Applesauce Bars with Spiced Cream Cheese Frosting
This easy applesauce bars recipe with spiced cream cheese frosting is the perfect fall treat that your kids and family will love! Perfect way to use homemade applesauce!
Applesauce Bars with Spiced Cream Cheese Frosting
These bars are so delicious and easy to make! I created this recipe after finding myself with a plethora of apples from our tree that needed to be made into applesauce. Don’t worry, you can use store bought applesauce for this recipe too.
These are so incredibly good that we couldn’t stop going back and sneaking more small slices when we walked into the kitchen.
Fall Treat
Can you imagine the smell that fills your home as these applesauce bars bake? Let’s just say they have that cozy welcome-home-aroma that we all long for when walking in the door.
My kids thought I was the best mom ever for making these for their after school snack! Hey, I’ve got to add up those mom points when I can.
Spiced Cream Cheese Frosting
Ok, let’s talk about the dreamy spiced cream cheese frosting! It has that fall taste with the simple addition of pumpkin pie spice! It’s so good that you’ll start finding other things you can spread with spiced cream cheese frosting. No judgement here.
Applesauce Muffins
In case you’re wondering, yes you can make them into muffins too! Just use a muffin tin that’s greased or with cupcake paper liners and cook at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 25 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean when inserted.
Tips
You can make these applesauce bars by hand but I prefer using a stand mixer to make it come together quick and easy.
Using oatmeal makes them moist and just a little bit chewy for a great mouth feel.
Making them in the 9×13 pan is the easiest for me and less hassle to clean afterwards (because you all know by now how much I hate washing dishes).
Refrigerate for more depth
We enjoyed these bars even more then next day, after they were refrigerated over night, covered. Although completely optional, it definitely intensified the flavor!
If you like carrot cake, you’ll definitely love these applesauce bars with spice cream cheese frosting.
PS. There are no raisins to worry about in these bars. Although you could add them if you are feeling adventurous. Nuts would also be a yummy addition! I suggest pecans to pair well with these fall flavors.
Love baking? You have to try these best homemade dinner rolls.
Applesauce Bars with Spiced Cream Cheese Frosting
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup butter softened (room temperature)
- 1 1/3 cup brown sugar
- 2 egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 cup applesauce
- 1 cup flour
- 1 cup oats quick cook
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
Spiced Cream Cheese Frosting
- 1/4 cup butter softened (room temperature)
- 8 oz cream cheese room temperature
- 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 cups powdered sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease a 9x13 inch deep baking dish.
- In a mixing bowl, combine butter, brown sugar, egg and vanilla extract until creamy. Mix in applesauce.
- In a separate bowl, combine flour, oats, baking soda, salt, pumpkin pie spice. Slowly add to the applesauce mixture until well blended.
- Spread evenly into prepare baking pan. Bake for 25 minutes.
- Remove from oven and allow to cool on a wire rack.
Spiced Cream Cheese Frosting
- In a medium mixing bowl, add cream cheese and butter and mix until creamy with wire whisk or beater attachments. Add vanilla and pumpkin pie spice. Gradually add in powdered sugar until fully combined into frosting.
- Spread frosting on bars once they have completely cooled. Cut into squares and serve!
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