Spice Apple Bars
When I saw this recipe in Katie’s blog in the fall, I knew I’d have to make it. And boy are we glad I did. These might be one of my favorite things I’ve ever baked. Definitely in the top 10. One of hubby’s coworkers said he would do any amount of manual labor we asked of him if I made a batch of these for him.
Apple Spice bars – from Katie
2 c. plus 2 Tbsp all purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/8 tsp nutmeg
1/8 tsp allspice
small pinch ground cloves
1/2 c. butter, melted
1 c. packed brown sugar
1 c. white sugar
2 eggs
1 Tbsp vanilla extract
2 apples, cored and diced (a little less than 2 c.) – I used Macintosh apples
cinnamon sugar for sprinkling
Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line 9×13 pan with foil and baking spray (I doubled the recipe and used one 9×13 and one 8×8 pan because I wanted them to be thicker).
In medium bowl, combine flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and cloves. Whisk to combine well and set aside.
In bowl of stand mixer, combine sugars and butter and beat on medium high until light and fluffy, about 1 minute. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well to combine. Add vanilla extract and beat to combine.
Turn mixer on slow and fold in flour mixture a little at a time until just combined. Fold in apples.
Spread mixture evenly into prepared pan and sprinkle top generously with cinnamon sugar.
Place in oven and bake until cooked through, when top slightly bounces back to the touch, about 30 minutes.
Remove from oven and let cool completely before removing from pan, cutting and serving. Bars will be very soft.
I am Jen the Beantown Baker. Engineer by day and baking maven by night. Hubby serves as my #1 fan and official taste tester. We got hitched back in 2006. Barefoot. In the sand. With the waves crashing behind us. It was one of the best decisions we’ve ever made. 
Yum! And festive… I’m glad there’s another Boston blogger out there that loves making cupcakes as much as I do!!!! 🙂
These cupcakes look amazing!! I love white chocolate, and the tart cranberry flavor sounds like a fantastic accompaniment :).
While I adore pumpkin, I think it is great that you did something different from the norm. The cranberry sauce filling looks really good!
These look great! I have some cranberries I have been debating what to make.
These are so beautiful! I love the idea of white chocolate cupcakes…. and cranberry sounds just perfect. Yum!
Sues
They’re beautiful and sound amazing!!
Those look delicious! Love the flecks of color, and it is nice to step outside of pumpkin paradise once in awhile. Yum!
These look amazing! I like that you did a recipe with cranberries…delicious! I have two frozen bags in my freezer calling my name 🙂
What a great idea! I love this flavor combination. I agree that this is the best way to fill a cupcake…I’ve used it a few times now!
These cupcakes look gorgeous! Now I want to order Fiori di Sicilia from KAF. I did so good not letting myself buy it when we were there!
How fun! These cupcakes look delicious.. I don’t know why but I would have never thought about cranberry and cupcakes!?
these sound fabulous, love the flavor combo!!
Great pics! These sound delicious 🙂
For some reason I am not seeing the recipes for the cranberry filling or mousse. Can you help me find them? Thank you!