pumpkin pie bars with chocolate chip gingerbread crust and cinnamon whipped cream - Pass the Cookies

Ingredients

• 30 tablespoons (3.75 sticks) butter, softened
• 1 cup dark brown sugar (can be replaced with light brown sugar)
• 4 tablespoons molasses
• 4 cups flour
• 2 tablespoons ground ginger
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 ½ teaspoons allspice
• ¼ teaspoon ground pepper
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 heaping cup chopped dark or bittersweet chocolate
• 1 ¾ cups pumpkin puree (should be all or most of a 15-ounce can)
• 2/3 cup granulated sugar
• 1 ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon ground ginger
• ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
• a pinch of ground nutmeg
• 1 1/3 cups cold heavy cream
• 3 large eggs
• 1 cup cold whipping cream or heavy cream
• ½ to 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 to 2 tablespoons sugar or powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla (optional)