Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting

I wanted to make a fall treat for mutual and pumpkin bars were calling my name. I couldn't find our family recipe, but found this one online. I adapted slightly and these were so good!!

Recipe adapted from Paula Dean

Bars:

• 4 eggs
• 1 2/3 cups granulated sugar
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 15-ounce can pumpkin
• 2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 cup chocolate chips (optional)

Icing:

• 8-ounce package cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
• 2 cups sifted confectioners' sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Using an electric mixer at medium speed, combine the eggs, sugar, oil and pumpkin until light and fluffy. Stir together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, salt and baking soda. Add the dry ingredients to the pumpkin mixture and mix at low speed until thoroughly combined and the batter is smooth. Add chocolate chips. Spread the batter into a greased cookie sheet. Bake for 30 minutes. Let cool completely before frosting. Cut into bars.