Applesauce Bars

I recently made Applesauce Bars and everyone who ate them has enjoyed them.  The recipe is from a local church cookbook and has been in the person's family for more than 100 years. 

The bars are a bit more dense (versus a light and fluffy texture that you get with cake-like bars).  As the frosting sets, it hardens a bit.  The bars are flavorful and simple to make. 

It's a nice recipe to try on a weekend afternoon, and would certainly fill a home with the wonderful scent of cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and vanilla.

Here is the recipe for Applesauce Bars:

Ingredients:

½ cup shortening (I used vegetable shortening)
1 cup sugar
1 cup applesauce
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon soda
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon cloves
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon nutmeg
1 cup raisins
1 teaspoon vanilla

Ingredients for Frosting:

¼ cup butter (I used dairy-free butter)
½ cup brown sugar
2 tablespoons milk (I used dairy-free milk)
1 – 1 ½ cups powdered sugar

Directions:

Mix together shortening, sugar, and applesauce. Sift together flour, soda, salt, cloves, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Add to creamed mixture. Stir in raisins and vanilla. Mix well. Spread in greased 9”x13” pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

For frosting, melt butter in saucepan over low heat. Add brown sugar and boil for two minutes, stirring constantly. Stir in milk; bring to a boil. Cool to lukewarm. Gradually beat in powdered sugar. Spread on cooled bars.