Applesauce Bars with Caramel Cinnamon Frosting
A few things:
1. I almost bought THIS sweater today. I don’t know why. I’m blaming the fact that I am uncomfortable and it looked cozy, and I came down with a case of Temporary Discomfort Insanity or something. Someone just hide my debit card until the baby gets here. Please.
2. Don’t you love it when you go to Old Navy and the cashier tells you that you look like you are having a BIG BABY? THEN she proceeds to fill you in on her coworker’s horrifying C-Section (that she had to get because of her BIG BABY)?? Yeah… me too.
3. My friend Shelly says that I am bombarded with inappropriate pregnancy comments because I look too approachable. I’m thinking about buying a (faux) fur coat and practicing my mean face.
4. Upon reflection, I’m pretty sure “having a big baby”means “you are super huge”. Because what other indicator was there of the baby’s size? I need to stop thinking about this before I accidentally (on purpose) punch someone.
5. I ordered THIS mask the other day and I’m dying from excitement for it to get here. That’s the thing about beauty products…they make me believe in miracles. Even just temporarily.
6. This Summer, people kept telling me that I looked like that “Not Impressed” Gymnast, Mckayla. Now it’s Ashley Benson. I don’t see even a remote resemblance, although I wish I did. If I was that pretty, people might be mesmerized by my face instead of STARING AT MY BELLY the end.
7. I love Ugly Food. It’s true. Bread Pudding, Chicken and Dumplings, Rice Pudding…if it looks bland and blah, it is probably my favorite. Like the Applesauce Bars I made. Tan and dull looking? Yes. Completely amazing? Absolutely.
8. Also…the frosting. Just make it, already.
These are the perfect flavors for Fall…and they’re sturdy, so they’re great for lunchboxes or bake sales.Applesauce Bars with Caramel Cinnamon Frosting
INGREDIENTS
- 2 1/2 cups flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 tsp baking powder
- 1 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 3/4 tsp cloves
- 1/2 cup shortening
- 1/2 cup water
- 2 cups applesauce
- 1 egg
- Frosting:
- 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) salted butter
- 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
- 4 TBS heavy cream
- 1 1/3 cup powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1/8 tsp cinnamon
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 350. Butter and flour a 10×15 jelly roll pan.
2. In a large bowl, mix flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and cloves. Set aside. In the bowl of a mixer, combine shortening, water, applesauce, and egg. Beat until combined, then slowly add flour mixture. Beat for about 3 minutes on medium speed, until fluffy. Pour into prepared pan.
3. Bake for about 20-30 minutes, until top springs back when lightly touched. Allow to cool, then frost with Caramel Cinnamon Frosting
4. Frosting: In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Add brown sugar and bring to a boil. Allow to boil for one minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Stir in heavy cream and vanilla, then add powdered sugar and cinnamon. Pour in the bowl of a mixer and beat on medium high for about a minute, until fluffy and smooth.
Thanks for visiting my blog! I realize you could be doing more important things with your time. Like watching the news or washing socks. I hope you stay awhile. Much more fun than socks, I promise. 
Such a great fall recipe! Love it!!
I needed a Caramel frosting recipe for a Caramel cake I’m going to attempt. Thanks.
I think you look adorable, and like you’re about ready to pop, but mostly adorable.
I suspect the insanity over the sweater was caused by the name of the store. And I’m happy it was temporary, because really that’s not a good look on anyone. If you’re looking for cozy, I have some sweaters you can borrow that don’t have giant fuzzy hearts on the front.
(Seriously, whose idea was that?)
Sigh. Now if you’d just stop updating while I’m at work and can’t make things, we would have a perfect relationship. :)
You need to have someone with you to back you up when these *people* say these things. Someone with a sarcastic personality and a mouth to go with it.
I’d apply for that position if you lived anywhere close to me!
These may look boring, but they sound delicious! I love all of the fall flavors and love anything that includes cloves. These will make my kitchen smell heavenly!
1. You probably are too approachable. You are super cute, you know. Which leads me to:
2. I can actually see a resemblance in both the ladies you mentioned. Absolutely.
3. Now I think I want that miracle pore stuff…hmmm…
4. I also definitely want to try these bars.
This is such a fantastic recipe!! I love caramel, cinnamon and applesauce :) :) I’m going to be visiting my friend who has an 8-day-old son and I will be bringing a tray of these along with me. What new mother wouldn’t LOVE these!?! Thank you for sharing!!
PS I just recently found your blog and I absolutely LOVE your writing!!
