The moist cakey layer of these applesauce bars combines deliciously with the soft creamy sour cream frosting. They are flavorful and autumnal with their cinnamon and apple notes.
If you like pumpkin bars and apples, you are going to love these applesauce bars. They are an easy fall dessert that should be added to your repertoire.
I saw a recipe for applesauce bars on Frugal Hausfrau’s site a year or two ago and I was instantly intrigued. I love trying new apple recipes and the pictures reminded me of my grandma’s pumpkin bars but with apple.
It is basically a thin apple sheet cake topped with tangy frosting. What is not to love about that?
So I put them on my ever growing list of things to try. Somehow that list keeps getting longer, there just isn’t enough time to make everything.
With fall around the corner, I figured it was time to make these apple bars. I am so glad I did.
The recipe below is a slight variation on what Molly made. It was adjusted to match our tastes and preferences.
Making These Tasty Apple Bars
Adding applesauce to the cake layer not only adds great flavor, but so much moisture as well. Add in some cinnamon and you are really in business.
The batter comes together really easily. The only key is making sure your butter is soft so that it is easily incorporated.
We prefer our bars as written. You could easily add a half cup of raisins and or walnuts if that is something your family would like.
Email Me The Link
I'll email this post to you, so you can easily find it later. Plus you’ll get new recipes from me every week!
You can also experiment with the spices if you want it to be a punchier spice cake. A little ginger or allspice would be tasty if you like those flavors.
Try making it our way first and then customize it to your heart’s content. That is one of the best parts about cooking, you get to make it yours.
The cake is done when the edges start to pull away from the edges of the pan and the top springs back when lightly touched with a finger. Allow it to cool completely before frosting the bars.
Making Sour Cream Frosting
One of the things that intrigued me about Molly’s recipe was the sour cream frosting. It has a lovely slight acidity, similar to cream cheese frosting, but is even softer and has a different tanginess.
I adjusted the recipe to make a little more. I am the self proclaimed frosting queen after all.
Again, you want to make sure you butter is good and softened. Otherwise you will find yourself with lumps and nobody wants lumpy frosting!
This frosting would not work for piping or really even for layers, unless you put a buttercream dam around it. But it is fabulous for spreading over your apple bars or any simple sheet cake.
I can imagine it would be fabulous on a chocolate zucchini cake or of course pumpkin bars. Give it a try and see what you think.
Obviously you could use cream cheese frosting instead. Or add some caramel frosting for something different.
Storage
These bars can sit on the counter for a couple of hours. More than that and they should be covered and put in the refrigerator due to the high dairy content in the sour cream frosting. They will stay good in the fridge for 5-7 days.
Keeping them chilled will also help it the frosting to firm up a bit allowing you to cut cleaner pieces. Allow the served cake to sit for a few minutes to come to room temperature for the best eating experience.
Applesauce Bars With Sour Cream Frosting
Ingredients
Applesauce Bars
- ½ cup butter softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 large egg
- 1½ cup all purpose flour
- ¾ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon grated nutmeg
- 1½ cup applesauce
Sour Cream Frosting
- ½ cup butter softened
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- ⅔ cup sour cream
- 1 Tablespoon vanilla extract
Instructions
Applesauce Bars
- Preheat oven to 350°F and grease a 9×13-inch pan.
- Cream together ½ cup butter and 1 cup granulated sugar.
- Add 1 large egg and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, mixing until combined.
- In a separate bowl, stir together 1½ cup all purpose flour, ¾ teaspoon baking soda, ¼ teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon and ¼ teaspoon grated nutmeg.
- Mix ⅓ of the flour mixture into the butter mixture until just combined. Stir in ½ of the 1½ cup applesauce. Repeat with ⅓ of the flour, the remainder of the applesauce and finish with the rest of the flour. Each time stir until just mixed.
- Pour batter into prepared pan and bake 30-35 minutes or until the middle bounces back when lightly touched with your finger. Allow to cool completely.
Sour Cream Frosting
- Beat ½ cup butter until smooth and creamy.
- Add 2 cups powdered sugar, ⅔ cup sour cream and 1 Tablespoon vanilla extract, mixing until smooth.
- Spread over cooled bars and chill until set.
Notes
- You will want to use a full fat sour cream for the frosting.
- You can use salted or unsalted butter. If using salted, omit the extra salt.
- Store the frosted applesauce bars in the refrigerator for up to a week.
Video
Email Me The Link
I’ll email this post to you, so you can easily find it later. Plus you’ll get new recipes from me every week!
Did you try this recipe?
Don’t forget to leave a rating below and make sure to follow on Pinterest and Instagram for more!
Get social!
Recipes in your inbox
Frosting was way too thin and refrigerating it just made the cake a bit stale.
It’s tough when you are using cream cheese or sour cream in a frosting and you have to refrigerate it. Baked goods don’t love the refrigerator, but food safety comes first.
Sweetened or unsweetened applesauce?
I used unsweetened, but I imagine either would work fine.
Applesauce I have been anxiously waiting to make and I’ll use my homemade for these yummy bars!
Our local orchard opened last weekend, so it’s getting to be that time!