Applesauce Spice Bars With Spiced Cream Cheese Frosting

We have a lot of applesauce that we canned ourselves. This is one of our favorite ways to make a delicious dessert and use up some of that applesauce. We hope you enjoy making and eating this cake as much as we do!

Ingredients

1 egg
2/3 c. brown sugar
1/4 c. butter, softened
1 c. applesauce
1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. nutmeg
1/2 tsp. allspice
1/2 tsp. cloves
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. soda
1 c. flour

Cream Cheese Icing Ingredients

1 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese, softened
1/4 c. softened butter
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
2 c. powdered sugar

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°. Grease an 9 x 13-inch baking pan. Set aside.

In a large bowl, beat egg, brown sugar and butter until smooth. 

Mix in the applesauce.

Stir in the cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, cloves, salt, and baking soda.  

Add the flour, mixing until well blended.

Spread the batter in the prepared pan. Bake 30 to 40 minutes.

When cool, frost with Cream Cheese Icing

Combine cream cheese, butter, and vanilla in a medium bowl. Mix until creamy. 

Mix in the vanilla, and pumpkin pie spice.  

Gradually add in the powdered sugar, beating until fluffy and fully combined.  

Spread the cream cheese frosting over the cooled cake. Slice and serve.

Notes

If the frosting is too thick to spread on the cake, add a little bit of milk, about a teaspoon at a time, to thin it.  

If the frosting is too thin, then add more powdered sugar. Only add a little bit at a time until you get the right consistency.

Blonde Brownies

Instead of making the traditional dark chocolate brownies, switch it out and try blond brownies. They have a buttery, butterscotch, and vanilla flavor.

Ingredients

1/3 c. butter
1 1/2 c. brown sugar
1 egg
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
3/4 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. soda
3/4 tsp. salt
1 1/2 c. flour
1 c. nuts, chopped (optional)
1 c. white or dark chocolate chips

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°. Grease or spray a 13 x 9-inch baking pan.

In a medium saucepan, melt butter over low heat. Stir in sugar with a wooden spoon. 

Beat in egg and vanilla.

Stir in baking powder, soda, salt, and flour.  Mix well.  

Add the mixed nuts.

Spread batter in prepared baking dish.  Sprinkle the chocolate chips over the top.

Bake 20 to 25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. The top should just be starting to turn golden brown.

You can also add the white or dark chocolate chips in the batter instead of sprinkling them over the top.

Quick and Easy Pecan Pie Bars

This is a quick and easy recipe that goes together fast. These bars have a tender shortbread crust, instead of the traditional crust. They are rich and delicious!

Ingredients

Crust

3 C. flour
1/2 c. granulated sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
1 c. butter, softened

Filling

4 eggs
1 1/2 c. corn syrup, light
3/4 c. granulated sugar
3/4 c. brown sugar
3 Tbs. butter
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
2 1/2 c. pecans, chopped

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°.  Lightly spray or grease a 10 x 15-inch jellyroll pan.

To make the crust, combine flour, granulated sugar and salt.  Cut in butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Press the mixture into the bottom of the prepared jellyroll pan.

Bake for 20 minutes. Now is the time to start the filling.

In a large bowl, or you can use the bowl you mixed the crust in to save on washing more dishes, combine eggs, corn syrup, granulated sugar, brown sugar, butter, and vanilla.  Mix until smooth.

Stir in chopped pecans.  Spread the filling over the crust right when it comes out of the oven. 

Bake for 25 to 45 minutes, rotating the pan halfway through the baking time to ensure even cooking. Bake until done. Lightly shake the pan to test for doneness. You will want the filling to move slightly in the center.  If the filling jiggles a lot, then the bars need to bake longer. However, don't bake them so long that there is no movement when you shake the pan because they will be overdone and not good at all. 

Cool on a wire rack before slicing into bars.

Banana Squares

These bar cookies are so easy to make.  They are delicious and easy to take along to a potluck or on a picnic. Instead of baking banana bread, try a batch of bar cookies instead. 

