Old Fashioned Applesauce Bars

User Reviews

5

2 reviews
Excellent
  • Prep Time

    15 mins

  • Cook Time

    20 mins

  • Total Time

    35 mins

  • Servings

    24 bars

  • Calories

    119 kcal

  • Course

    Dessert

  • Cuisine

    American

Old Fashioned Applesauce Bars

These easy applesauce bars are moist, tender, and warmly spiced!

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Ingredients

Servings
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon ground ginger
  • ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • ½ cup shortening at room temperature, such as Crisco
  • 2 large egg at room temperature
  • 1 cup applesauce (I use unsweetened)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • raisins or ½ cup of each, or chopped nuts, optional mix-ins, 1 cup
  • cream cheese frosting homemade or store-bought or vanilla frosting; or powdered sugar for dusting

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease, spray with cooking spray, or line a 10 x 15-inch jelly roll pan with parchment paper (see the notes below for a different size pan). Set aside.
  2. In a medium bowl, whisk or sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and salt. Set aside. In a large bowl, use an electric mixer on medium speed to cream together the sugar and shortening until fluffy, about 3 minutes.
  3. Add the eggs; beat to thoroughly combine. Add the applesauce and vanilla extract; mix until well combined.
  4. Add the flour mixture to the applesauce mixture; mix just until combined.
  5. Spread the batter in the prepared pan. Tap the pan gently on the counter a couple of times to release any large pockets of air.
  6. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool completely in the pan on a wire rack.
  7. Once cool, dust with powdered sugar or spread with cream cheese frosting and dust with cinnamon, if desired.
  8. Cut into squares and serve.
Equipments used:

Notes

  • Applesauce Bars in 9×13 Pan: instead of a 15×10-inch jelly roll pan, you can bake the bars in a smaller 9 x 13-inch baking dish. They will be slightly thicker, so they may require a couple of extra minutes in the oven.
  • Larry's original recipe calls for a dusting of powdered sugar on top of the cooled bars. I love adding either homemade cream cheese frosting and a dusting of cinnamon, or you can take the even easier route and purchase a can of store-bought cream cheese frosting or vanilla frosting. Even just a dollop of whipped cream is great. Anything goes, and it will all taste good!
  • The high fat content in shortening yields incredibly moist bars with a softer, fluffier texture. That said, you can substitute with an equal amount of softened unsalted butter if you prefer (the taste and texture of the bars will just be slightly different).
  • Swap out the individual spices and just use 2 teaspoons of apple pie spice.

Nutrition Information

Show Details
Serving 1bar (not including optional frosting and optional mix-ins) Calories 119kcal (6%) Carbohydrates 18g (6%) Protein 2g (4%) Fat 5g (8%) Saturated Fat 1g (5%) Polyunsaturated Fat 1g (6%) Monounsaturated Fat 2g (10%) Trans Fat 1g (50%) Cholesterol 16mg (5%) Sodium 77mg (3%) Potassium 42mg (1%) Fiber 0.4g (2%) Sugar 9g (18%) Vitamin A 26IU (1%) Vitamin C 0.1mg (0%) Calcium 13mg (1%) Iron 1mg (6%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 24bars

Amount Per Serving

Calories 119 kcal

% Daily Value*

Serving 1bar (not including optional frosting and optional mix-ins)
Calories 119kcal 6%
Carbohydrates 18g 6%
Protein 2g 4%
Fat 5g 8%
Saturated Fat 1g 5%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g 6%
Monounsaturated Fat 2g 10%
Trans Fat 1g 50%
Cholesterol 16mg 5%
Sodium 77mg 3%
Potassium 42mg 1%
Fiber 0.4g 2%
Sugar 9g 18%
Vitamin A 26IU 1%
Vitamin C 0.1mg 0%
Calcium 13mg 1%
Iron 1mg 6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

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5

2 reviews
Excellent

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