Do any of you feel like a trip to the grocery store is a vacation? Especially if you have kids and they’re not there?
You can wander up and down aisles, picking things up at leisure and putting them down. You can try free samples. You can hunt for new products. And if there’s a Starbucks in the store, you can do it all with a lovely hot cup of beverage.
When I see new products, or even better, limited edition products, I snap them up. It’s hard to resist. Who doesn’t buy pumpkin spice M & Ms when they’re only out for a short while? Who doesn’t buy Pillsbury refrigerated cookie dough in pumpkin flavor with cheesecake chips?
Not me, I can tell ya. I buy it all. And then I bring it home, stare at it, and wonder what I can bake with it. And half the time, the answer is magic bars.
Such was the case this time around. I saw the pumpkin cookie dough and threw it in the cart without even hesitating. Same with the MΒ & Ms. My husband looked at me as we were checking out and said, “Really?” To which I replied with the appropriate amount of both haughty indignation and condescension, “I’m. A. Baking. Blogger.”
Some people. Really. Sorry, babes. I love you!
Anyway, I patted the dough (with some help from a baking helper, a.k.a. my friend’s third-grader) into the bottom of the pan. We topped it with chopped pecans, white chocolate chips, cinnamon chips, and those pumpkin spice M & Ms. Which, bizarrely, seem to taste exactly like regular M & Ms. And then we poured condensed milk on top.
The result was delightful. Chocolatey and cinnamony and pumpkiny. All of that. In a bar. In a very short space of time. Pumpkin lovers, this one is for you!
Whenever you see cool seasonal products on your grocery store runs, snatch them up! Life is too short to hesitate. Even if you’re not a baking blogger.
Ingredients
1 package Pillsbury refrigerated pumpkin cookie dough
1 cup chopped pecans
1 cup Pumpkin Spice M & Ms
1 cup white chocolate chips
1 cup cinnamon chips (Hershey brand)
14 oz. can sweetened condensed milk (I used fat-free)
Β
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350. Coat a 9 x 13 pan with cooking spray.
- Flatten the cookie dough rounds out and press into the bottom of the pan. You will have to press them very thinly for the dough to cover the whole surface.
- Bake for 15 minutes. Remove from the oven.
- In the following order, sprinkle the ingredients evenly over the surface: pecans, M & Ms, and both kinds of chips. Pour the condensed milk over the top, covering the entire area.
- Bake for 25 minutes until golden brown. Allow the bars to cool completely before cutting into squares. Store in an airtight container.
3.1
http://justaboutbaked.com/pumpkin-spice-magic-bars/
Pumpkin spice M&Ms? I don’t think I have seen them here in the UK. They sound amazing though.
Thanks for commenting on my blog. I am happy for us to comment on each other’s blogs each day π
Dannii @ Hungry Healthy Happy recently posted…Comment on Easy Oven Baked Chicken Fajitas by Dannii
Thanks, Dannii. That’s very sweet.
I used to feel that way about grocery shopping when my kids were little:) That’s probably why I took so long to grab a few items back then… Now, I can’t get out of there quick enough! Loving how you used the Pumpkin Spice M&M’s in these bars. I just picked up a bag at Target last week…
Heather @ Shards of Lavender recently posted…Coffee Cinnamon Roll Muffins with Espresso Glaze
Target is my happy place, Heather! I’m kind of glad to know that the grocery store won’t always be my vacay spot. Just while the kids are tiny!
I love going to the grocery store! And I definitely buy all of the seasonal items whenever I see them. I have pumpkin cream cheese, pumpkin milano cookies, pumpkin english muffins, you name it! π These bars sound like a delicious fall treat, Mir! I love that you used pre-made cookie dough, too. So easy and delicious!
Gayle @ Pumpkin ‘N Spice recently posted…Pumpkin Cake Donuts with Salted Caramel Brownie Brittle Topping
Pre-made cookie dough is my favorite, Gayle! It can become so many other wonderful things.
As for the pumpkin products, try the pumpkin pop tarts from Trader Joe’s. So good!!!
Yes! It is so fun, getting to go up and down the aisles at your leisure! I have to agree with you too, Target is also like a vacation as well … mainly because it’ll end up costing more than I had planned π If I had a bag of those pumpkin spice MnMs, I’m not sure they would make it to the bars! I love how jam packed these are – that’s the way to do desserts!
Mary Frances recently posted…{Dairy Free} Oreo Frosted Pumpkin Swirl Brownies
The M & Ms are so good! But they don’t taste much like pumpkin. I’ll still eat a ton!
What a fun, festive way to use up your finds. I love trying new products too!
Erin | The Law Student’s Wife recently posted…Weeknight Homemade Whole Wheat Pizza Crust
Nothing better, Erin! Though you’re right about the candy aisle at Target. Danger zone!!
I go shopping early in the morning so there’s less people and it’s much more relaxing! I need to find some of those pumpkin spice M&M’s because they bars look incredible!
Danielle recently posted…Seasoned Pretzels
Oh, early morning shopping. Boy, am I a fan of that! Quiet, no crowds…sigh.
Wow!! This is crammed pack of fall goodies! I love how creative it is!
Annie @Maebells recently posted…Slow Cooker JalapeΓ±o Ranch Carnitas with Cilantro Lime Slaw
Thanks, Annie! I wish I could stop eating them!
I keep finding so many simple and creative sweet tooth recipes here. These bars look insanely delicious! I got that pumpkin cookie dough and was planning on making some cookies! Pinning π
Aw, thanks, Mira! I love that you said that, because I spend a lot of time thinking of ideas for recipes!
Yum! Those bars look fantastic. Perfect for fall π
Ashley @ ashleymarieskitchen recently posted…Bourbon Pecan Brownies
Thanks, Ashley! I am ridiculously addicted to them!
Hahaha! Well I don’t have kids myself…but I’m pretty sure that’s why my mum always took a good few hours to do the shopping when we weren’t with her!! These pumpkin bars look m.a.g.i.c! <3
Tash recently posted…Iced Soft Apple Spice Peanut Butter & Cinnamon Oat Cookies
That is exactly why she took so long! Now you know, Tash!
I love grocery shopping! I went today and it felt like the best outing ever π These bars look seriously magical, they must live up to their name!
Medha @ Whisk & Shout recently posted…Miso White Bean Cassoulet over Nori Rice
Grocery stores are the best. I’m not gonna argue with that, Medha! Especially when they have free samples!
My kids are actually fun to shop with now(for the most part!), but I do remember those days of feeling like grocery shopping was a vacay! π These bars look phenom! I could go for one of them right now!
Jocelyn@Brucrewlife recently posted…Reese’s Peanut Butter Bars
I’m looking forward to that time, Jocelyn! We’re just not there yet. They want to touch everything with their grubby little hands.