Ingredients

1 c. butter
2 c. sugar
4 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
2 tsp. soda
dash of salt
2 1/2 c. flour
4 Tbs. buttermilk
4 large ripe bananas

Filling

1 c. brown sugar
1 can flaked coconut or 1 cup of bagged coconut
1 stick butter, softened
4 tsp. evaporated milk

Directions

Pre-heat oven to 325°.  Grease three 11 x 7 1/4-ingh pans. If you don't have this size pan, use two 9 x 9-inch pans and one 8 x 8-inch pan. You can also use three 9-inch pans, but the bars will be thinner and may not take as long to bake. 

Cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy in a large mixing bowl. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Pour in vanilla and mix in.

In another bowl, mix soda, and a dash of salt and flour.

Alternately, mix in about a half cup of flour and 1 tablespoon buttermilk. Repeat until the flour and buttermilk are mixed into the creamed mixture. 

Add bananas. Mix thoroughly. Pour into prepared pans.  

Bake for 30 minutes. Make the filling while the cookie dough is baking.

Mix the brown sugar, flaked coconut, butter and evaporated milk together.

In a mixing bowl, combine brown sugar, flaked coconut, butter and evaporated milk. Spread over hot baked mixture.  Bake for 7 minutes longer and cut into squares. 

Congo Bars

Delicious moist bars with nuts and chocolate chips.  They are so good and so easy to make. Congo Bars are perfect for mid-day snacking or to take along on a picnic, or as a dessert.

Ingredients

2/3 c. butter or margarine, softened or room temperature
2 1/4 c. brown sugar
3 eggs
2 1/4 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
2 3/4 c. flour
1 c. nuts, chopped
12 oz. chocolate chips

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°.  Lightly grease and flour the bottom of a 13 x 9-inch cake pan.

Cream butter and brown sugar together until light and fluffy.

Add eggs, one at a time. Beat well after each addition.

Mix in baking powder, salt and flour until combined.

Stir in nuts, and chocolate chips.

Pour into prepared pan. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes.  Do not over bake.

Hello Dollies

Hello Dollies is a very old recipe that my grandmother used to make for special occasions. They are easy to make and so good!  Are they like a piece of candy, or a rich tasting bar cookie? You decide.  

This is the basic recipe, but sometimes we will add a layer of butterscotch chips after the chocolate chips. You can also use pecans instead of walnuts. 

Ingredients

1 c. butter or margarine
1 c. graham cracker crumbs
1 c. shredded coconut
1 c. chocolate chips
1 c. walnuts, chopped
1 (14 oz.) can sweetened condensed milk

Directions

Melt butter in the bottom of a 13 x 9-inch cake pan

Pour graham cracker crumbs over the melted butter, spreading out to cover the bottom of the pan. Press the mixture into the bottom of the pan.

Next, layer the coconut over the top of the crust, pressing into the graham crackers below.  Then, repeat with the layer of chocolate chips and press those into the coconut layer.  Layer the chopped walnuts over the chocolate chips, pressing them into the chocolate chip layer below. 

Pour sweetened condensed milk over the top.

Bake at 350° for 25 minutes, or until the top begins to lightly brown. 

Cool thoroughly before cutting into squares.

**To get the milk to pour better, sit the open can in some hot water for a few minutes.

Homemade Butterscotch Brownies

Homemade Butterscotch Brownies is a quick and easy recipe. This is one brownie that your family will love and ask you to make often. They are chewy and sweet with butter and brown sugar. You can make them with or without the coconut and/or nuts.

Ingredients

1/3 c. butter
1 c. brown sugar
1 egg
1/2 tsp. salt
3/4 c. flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1/2 c. coconut (optional)
1 (6 oz.) pkg. chocolate chips
1/2 c. nuts, chopped (optional)

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°. Grease an 8 or 9 inch square pan. 

Melt butter in medium saucepan. Set aside until cool.

Add brown sugar, egg, salt, flour, baking powder, and vanilla. Blend ingredients well.

Mix coconut, chocolate chips and chopped nuts.

Spread in prepared pan. 

Bake for 25 minutes.

Do not over bake the brownies.  They may look like they are not quite done, but remove them from the oven and allow them to cool.  If you over bake the brownies, they will be hard and dry.

Apple Bread Or Bars

This is a recipe from my grandmother's recipe box. It makes a simple, yet delicious apple bars. They are great for snacking, lunches or even as a dessert with a dollop of whipped cream or served with ice cream. 

