Ingredients:

  • 1 and 1/4 cups gingersnap cookie crumbs
  • 2 Tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
  • 8 ounces full-fat brick cream cheese, softened to room temperature
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 3 large eggs
  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • 1 and 1/4 cups pumpkin puree (fresh or canned)
  • 1/3 cup plain Greek yogurt or sour cream (optional)
  • 1 and 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • (Optional) ground cloves, ground nutmeg, ground ginger each at a quarter teaspoon.
  • (For streusel topping) 1/2 cup old-fashioned whole rolled oats
  • (For streusel topping) 1/3 cup packed light or dark brown sugar
  • (For streusel topping) 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • (For streusel topping) 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • (For streusel topping) 1/4 cup unsalted butter, cold and cubed

Instructions:

  1. Preheat the oven to 325°F (163°C). Line the bottom and sides of an 8-inch or 9-inch baking pan with aluminum foil or parchment paper.
  2. In a medium bowl, mix together the gingersnap cookie crumbs, sugar, and melted butter until combined. Press this mixture into the bottom of the prepared pan evenly. Bake for 10 minutes, then increase oven temperature to 350°F (177°C).
  3. Using a handheld or stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat together the softened cream cheese and granulated sugar in a large bowl on high speed until creamy—about one minute. Add in eggs one at a time on low speed while beating well after each addition. Mix in vanilla extract, pumpkin puree, yogurt/sour cream, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and ginger. Continue mixing until everything is smooth.
  4. In another medium bowl whisk together oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, and flour. Cut in cold cubed butter using a pastry blender or two forks until you achieve coarse crumbs. Sprinkle this mixture evenly over filling.
  5. Bake for approximately 45 minutes, loosely covering with aluminum foil around the 30-minute mark to prevent excessive browning. The bars are done when edges are lightly browned but center is set—check around either side of the 40-minute mark.