Tuesday, August 18, 2009

TWD: Applesauce Spice Bars

I was really looking forward to making these bars. Truth be told, I was going to pick them when it was my choice next month. And then Karen (of Something Sweet by Karen) beat me to it. Ah well, as long as I get to make them.

Easy easy easy recipe. I did it all in one saucepan. I chose to bake it in a 9 x 9 pan instead of the called for 13 x 9 pan. I liked the idea of this more as a cake than a bar. I just needed to add a few minutes to the baking time. I did stick to the rest of the recipe, mostly. I'm not usually a fan of raisins or nuts in cakes, but I was trusting the recipe. I also added the rum. I didn't put on the glaze. It seemed very rich and moist without it. It was a good choice. I thought it was sweet enough.

Here it is just out of the oven and cooling. Golden brown!

Here's a cut piece. See how moist it looks!

This was a good cake. I liked the chunks of apples, and I didn't mind the pecans and raisins. The rum had a fairly pronounced flavor, but I it added to the overall taste. I think I needed to be in more of a fall state of mind. It was hard to eat when it was 85 and humid. Ok, not hard. Eating cake is not hard. I think I'm still in a berry/stone fruit state of mind.

I can't say for sure that I'll make this again. Though talk to me again after we go apple picking. I'll be looking for just about anything to do with them.

12 comments:

Kayte said...

I was thinking that, too, on these bars, that apple orchard season would be a good time to revisit them. You skipped the glaze???? OMW...I could eat that by the spoonful...there will be no skipping of the glaze here...LOL. Your bars look great, even without that tasty glaze!

Megan said...

Oh yeah - apple season would be just the right time to make these.

I miss that part of living in New York - the best apples!

Melissa said...

I'm wishing I had baked mine in a smaller pan too. Yours look great!

betty geek said...

AHA! I was thinking the same thing . . . it's too hot to be eating a Fall cake. But you're right, cake is cake and I will eat it regardless!

Love yours!

ostwestwind said...

Skipping the glaze, no way here, yours look great!

Ulrike @ Küchenlatein

Katrina said...

Great bars, not quite cool enough here either. I'll have some fun with the recipe come fall! Love your cake high piece!

Pamela said...

I agree...once we go apple picking I will be making these again. Next time, I will even try the glaze.

TeaLady said...

Look perfect to me. Easy and delicious. Next time - MAKE THE GLAZE!!!

Leslie said...

These look fantastic, but I agree with Kayte, the glaze made them amazing.

Cristine said...

Looks wonderful!

Liz said...

Yesss, can't wait to make these later this fall with fresh-picked apples! Yours look great, and I agree--they were much more cakey than bary (is that a word?). Yours look delish!

Jessica said...

I agree, I was feeling very hot and summery when I made these, so it was hard to get excited about applesauce spice fall-ish flavors. Your bars look excellent, though, and I'm glad that you made them!