Ingredients

1/2 c. shortening
1/2 c. granulated sugar
1/2 c. brown sugar
2 egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 Tbs. sour milk
1 tsp. soda
1/2 tsp. salt
2 c. flour
2 c. chopped apples
2 Tbs. granulated sugar
1/4 tsp cinnamon

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°. Lightly grease a 13 x 14 1/2-inch pan or two smaller pans.  You can use a sheet pan, but the bars will be thinner.

Cream shortening, white sugar and brown sugar together until light and fluffy. 

Beat in eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition.  

Mix in the vanilla extract and sour milk.

Add the soda, salt and flour, mixing until combined.

Stir in the apples.

Spread out in the prepared pan. 

In a small bowl, combine 2 tablespoons granulated sugar and cinnamon. Sprinkle over the top of the apple bars. 

Bake at 325° for 55 minutes.

Coffee Toffee Bars

Coffee Toffee bars are easy to make and taste so good.  They are like the chocolate chip bar cookies, but with the flavor of coffee and almonds.

Ingredients

1 c. butter or margarine
1 c. brown sugar
1 tsp. almond extract or vanilla
1 to 2 Tbs. instant coffee crystals
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
2 1/4 c. flour
1 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2 c. nuts, chopped (Optional)

Frosting

1 Tbs. soft butter
3/4 c. powdered sugar
1/8 tsp. almond extract or vanilla
1 to 2 Tbs. milk

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°. Grease a 9 x 13-inch pan. 

Cream butter and brown sugar together, until light and fluffy.

Blend in almond or vanilla extract and instant coffee crystals

Add the flour to the mixture.  You may need a bit more flour to make a stiff dough. 

Stir in chocolate chips and nuts.  

Press the mixture into the prepared pan.  

Bake for 20 to 25 minutes.  While the bars are baking, you can make the frosting. 

To make the frosting, mix butter and powdered sugar together.  Add the almond or vanilla extract and 1 Tablespoon milk.  

Slowly add the other tablespoon of milk until spreading consistency. Frost the bars while they are still warm. 

 Brownies

Brownies. These are quick and easy to make and such a good treat. You can serve these brownies with frosting on them, or leave the frosting off.

Ingredients

1 1/2 c. flour
2 c. sugar
10 Tbs. cocoa
1 tsp. salt
1 c. butter, margarine, or shortening, softened
4 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
2 Tbs. Karo syrup
1 c. nuts, chopped (optional)

Directions

Preheat oven to 350­°

Mix the flour, sugar, cocoa and salt together. 

Add the butter, eggs, vanilla, and Karo syrup. Beat for 3 minutes.

Stir in nuts if desired. 

Pour into an ungreased 9 x 13-inch cake pan. Bake for 30 minutes. 

Frost if desired. Recipe below.

Frosting

Chocolate Frosting Recipe

Ingredients 

6 Tbs.  butter margarine
2 2/3 c. powdered sugar
1/2 c. cocoa
1 tsp. vanilla
1/4 to 1/3 c. milk

Directions

In a large bowl, cream the butter and powdered sugar until light and fluffy.  It can take about 5 to 7 minutes.  

Turn the mixer to low and gradually add cocoa.  Add vanilla and beat well.  

Pour in milk, beating as you pour.  Continue to add the milk until you have it at the right consistency to spread over the brownies.

Spread over cooled brownies. Cut into bars.

 Poor Man's Cookie Bars

This is an old fashioned cookie bar recipe that I found in one of my mother's old cookbooks,  It is yellowed with age and stained with use. She used to make these often while I was growing up. I had lost the recipe and was so happy to find it again. I can make it for my kids and they can have some good memories as well.

Ingredients

1 c. raisins
1 1/4 c. water
1/4 c. shortening
1 tsp. vanilla
1 egg, beaten
1 c. sugar
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. nutmeg
1 tsp. soda
1/2 tsp. salt
2 c. flour
1/2 c. nuts (optional)

Directions

Cook raisins, water and shortening together for 10 to 15 minutes.

Add vanilla and set aside to cool.

After the mixture is cool add the egg, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, soda, salt, flour and nuts.

Spread the cookie dough in a greased cookie sheet. 

Bake at 375° for 18 to 20 minutes. 

Cut into bars when slightly cool.

