Tuesday, September 4, 2012

More Holiday Baking Ideas . . .

Still working through my A batches of favorite cookies! This following apple bar recipe is great for cutting into small servings or treating like a dessert and handing out plates with generous slices and a scoop of ice cream on top. Personally, I would go for English Toffee ice cream to enhance the apple taste but wouldn't turn down vanilla.

Apple Spice Bars
1/2 cup shortening
2 eggs
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
Pinch of salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/8 teaspoon allspice
1 cup rolled oats
1 1/2 cups peeled and thinly sliced green or pie apples
Freshly grated zest from one lemon
1/2 cup chopped pecans

Icing
Powdered sugar
1 teaspoon lemon extract
Lemon juice to form a thin icing.

Cream the shortening and sugar together until well combined. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Mix together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, spices, and vanilla extract. Blend well into shortening/sugar mixture. Stir in the oats, apples, zest, and pecans.

Spread the mixture into a 13x9x2 baking pan. You can grease the pan, use vegetable oil spray, or line it with parchment paper.

Bake at 350 degrees for about 15-25 minutes depending on your oven. Cool on a rack. While still warm drizzle over a lemon glaze and let set before cutting into serving pieces.

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