whoot, whoot & pumpkin recipe

First some old business, the photo of my chocolate pumpkin cheesecake squares (that I promised yesterday then never got back to):

 

I wish I could pass one thru the screen so you could do your own taste test.  These are now my new favorite pumpkin dessert and my neighbors must think the same because I came home with nothing but crumbs.   If you're feeling inclined to whip up a batch, here's the recipe:

Crust:  2 cups Chocolate Teddy Grahams, 1/4 cup butter.  Finely grind grahams in food processor, melt butter and mix to combine.  Line an 8" square pan with foil and press the chocolate crumbs into the bottom.  Bake at 350 until slightly firm ~ 12 - 15 minutes.  Cool.

Filling:  (2) 8 oz packages of cream cheese, 1 cup sugar, 1 cup canned pumpkin, 3 eggs, 3 Tbsps Flour, 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice, 1/2 tsp salt and 4 ozs semi sweet chocolate (I used the chips).  Soften the cream cheese then add all the ingredients except chocolate and mix together.  Melt chocolate, add one cup of pumpkin cream cheese mixture and combine.  Pour remaining pumpkin cream cheese mixture over crust, add chocolate cream cheese mixture in spoonfuls and swirl.  Bake for 40 - 50 minutes in 350 degree oven or until center is set but slightly jiggly.  Chill for at least 2 hours before cutting into squares.  Using the foil makes removal from pan simple and clean up easy.

Now, what I've been dying to share, drumroll please........

The owl pumpkin rocked the carving contest and came home with first place!  Whooty, whoot, whoot.  For that honor we received a plastic pumpkin, lined with pretty fall napkins and filled with all things pumpkin:

     

Coffee, scone mix & candle.  How sweet is that?!! 

Comments

[Robin]

Congratulations!

Those pumpkin cheesecake squares look yummy!

[Racquel]

Those look like some delicious treats. Thanks for the recipe. :) Congrats on your first prize gifts!

[Marnie]

I would never have thought of combining pumpkins and chocolate. It does look wonderful, I might have to try it.

Pumpkin cranberry scones. That sounds good too.
Marnie

[Shady Gardener]

Hi Kathleen, Looks like a wonderful recipe... I've just copied it off!

Congratulations on the Owl winning first place. :-) It really was great... and now, look at you!! Ready for Fall with all those pumpkin goodies. :-)

Happy day!

[wendy]

congrats kathleen! looks like a lot of yummy stuff for winning, and you totally deserved to win too. great pumpkins!!

[Beckie]

Well, I AM impressed! Your pumpkins are delightful. Such creativity and skill. A very deserving win.

[Cinj]

Congrats on the win. That looks so luscious! I have to admit that it is my own personal opinion that chocolate makes everything better. I just may have to add that recipe to my collection.

[gail]

Kathleen, My mouth actually watered when I saw the brownies...How sadly Pavlovian! Fantastic we knew whooo would win! Gail

Gail

[Northern Shade]

Congratulations on winning the carving contest with the owl.
Your chocolate pumpkin cheesecake recipe looks delicious, and I'm going to try it out.

[Layanee]

Copied that recipe and those carved pumpkins looked great! Now I wish I had gone to the pumpkin carving at my nephew's house!

[RazorFamilyFarms.com]

My two favorites.... chocolate and pumpkin. I bet it's wonderful.

Love your blog!

Blessings,
Lacy

[Alice]

Those look so yummy! I think I'll have to add those to our Halloween dinner this year. And a big congrats on the owl pumpkin - but I really loved them all - glad I didn't have to be a judge!

[Frances]

Hi Kathleen, those squares could be eaten right through the screen, and the recipe sounds good enough to eat too. I will be making those when the family comes for Thanksgiving for sure. Maybe a batch before then just to be sure they are good enough! Taste testing is so important. ;-> The pumpkins you carved are pure genius. The look when they are lit did sway me from loving the coach best. The owl deserves a prize and it sounds like the prize was a great one too. I love all things pumpkin.
Frances
http://fairegarden.wordpress.com/

[Kathleen]

Thanks Robin. They were so good, I was really hoping a few would come home with me so I could indulge a little more....

[Kathleen]

You're welcome for the recipe Racquel. I hope you find them just as delicious as we did if you decide to make them.

[Kathleen]

They are a rather unusual combination Marnie but very tasty, I'm thinking I need to make another batch. and yes, that scone mix looks wonderful too. I think we should start thinking up interesting combinations with pumpkin, don't you??!

[Kathleen]

That's what those contests are good for Shady Gardener ~ getting you ready for holidays in advance! Otherwise, all the carving would still be waiting. I hope you enjoy the recipe.

[Kathleen]

Thanks Wendy!! I was excited!

[Kathleen]

Thank you very much Beckie. That's pretty high praise! I'm blushing...

[Kathleen]

Oh Cinj, I couldn't agree with you more ~ chocolate is my favorite! So anything that includes it, is yummy to me.

[Kathleen]

I'm going to take that as a compliment Gail ~ because any photo that can do that has to be good!! ;-)
Too funny about knowing "whoo" would win.

[Kathleen]

Thank you Northern Shade and let me know what you think about the recipe!

[Kathleen]

Thank you Layanee! and next year you can go to the pumpkin carving!!! Enjoy the cheesecake squares!

[Kathleen]

Thank you Lacy! Chocolate anything is a favorite of mine so when I saw that recipe, I knew I "had" to make it! So glad now.

[Kathleen]

oh my, added to the fabulous big Halloween dinner ~ I am feeling honored Alice!!! ;-) Now if I could only be there as well! Let me know how your family likes them. and thank you on the pumpkin carving compliment. :-)