Pumpkin Squares with Cider Caramel Sauce

Pumpkin Squares:

1 cup sugar
1 1/2 cups flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup vegetable oil
1 (15 ounce) can of pumpkin
2 large eggs
Heat the oven to 325. Grease a 9 by 13 baking pan and set aside. Combine first six ingredients. Add oil, pumpkin, eggs and whisk until the batter is evenly blended. Pour the batter into prepared pan and smooth the top. Bake the cake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 30 minutes.

Cider caramel sauce:

1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
1 tablespoon cornstarch
2/3 cup apple cider
2 tablespoons heavy cream
1 tablespoon butter
salt to taste
In a medium-size saucepan, whisk together the brown sugar and corn starch. Add the cider and stir ewell to dissolve the other ingredients. Cook the mixture over medium-high heat, whisking constantly, until large bubbles form around the perimeter of the pan, about 3 minutes. Reduce the heat to low and allow the sauce to continue to simmer until it thickens, about 2 minutes more. Remove the sauce from the heat and whisk in the cream and the butter. Let the sauce cool slightly, then taste it and add a pinch of salt, if necessary.

Serve warm with vanilla ice cream on top and drizzle with warm cider caramel sauce.