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–+ servings

Applesauce Spice Bars

thetimelessbaker
Applesauce spice bars are an old-fashioned cake like bar that combines applesauce with cinnamon, cloves and allspice and are frosted with a cinnamon brown sugar frosting.
5 from 1 vote
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
cooling time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 45 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 36 bars
Calories 153 kcal

Equipment

  • 10"x15" baking (jelly roll) pan
  • mixing bowls of various sizes
  • electric mixer

Ingredients
  

Bars

  • ½ cup unsalted butter softened
  • 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 ½ cups unsweetened applesauce
  • 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
  • ¼ teaspoon ground allspice
  • ½ cup milk
  • ½ cup chopped nuts, 1 cup raisins (optional mix-ins)

Frosting

  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • pinch of salt
  • 2 1/2 cups powdered sugar
  • 2 Tablespoons milk

Instructions
 

For the bars

  • In a large mixing bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer, mix the ½ cup unsalted butter and 1 ½ cups granulated sugar.
  • Add in the 2 large eggs, one at a time, followed by the 1 ½ cups unsweetened applesauce.
  • In a separate mixing bowl, sift or whisk the all-purpose 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour, 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda, ½ teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, ¼ teaspoon ground cloves and ¼ teaspoon ground allspice.
  • Add the whisked or sifted dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, alternating with the ½ cup milk, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients. Add in ½ cup chopped nuts, 1 cup raisins (optional).
  • Pour into a greased 10"x15" baking pan (jelly roll pan). Bake at 350℉ for 22-25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool pan on wire rack before frosting.

For the frosting

  • In a large mixing bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer, cream together the 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened and 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed until the brown sugar is no longer grainy feeling. Add in the 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon and pinch of salt.
  • Add in half of the 2 1/2 cups powdered sugar followed by half of the 2 Tablespoons milk. Add in the rest of the powdered sugar and milk and beat on high until smooth. Spread on cooled bars.

Notes

    • Store in an airtight container, refrigerated up to 72 hours
    • Freeze in an airtight container up to 45 days
    • You can substitute sweetened applesauce for unsweetened
    • Line the jelly roll pan with foil or parchment paper for easy removal

Nutrition

Serving: 1barCalories: 153kcalCarbohydrates: 28gProtein: 1gFat: 4gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.2gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 21mgSodium: 86mgPotassium: 33mgFiber: 0.4gSugar: 21gVitamin A: 143IUVitamin C: 0.1mgCalcium: 13mgIron: 1mg
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