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Be Carton Smart! and Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bars

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Carton Smart. All opinions are 100% mine. Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting

Thanksgiving is almost here and for most of us it’s a time to reflect on all the things we are grateful for. Of course our loved ones and friends are always at the top of our lists. But this year I’m reminded that giving thanks for our planet should be right up there. Today I’m sharing a wonderful product that will help us honor Mother Earth at this year’s Thanksgiving table or any other day of the year. What is this product you ask? It’s Pacific Food’s products packaged in Tetra-Pak cartons. These fabulous containers are made of 70% paper that comes from selectively harvested, re-grown trees that are FSC-certified (Forest Stewardship Council). They are completely designed for maximum efficiency and environmental friendliness. Did you know that cartons:

  • Use 1/3 of the packaging compared to cans
  • Preserve the flavor and nutrients of foods without the use of preservatives
  • Recyclable and 60% less land fill waste than cans
  • Cartons are re-closable making it easy to store unused portions
  • And as a bonus- no need for a can opener. Cartons are easily opened by hand.

 photo 1898ca76-3272-4baf-a8df-07abf60e15e3_zps1bf425e9.jpg I recently received a starter kit containing Organic Pumpkin Puree, Organic Chicken Stock, and Organic Jellied Cranberry Sauce. Let me just say these cartons are not just earth-friendly, they are people-friendly too. They’re light-weight and take up little storage space in your pantry. Cans can be so awkward to store. How many times have you stacked them too high, only to have them topple over, hit the floor, and roll across the room? Or even worse, land right on your toes. Ouch!  photo d1d52bb8-c150-4f19-9a7c-b8c9ab3c8df3_zpsac6b75dd.jpg photo 795e421d-1ec8-414e-b1b8-dde8f5f23ded_zps62983f0a.jpg photo 62adf36b-e1dc-4d93-98c1-aa80d97a468d_zps600d562e.jpg Even better, Tetra-Pak packaging allows Pacific Foods to make their products completely free of preservatives and BPAs. No need to worry about grandma detecting an aluminum taste in your cranberry sauce. Pacific Food’s products taste amazingly fresh and flavorful and will help you impress even the most discerning food connoisseur at your table.  photo 23442e85-3ea4-4311-9d7e-3fa869281324_zps31c93f2d.jpg The other day I gave the Organic Pumpkin Puree a try in Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting and it was amazing. These bars are actually more the texture of cake and they are baked in a 9X13-inch pan. They can easily feed a large, hungry family. There are chocolate chips and pecans throughout the batter and a super-thick layer of rich, luscious cream cheese frosting flavored with cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice.  photo pumpkinbars5_zps5ebcd574.jpg Pacific Foods offers many other food products in earth-friendly Tetra-packaging besides the three I mentioned to help you make this year’s Thanksgiving meal the best you’ve ever had. Don’t feel like making gravy this Thanksgiving? They have you covered with Organic Turkey Gravy. Be sure to check out pacificfoods.com for lots of fabulous recipes you can serve your family and guests  including pumpkin pie and Green Bean Casserole  made with Organic Cream of Mushroom Condensed Soup. You can also search on their website for stores in your area that carry Pacific Foods. In my area they are available at Harris Teeter and Earth Fare. Be sure to put Mother Earth on your list of thanksgivings this year and Follow #CartonSmart on Pinterest and Tweet @CartonSmart. Tetra Pak wants to encourage up to make small, smart decisions this holiday season that can have a big impact. Learn how you can  Be Carton Smart. Would love to know your favorite tips for being #CartonSmart and cutting down on waste this holiday season.

 photo pumpkinbars22_zps1f4a3abc.jpg
Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting
Ingredients
  • 1½ cups sugar
  • 1 cup vegetable oil
  • 4 eggs, beaten well
  • 1 cup pumpkin puree
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 2 teaspoons cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon nutmeg
  • pinch of allspice
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ cup finely chopped pecans
  • ⅔ cup miniature chocolate chips
Icing
  • 6 ounces cream cheese, softened
  • 4 tablespoons butter, softened
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 3½ cups confectioners’ sugar
  • ½ teaspoon cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
  • pinch of allspice
  • 2 tablespoons milk
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease a 9X13-inch baking pan. (pyrex is fine.)
  2. In a large bow, whisk sugar, vegetable, and eggs together until well blended.
  3. Add pumpkin and mix in.
  4. Ad flour, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, baking powder, and baking soda and stir just until combined.
  5. Fold in pecans and chocolate chips.
  6. Bake for 30 minutes or until just firm to the touch on top. Let cool.
  7. For icing, use an electric mixer to beat cream cheese and butter until well blended and smooth. Add vanilla extract. Gradually add confectioners’ sugar, being sure to turn mixer to low with each addition so that sugar does not go flying everywhere. Mix in cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and milk.
  8. Spread icing on cooled cake.

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26 thoughts on “Be Carton Smart! and Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bars”

  1. Brooke Hagler

    Is that supposed to be 30 mins and not 30 seconds in the recipe? Mine is not setting on top that fast

  2. Melanie @ Carmel Moments

    Pumpkin and chocolate, 2 of the worlds best flavors. These look oh so good!

  3. Amy @ Elephant Eats

    I love that some brands have foods in cartons now instead of cans!…since I’ve been hearing such bad things about chemicals in canned goods. I’ll be on the lookout for these. And your bars sounds awesome- can’t go wrong with pumpkin + chocolate 🙂 P.S. TOTALLY had a can land on my bare toes before, hehe.

    1. Christin
      Christin Mahrlig

      A can landing on your toes is the worst isn’t it? Thanks for the sweet words 🙂

  4. Laura Dembowski

    I don’t eat anything out of a can . . . ever, so I roast my won pumpkins and puree them, but this seems like such a great idea! Can’t wait to try it. And that cake looks fantastic!

    1. Christin
      Christin Mahrlig

      It really is a high quality pumpkin puree Laura and the packaging is fantastic 🙂

  5. Oh! These bars look fabulous with chocolate and the cream cheese frosting…I have been using Trader Joe’s pumpkin puree, need to give this cartoon a try.
    Thanks for the recipe and hope you are enjoying your week Christin 😀

  6. Pamela @ Brooklyn Farm Girl

    I want to eat up a entire pan of these pumpkin chocolate chip bars, looks delicious!

  7. Tina @ Tina's Chic Corner

    I’ve never heard of this brand before but I’m all for using a brand that is earth-friendly! These bars look delicious and so moist 🙂 Definitely perfect for Thanksgiving dessert.

  8. Shundara@SavyNaturalista

    I have used there stock but never seen the pumpkin in the carton looks better then the can! I am going to half to look for the pumpkin one in the store again. Thanks for sharing! Lovely recipe.

  9. Cailee @ hellohealthyeating.com

    Wow!! These look so delicious and tasty!! YUM 🙂 Love pumpkin and chocolate!!

  10. These pumpkin bars sound so good! I love that they have chocolate chips and paired with a cream cheese icing?? Yum! I love that you garnished with a pecan too : ) My favorite nut!

  11. Consuelo @ Honey & Figs

    These look seriously comforting, and that cream cheese frosting sounds out of this world good! Yum! x

  12. Love cake in bar form and these bars sound fantastic! Can’t go wrong with pumpkin and chocolate chips and that fall spiced cream cheese frosting makes these bars even more special 🙂

  13. Aimee / Wallflower Girl

    You make the best comfort food! I feel better just looking at these beauties 🙂

  14. Rachel @ Bakerita

    These bars looks amazing! Anything with pumpkin and chocolate chips and I’m so all about it. Yum! Pinned 🙂

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