Applesauce Spice Bars

I love fall, I really do, but for some reason I am having a hard time admitting it is here. I had a great summer and I am sad to see it go.

On Friday we went up to Park City for a church party and we noticed the leaves are already changing colors and it was quite chilly up there! I guess it is time to embrace fall and enjoy it.

For the party I made Dorie's Applesauce Spice Bars...I figured this dessert would get everyone in the mood for fall! I was right, the bars were delicious and just tasted like "fall." Apples, cinnamon, a brown sugar/vanilla glaze...YUM! The bars weren't heavy, they were light, moist, and the glaze gave them a nice shine.

These are the perfect treat to take to a party. So great, I am submitting these to Susan's Blogiversary Bash at Sticky, Gooey, Creamy, Chewy. Happy Blogiversary!! Thanks for hosting such a fun event.

Applesauce Spice Bars,
Adapted from Dorie Greenspan:Baking From My Home to Yours

For the bars:
1 1/4 cups flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp. allspice
1/4 tsp. salt
1 stick butter
1 cup packed light brown sugar
2 large eggs
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 baking apple, peeled, cored and finely diced
1/2 cup raisins

For the glaze:
2 1/2 Tb. heavy cream
1/3 cup packed light brown sugar
2 1/2 tsp. butter
1 tsp. light corn syrup
1/2 tsp. vanilla

Butter and flour a 9x13 inch baking pan. Preheat the oven to 350.Whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, spices and salt.In a medium heavy bottomed saucepan, melt the butter over low heat. Add the brown sugar and stir until smooth. Remove from the heat.Still in the saucepan, whisk in the eggs, one at a time, mixing well until blended. Add the applesauce, vanilla until smooth. With a spatula, add the dry ingredients and raisins and mix until combined.Scrape into the pan and bake 20 -25 minutes.
Let cool and prepare the glaze in the meantime.

In a saucepan, whisk the cream, sugar, butter and corn syrup over medium heat and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from the pan and stir in the vanilla.
Remove the bars from the pan and set on a wire rack positioned on top of a sheet pan to catch the drips. Pour the glaze over the bars and let set, cut as desired.