Applesauce Cake Bars with Buttercream Frosting
Enjoy the best old fashioned applesauce cake topped with creamy buttercream frosting. This moist, spiced cake is full of homemade flavor and makes the perfect dessert for holidays, fall gatherings, or any time you’re craving a classic treat with a sweet finish.
Servings 1 9x13 pan
Cost $7.00
Equipment
- Large Mixing Bowl
- medium mixing bowl
- Hand Mixer
- Dry Measuring Spoons
- Liquid Measuring Cup
- Dry Measuring Cups
- Wire Whisk
- Toothpick
Ingredients
Ingredients Needed for Applesauce Cake Bars
- 1 Cup All-Purpose Flour
- ⅔ cup Brown Sugar
- 1 tsp. Baking Soda
- ½ tsp. Salt
- 1 tsp. Pumpkin Pie Spice
- 1 Cup Plain Applesauce
- ¼ cup Shortening
- 1 egg
- Cinnamon sugar topping - optional
For the Buttercream Frosting
- 3 Tbsp. Butter
- 2-3 cups Powdered Sugar
- 1 tsp. Vanilla Extract
- 1-2 tsp. Milk
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F and grease a 9 x 13 cake pan.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, brown sugar, baking soda, salt and pumpkin pie spice.1 Cup All-Purpose Flour, 2/3 cup Brown Sugar, 1 tsp. Baking Soda, 1/2 tsp. Salt, 1 tsp. Pumpkin Pie Spice
- Once you have the dry ingredients combined well, add the applesauce, egg and shortening.1 Cup Plain Applesauce, 1/4 cup Shortening, 1 egg, Cinnamon sugar topping - optional
- Once your ingredients are fully combined, pour the cake batter into a greased metal 9 x 13 cake pan. Bake for 15 minutes.
- Insert a toothpick into the center to test to see if it's done. If the toothpick comes out clean, remove from the oven and allow it to cool completely in the pan. If it is not done, bake for 5 minutes more and check again.
- While the cake is cooling, melt the butter in a medium saucepan on med/low until it has started to turn a golden brown color.3 Tbsp. Butter
- When it has melted and cooked the way you want, remove it from the heat and add the vanilla extract and milk then use a wire whisk to gently stir it.1 tsp. Vanilla Extract, 1-2 tsp. Milk
- Add 1 1/2 cup powdered sugar and mix well by hand.2-3 cups Powdered Sugar
- Pour the frosting base into a medium mixing bowl once you have the initial powdered sugar added. Next, add powdered sugar 1/2 cup at a time until you have a thick and fluffy frosting.
- After your applesauce cake has cooled completely, spread the buttercream frosting evenly on top.
- Remove the cake from the baking pan and cut into bars. Store your applesauce cake bars in an airtight food storage container in the fridge.