That mask IS a mini miracle worker. I tend to forget that I have it until I see my face looking blah and then think about what I can do to make it look better and then remember that I have the mini miracle worker in my cabinet. I only have to use it every month or two (however, you can definitely use it more). I see the bests results when I open up my pores first. If I’m feeling lazy, I just take a hot shower and then apply, if I am playing spa, I boil a cup or two of water and then place my face about 6 inches over the sauce pan with a towel over me, to keep in the steam. I keep it there for about 30seconds to a minute (beware, it can burn if you’re too close, so just pull away before it burns). Also, it takes a bit to fully dry (15ish minutes) and it’s a bit messy to remove. But, my face literally glows after using it. Even my husband (who’s as manly as they come) loves it.
Infommerical over.
Love your blog. Love your way of sharing stories. Love your sense of humor. Best wishes on your baby!
Oh, and YES, you do look like Ashley Benson!!
Mmm these are lovely!
That Origins mask is one of my faves! You’ll love it.
And you look JUST LIKE Ashley Benson. It doesn’t matter if you don’t see it, because you do. And she (and you) are both gorgeous. So there.
I mean, people tell me I look like Kat Von D and that’s bad enough.
Also, these bars look awesome!
To me you resemble Lisa Loeb….
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Z_H11F7WDI
Whoa, seriously, c-section comment woman: shut yer face! I can’t believe people would say such things! What did you do? Just smile & nod?!
Also: I think any and all inappropriate comments could be met with a quick punch from you. Then, immediately, just say: oh sorry, pregnancy hormones. My bad! Or, I could travel around with you and administer the punches? ;)
Been there with the huge comments. Not only that, but for the first month, people kept asking me when I was due. Even when I had him with me. REALLY?? Anyway….you won’t be disappointed with your mask!! I swear by Origins products. They really are a miracle.
Fruit is always better when covered in burned sugar. Yum! I can’t wait to try these.
First of all, you are not huge, by any stretch of the imagination. You are a gorgeous pregnant woman. And these bars – not ugly or dull and I will go ahead and eat the whole pan.
Your posts always make me giggle! First off, I could not pull of that sweater…but you…..maybe! And I think pregnant women trigger some people’s “foot in the mouth” string…..It must be like a nervous twitch. I said before people always feel the need to tell the horror stories of thier neighbor’s aunt’s sister’s bestfriend’s hamster owner’s nephew’s wife’s pregancy….kinda annoying. Well I’ve delivered 6 bubbies…my smallest was 7 11 the bigges 9 10…i have big babies….and we all did just fine. You are half the size I was so no worries! I think the bars look elegant! Can’t wait to try them….sorry about the book! :)
I hate people who feel they can comment on your baby bump! At least with strangers, especially ones working tills, they are just trying to be personable and just spew crap! But I had a horrible vindictive co-worker tell me on several occasions she was sure I was having twins! Just thinking of it winds me up!!
I too love ugly food!! ;0) usually tastes the best! Can’t wait to try these!!
I also see a tiny resemblance in those two ladies… But defonitly not an exact match!!
Love your blog! x
That mask is AWESOME!! In fact, I forgot I haven’t had it in a while and bought a tube too!!! You won’t regret buying it!!! Thanks for the reminder (and the yummy recipe!)
Yes, practicing your mean face always helps..and also take a play from the George Costanza rule book. If you look aggravated, people will think you are super busy and they won’t mess with you. SO just walk around in a state of frustration on the outside, zen on the inside :)
And I’m all for khaki food.
Yu-u-uuum! Deliciousness! They look beautiful to me – I love that fancy/wavy cut.
Cashier lady needs to keep her big mouth shut. I think you could have gotten away with punching her in the face… pregnancy brain… you know, since you’re having such a BIG baby. Geez louise!
I’m glad you didn’t buy that sweater, but I’m sure you would have rocked it!
Where do these people get these things? Remember, we have all seen your latest photo and , trust me, you look perfect. You’re gorgeous (I’m serious!) and, of course you have a big tummy- you have a whole human being in there- but it looks just the perfect size to me.
And thanks for this recipe. It looks “healthy” enough to eat for breakfast, but delicious enough to love!
People need to just…not speak. Seriously.
These look perfect for an upcoming bakesale! I love that they’re so sturdy (and will hopefully travel well). Thanks so much!
