These pleasantly chewy bars make for a sweet after school snack or a pleasant fall treat. Try pairing them with an afternoon cup of tea or coffee while curling up with a good book, or grab one on your way out the door for a quick morning pick-me-up.
Ingredients:
Bars
- ¼ cup butter, softened
- 2/3 cup brown sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 cup applesauce (plain or cinnamon)
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon powder
- ½ teaspoon ginger powder
Icing
- 1 ½ cups powdered sugar
- ¼ teaspoon ginger powder
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon powder
- 3 tablespoons butter, melted
- 1 tablespoon milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and lightly grease a 9×13 inch cake pan. In a medium bowl, mix the softened butter, brown sugar, and egg until smooth. Add in the applesauce and continue mixing until combined. In a second medium bowl, mix the flour, baking soda, salt, and spices until uniform in appearance. Add the dry ingredients to the wet, mixing well. Spread the batter into the prepared pan. Bake for 25 minutes or until lightly golden at the edges.
While the bars are baking, mix together the powdered sugar, vanilla extract, melted butter, and spices to create the icing. If available, use a whisk to ensure a smooth and uniform texture. Remove the bars from the oven and allow them to come to room temperature. Once the bars are baked and cooled, coat in icing and enjoy! (Note: you can ice the bars before or after slicing them, depending on your preferred appearance. If you want to slice the bars first, place them on a rack or parchment paper while icing for easy clean up.)
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