Applesauce Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting

By h2ogirl1977

Ingredients

• Bars:
• 2 cups all-purpose flour (feel free to substitute up to half with whole wheat flour)
• 1 and 1/2 cups sugar
• 2 tsp. baking powder
• 2 tsp. cinnamon
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1/4 tsp. ground cloves
• 4 eggs, beaten
• 2 and 1/2 cups unsweetened applesauce
• 1/2 cup canola or vegetable oil
• Frosting:
• 4 oz. cream cheese, softened
• 3 Tbls. butter, softened
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 3 About 3 cups of powdered sugar (or more or less to taste

Preparation

Step 1

For the bars: In a large bowl, whisk together dry ingredients. Stir in eggs, applesauce, and oil until combined. Spread into an ungreased 15x10x1-inch baking pan (like a cookie sheet in rim or jelly roll pan). Bake at 350 for 25 to 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool completely, then spread with cream cheese frosting.

Frosting: In a large bowl, stir together cream cheese and butter until very soft and thoroughly mixed. Stir in vanilla. Gradually add powdered sugar, stirring well after each addition. Spread on cooled bars.