I was a post behind this morning, so I was reading the post with pregnancy update pics first, my husband came into the room and asked, “Why is that kid measuring that lady?” I looked at him with my are you nuts face and said, “umm, she is pregnant.” He looked further confused and said, “Oh, usually pregnant girls are more…(he waved his hands about.) like their faces get…(more hand waving. and then a change of tact.) that girl looks too pretty to be pregnant.” Then there was a long conversation about when it is okay to measure pregnant people. Then I got to this post and I laughed really hard, but sympathetically.
(Which lead to my husband saying, “I thought you weren’t supposed to say anything about someone being pregnant unless they mention it first, then you say ‘Wow, you look amazing! And possibly ask about nursery themes if she is a close friend.’”)
Please kiss your husband for me — and Kristan. Kristan, you are hands down the prettiest pregnant woman EVER! Also, I want you to get off your feet for the next month — at least — and stop cooking. Then you’ll be home with the world’s sweetest baby. A new baby is a 24 hours a day job for the first two months. (I seem to remember trying to find time to take a shower.) We all love your recipes but even more your writing. Just write us a post occasionally. OK?
I think you look beautiful and not at all huge or like your having a big baby! Next time, just punch em! :)
I need that frosting and a spoon stat!
Oh my gosh, you are too supercute to be thinking that you don’t look good. You look amazing. I wish I had looked half as good as you do at 34 weeks. I was a big ol’ huge mess and yet my husband always told me how beautiful I was.
That sweater is umm….interesting. I’m glad to hear you resisted.
Those bars look awesome. I’m so glad I bumped into your blog. :) I’m hungry now. Coincidence? I think not.
Could you use butter instead of shortning in the bars. I’m not a fan.
If I was subbing the shortening, I’d use margarine instead. But if you’re not a fan of margarine either, I’d go for the butter, the consistency just won’t be quite the same.
How could these be bad with the list of ingredients in them. They sound so tasty.
I’m so glad you didn’t buy that sweater. ’nuff said. ;)
this just might be one of those recipes I can’t let myself make! They look fabulous!
And lucy is not huge….she is perfect. I had a neighbor that kept asking me ‘are you sure you’re not having twins’. Every time I saw her on the street. Like the baby would suddenly clone itself since the last time I told her no I wasn’t having twins.
People suck. Maybe they’re just jealous because you’re such a super cute pregnant person. ;)
We don’t have a jelly roll pan. Are there any other pans that would work? ;)
Big baby OR baby is in there having a party left to right up and down because of these babies. *Drool* =)
Can totally see the resemblance to Ashley Benson!
You are the cutest pregnant lady ever!!! You better start practicing that mean face. Or, maybe when someone comments, tell them that you’re only 4-5 months along and watch their expressions. ;)
The bars!!! These look like total comfort food to me! Beige is good. ;)
Tried making this for a Halloween Party this weekend and it did not disappoint! Absolutely delicious. The frosting was amazing and was a perfect balance to the not super sweet cake! Thanks for sharing!
The bars look fantastic! Especially the edging. Did you use a special cutter to get the scalloped effect? I’m trying to figure out how you did it. Your blog is really fun and funny and a pleasure to read.
I use square shaped biscuit cutters…they have fluted edges. :)
saw this recipe from another blog, Bake at 350, anyway, I am adding you to my list of blogs to follow, too funny, made me laugh and the recipe looks awesome, can’t wait to try it out
These are like a little slice of heaven! I made some and brought them to work about a week ago and with only 4 people in my office I only had 2 small pieces left at the end of the day. Thank you!
I’m dying over that frosting. Might have to make these just for that! ;-)
My cake was a bit underbaked in the center, but that was probably because I halved the recipe and used a different size pan. But the frosting was DELICIOUS! I was licking it off the beaters and spatula! :) What an easy recipe for a caramel frosting!
I made this last night and holy cow were they good! I subbed a 1/2 C of oatbran for a 1/2 C of flour (I do this for every recipe because I’m one of THOSE moms) , and I subbed Cardamom for cloves (I just love the flavour with apples) and it was delicious! The icing was amazing and the kids inhaled it this morning. It great to have a delicious and tasty snack that is peanut-free so that I can send it to school in lunches. Thanks for sharing!!
Applesauce and caramel in a cookie bar has to be delicious! I can’t wait to try these a.s.a.p. I have a couple of questions. Would subbing butter for the shortening work? I can taste shortening in baked goods even when others can’t. Crazy but true. Also, does the frosting set up firmly enough to layer the bars between wax paper for mailing? If they will work in a lunch box, it sounds like they might be great in a care package. Thanks!