Ingredients
Equipment
Method
Applesauce Spice Bars
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line an 8"x8" pan with parchment paper and set aside.
- Put melted butter, brown sugar, applesauce, and vanilla extract in a mixing bowl. Stir to combine. Add flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg. Stir to combine.
- Pour into the prepared 8"x8" pan and use a spatula to spread evenly to the edges. The batter will be thick.
- Bake for 20–25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow to cool completely before frosting.
Browned Butter Icing
- In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt butter, stirring frequently. Butter will begin to foam and boil. After 3–4 minutes, brown flecks should appear at the bottom of the pan. Continue stirring until the butter is golden and the flecks are medium brown. Watch closely. Butter will brown quickly.
- Remove the butter from the heat and pour it into a small bowl. Refrigerate for 10–15 minutes, or allow to sit until the butter is room temperature.
- Whisk confectioner's sugar in a bowl. Add cooled butter, vanilla, and milk. Beat until light and fluffy, about 2–3 minutes. If the icing is too thick, add more milk, one tablespoon at a time, until it reaches the desired consistency.
- Pour icing onto bars. Use a knife to spread evenly. Allow the icing to set before cutting into the bars.
Notes
You can tweak this a bit by adding walnuts to either the bars or the icing.
