread dough, oatmeal, milkshakes, cookies, etc). When added to these brownies and the frosting, the result is nothing short of magical! Plus, if you want to add a different flavor dimension other than pumpkin spice (I gasp at the thought) it’s so versatile! Just swap out flavors of JELL-O instant pudding and you have a completely different tasting dessert!
If you are ready to say hello to fall, like I am, you’ll find this recipe to be the perfect thing to get you in the pumpkin mood. Enjoy!
Pumpkin Magic Brownie Bars with Pumpkin Magic Frosting
Ingredients
For the brownies:
- 1 pkg. 19 to 21 oz. brownie mix (13x9-inch pan size)
- 1/4 cup water
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup pumpkin puree
- 1 pkg. 3.4 oz JELL-O Pumpkin Spice Flavor Instant Pudding
For the Frosting:
- 1 tub 8 oz COOL WHIP Whipped Topping, thawed
- 1 pkg. 3.4 oz JELL-O Pumpkin Spice Flavor Instant Pudding
- 1 cup powdered sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350° F. Grease or spray a 9x13" pan.
- In a medium bowl, combine brownie mix, water, eggs, pumpkin puree and JELL-O Instant pudding. Stir until well blended. Spread into prepared pan.
- Bake for 24-26 minutes, or until toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean. Let cool completely before frosting.
- For the frosting, whisk together instant pudding and powdered sugar. Gently fold into COOL WHIP whipped topping. Once blended, spread evenly over the top of the brownies. Enjoy!
Disclosure: This post is brought to you by KraftFoods. I am honored to be a compensated contributor to their Kraft Tastemaker community. All opinions expressed are my own.
Oh these are awesome! I just broke out the pumpkin today and am ready for the season. Bring it on!
Saw this on FB and had to pop over and drool some more! On a very limited sweets diet for 8 weeks, so I am going through withdrawls, lol! These are so pretty and look delish!
Yum! I would never think to try adding pumpkin pudding to a cookie!
Oh my!! These look fabulous!
These do look magical, I am sure they taste amazing! Gotta LOVE secret ingredients!
I need to try using jello pudding in desserts – seems to work like magic!
These look so awesome, Kristen! I want to jump into the screen.
I do pumpkin brownies as well, but now I think I need to start adding this frosting to them!
I HAVE to remember to try to using pudding more often! These looks so incredible. I can’t wait to try them, especially with that pumpkin spice flavored pudding!
I am so excited about pumpkin. Bring it on!
Apple picking is one thing I look forward to every fall as well! Even though it’s just me and the hubs 🙂 And, how did I not know pumpkin instant pudding existed??? Thanks for bringing it into my life!
It feels good to embrace all things pumpkin! I am ready for those magical fall days at the pumpkin patch and apple orchard too! I love that your secret ingredient was the instant pumpkin pudding…I just used a box in a recipe last week too! These brownies are just plain awesome with the frosting on top…and your ratio of frosting to brownie is just the way I like it 🙂
I was literally just thinking about pumpkin brownies the other day! You’ve done it, and now I REALLY want some!
These sounds incredible! And I am loving this quick and easy frosting!
Kristin I have been in fall mode since the 1st. All I can think is soups, casseroles, pasta bakes, pumpkin and apple. It is like my little piece of heaven in my kitchen. I literally gasped when I walked outside the other day. ‘Playing fall’ is nice in my house but 100 in September is just plain cruel. So, after I was done shopping I slipped back into the house and my denial of summer. 🙂
Your brownies are spectacular, I had never though of adding pudding to my brownies. What a fantastic idea. Have a wonderful day.
I am so ready for pumpkins and apples, I just wish the weather would cool off a bit. It is hard to be in sweater weather when it is 88 degrees outside! I love adding Jell-O Instant Pudding to cookies! It gives them that perfect puffiness! I can’t wait to get my pumpkin baking started!
I just had my first pumpkin spice drink this morning and I think it’s safe to say that fall is fully in motion, even if it IS almost 100 degrees outside! I love you secret ingredient posts 🙂
These look awesome! I just wish it didn’t call for Cool Whip…that stuff is full of oils and artificial crap that i’d rather stay away from. Any alternative frosting ideas? Cream cheese?! Thanks for posting such an appetizing dessert, can’t wait to recreate soon!
I’m excited for Fall for all the same reasons you mentioned! And pudding in brownies – I have to try this!
LOVE how easy these are!! And absolutely STUNNING!!
I saw these on twitter this morning and had to come hunt the recipe!! Hello fall!!
Well, Hellooooooooo Fall! This sounds magical, indeed. I never tire of brownies, and these are perfect for the season.
The pudding is back? YES! These are simply fantastic! The fudginess factor is making me drool.
Jell-O in brownies… I’ve never heard of such a thing but I love it! Bring on the pumpkin season, starting with these!
Wow, a recipe that has the word magic in it twice? Sign me up! Especially since it has to do with pumpkin, and brownies! Yummm
Woah! This looks amazing! I looove pumpkin being in EVERYTHING these days 🙂
Why these do sound magical! Great for a fall get together. Thanks:)
I am so ready for all things pumpkin. These Magic Brownie Bars look like a great place to start especially because I am kind of a sucker for Cool Whip!
Hold up, there is pumpkin spice flavored JELLO?! My life is complete.
Wow, when you say magic, you really mean MAGIC. These look so good!
Kristin they look so rich, dense, and just so satisfying! Pinned. Mmmmmm cannot go wrong with pumpkin + chocolate!
Could these be any more gorgeous? Love them!
OMG – I must try these. They look amazing!
You know how much I love all things pumpkin… Definitely going to have to give these a try!
UM.. wow these look really really good! I just love pumpkin and chocolate together.
These look amazing! That frosting is killing me – I need it right now :)!
Need to implement in my blog..
Nice to read all post..
good post..ultimategaga