 Layer Date Bars

Dates are so good and they are healthy for you as well.  They are rich in protein, vitamins, and iron. They strengthen your nervous system, lowers cholesterol, improves bone health, promotes digestion and improves your skin.  Of course, eat them in moderation and sometimes that is hard to do. 

My grandfather used to buy me dates to eat as a treat and I really enjoyed eating them. I never knew they were good for me. I just knew they tasted delicious.  We still eat dates for a snack, but we also make this wonderful, tasty Layer Date Bars.

Ingredients

1/2 c. shortening
1 c. brown sugar
1 1/2 c. flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. soda
1 3/4 c. quick cooking oatmeal
1 lb. dates, pitted and cut
1 c. sugar
1 c. water

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°. Grease a 9 x 13 inch pan.

In a large sauce pan, cook the dates, sugar and water until it is the consistency of jam. Set aside to cool a bit.

Thoroughly cream shortening and sugar till light and fluffy.

Add salt, soda, flour, and oatmeal. Mix until crumbly. Pat half of the mixture in prepared pan. Do not pack it down hard or the layer will be hard.

Spread the date filling over the crumbly mixture in the pan.

Sprinkle the remaining half of the crumbly mixture over the dates. Again, only pat the top layer down so it is evenly spread over the top. 

Bake for 30 minutes.

Makes about 20 bars.

 Gooey Snickerdoodle Bars

If you like Snickerdoodle cookies, you'll love Snickerdoodle bars. They have the same great taste without having to form each cookie.  The bars are soft and gooey with a layer of cinnamon sugar in the center and icing over the top.

Bars

1 c. butter, room temperature
1 1/2 c. sugar
1/2 c. brown sugar
3 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
2 1/2 c. flour

Cinnamon Sugar

2 Tbs. sugar
1 1/2 Tbs. cinnamon

Glaze

1 1/4 c. powdered sugar
1/4 tsp. cinnamon
2 Tbs. melted butter
2 to 3 Tbs. milk
1 tsp. vanilla

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°. Grease or spray the bottom of a 9 x 13-inch pan. Set aside.

In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter, sugar and brown sugar until it is light and fluffy. Scrape the bowl down to make sure that everything is thoroughly mixed in. 

Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Pour in the vanilla.

With the mixer on low, add the baking powder and then the flour. The batter will be thick.

Spread half of the batter on the bottom of prepared pan. 

In a small bowl, combine the sugar and cinnamon together.  Sprinkle the mixture over the top of the bar layer. 

Using a small spoon, place the remaining bar batter over the top of the cinnamon sugar mixture evenly. Try to cover the top as much as you can without mixing it into the cinnamon sugar layer.

Bake for 25 minutes.  Remove from oven and allow the cake to cool completely. 

When the Snickerdoodle bars are cool, it is time to make the glaze.  

In a medium bowl, combine the powdered sugar, milk and vanilla.  You'll want it to be the consistency of a runny glaze. Not too runny and not so stiff that it is like icing.  When you get the consistency of paint, that will be about right. 

Drizzle the glaze over the top of the bars.  The glaze is what makes these bars become  gooey bites of deliciousness.

Oatmeal  Fudge Bars

This is a quick and easy treat for those times when you have a craving for chocolate.  

Ingredients

2 c. brown sugar
3/4 c. butter or margarine, softened
2 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
2 1/2 c. Bisquick baking mix
3 c. quick cooking oats
1 (12 oz.) pkg. semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 can sweetened condensed milk
2 Tbs. butter or margarine
1/2 tsp. salt
1 c. nuts, chopped
2 tsp. vanilla

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°. Grease a jellyroll pan.

Beat brown sugar, 3/4 cup butter until light and fluffy.  Add the eggs and vanilla, beating until thoroughly combined. 

Mix in the Bisquick and oatmeal.  

Press 2/3's of this mixture over the bottom of the jellyroll pan.  Set the other third of the oatmeal mixture aside.

In a heavy saucepan, mix the chocolate chips, sweetened condensed milk, 2 tablespoons butter and salt over low heat. Stirring constantly until chips are melted, and the mixture is smooth.  Stir in the nuts and vanilla. Spread this over the top of the oatmeal mixture in the jellyroll pan.

Drop the remaining oatmeal mixture by the tablespoonful on top of the chocolate.

Bake about 30 minutes, or until it is light brown.