Reduced Sugar Simple Pumpkin Napoleons Food

PUMPKIN NAPOLEONS WITH SUGARED PECANS AND CARAMEL SAUCE

Steps:

• To make the pecans, preheat the oven to 225 degrees. Mix the sugar and salt in a bowl. In another bowl, whisk the egg white and water together until frothy. Toss the pecans in the egg-white mixture to coat well. Drain, then toss in the sugar mixture. Grease a baking sheet and spread the pecans on it. Bake until dry, about 45 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes. Set aside.
• To make the pastry, preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside. Pulse the pecans and sugar together in a food processor until ground. Lay 1 sheet of phyllo dough out on a work surface, keeping the rest covered with a damp cloth until ready to use. Brush with butter and sprinkle with about 3 tablespoons of the ground pecan mixture. Top with another sheet of phyllo, brush with butter and sprinkle with pecans. Top with a third sheet of phyllo and brush with butter.
• Trim the phyllo layers to make a 16-by-12-inch rectangle. Cut into 16 4-by-3-inch rectangles. Divide between the baking sheets and bake until golden brown, about 5 minutes. Repeat with the remaining phyllo, butter and pecan mixture. Set the pastries aside; you'll have extra.
• To make the sauce, place the sugar in a medium saucepan and stir in the water. Use a pastry brush dipped in water to wash down any sugar crystals on the side of the pan. Place over medium heat and cook without stirring until mixture turns a deep caramel color. Remove from heat and carefully add the cream. Return the pan to the heat and stir until all the caramel is dissolved. Set aside.
• To make the filling, combine the pumpkin, butter, brown sugar, salt, cinnamon, vanilla extract and cream in a medium saucepan and place over medium heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until smooth and hot.
• The napoleons can be prepared ahead up to this point. Reheat the caramel sauce and the pumpkin filling. To assemble, spread the mascarpone over 8 of the pastries, using about 2 tablespoons for each. Top with another pastry and spread with about 1/4 cup of the pumpkin mixture. Top with another pastry.
• Coat 8 plates with caramel sauce. Top with the napoleons and scatter the sugared pecans around them. Serve immediately.

PUMPKIN BARS (REDUCED SUGAR)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°; spray an 11x13 (jelly roll) pan with non stick pan spray.
• Place eggs, sweetener, sugar, oil, and pumpkin in a large mixing bowl and beat at medium speed until smooth, set aside.
• In a medium bowl, stir flour, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together to blend, then add to creamed mixture; mix at medium speed until creamy again; spread batter in the 11x14 pan and bake for 25 minutes or until a cake tester comes out clean from the center of the pan.
• Place pan on a wire rack and cool to room temperature; cut four by six.
• You may serve with low-sugar pudding or low-sugar whipped topping, if desired.