Well I am a day late. Things have been a little hectic around here, so I almost didn’t make these. Apples raw are lovely, in baked goods they are ok, but not really my favorite. However, pair that will some caramel topping and I am definitely game! So I did manage to make these yesterday, and they were actually quite easy. I stuck to the recipe for the most part, I only made a couple of adjustments. I used:
- Red Delicious instead of baking apples, didn’t have any
- regular rum instead of dark rum
- Cherry Craisins instead of raisins
- had to make my own applesauce, was out, 2 medium apples did the trick
These were marvelous. They must only be called bars because of their shape as this is definitely a moist cake. Fabulous!
In fact, While photographing these I ate three of them and finally turned them over to the family. My family, however, is not as brave and adventurous as I am. In fact, no one has tried them yet besides me :-/ My daughter and 2nd son won’t, they don’t like raisins or nuts in their goodies, my youngest son said he was saving his (LOL) and my husband ate a huge bowl of ice cream last night so he was full. As for my oldest son, he’s almost never here, and he’s pretty texture sensitive too, so he probably won’t try any.
Well after trying these and looking at the lovely glaze, I had a feeling these probably wouldn’t keep very long, so I packed up half the cake and took it over to my neighbor’s house who accepted them with open arms.
If you would like to try making these, click on over to Something Sweet by Karen, this week’s host for Tuesdays with Dorie, as she has the recipe posted there. Or, if you have the book Baking From My Home to Yours, turn to pages 116-118 to get the recipe.
The first step after preparing your 13×9 baking pan is to whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and allspice.
Then you melt the butter over low heat.
When the butter has melted, whisk in the brown sugar until it’s nice and smooth (mmmmm).
Take the pan off the heat and whisk in the eggs, one at a time.
Add the applesauce, vanilla and rum (which is optional by the way).
Switch to a rubber spatula and stir in the dry ingredients.
Then mix in the chopped apple, raisins and nuts.
Pour it into the pan and bake.
Bake it about 25 minutes, or until the sides just start to pull away from the pan.
While cake is cooling, make the glaze. Whisk together the cream, sugar, butter and corn syrup. Bring to boil then simmer. You add the vanilla after removing it from the heat.
Pour it over the bars and spread with an icing spatula. let cool completely before you cut it into bars. YUM!
Great photos, I love them all, but I think my favorite is the last one where they are sitting on the deck in all their summer glory just screaming picnic potluck and good times! Yep, just screaming…gorgeous!
they look fantastic! hopefully your family has tried them now–they don't know what they're missing!
Those look really good and moist!
The dried cherries sound like a lovely addition to this cake. Pretty pictures, too.
oh Amanda I wish I could have a square right now !
Amanda! I am so glad you made these because they certainly look DIVINE!
Like HOLY DIVINE!
Your pictures sold me! Very informative, detailed, and just gorgeous.
You are a baking star!
They look great! I can't believe your family wouldn't eat them. My husband has been eating 2 or three a night!
The look fantastic, glad you had a chance to make them! You were smart to share them with the neighbors, these are easy to eat a lot of.
They look and sounds really good but like you and your family am not crazy about warm mushy fruit. I definitely don't like raisins and am not sure about craisins.
~ingrid
Your husband should have his with the ice cream! That is an amazing pairing!
Your glaze looks perfect!
Um, I'll take some! Definitely insulin worthy to me!
Oh My goodness, those look so goood! Definitely worth the wait.
wow these are divine
This looks very good, I love all of little items that went into the making of this bar.
These look great! So nice of your to share!
Amanda, yours look perfect! I would eat that caramel glaze on anything, truly. I like how shiny your glaze turned out. Beautiful!
Amanda, your bars look fabulously delicious!!! Well done!
They look great- love the crasins. lucky neighbors who got these!
They look gorgeous and so moist!
Brilliant idea to use Cherry Craisins.
Great job!
I'll accept the other half with open arms!
These do look so moist & delicious! Nice job!
Wow…these look really freakin' amazing. I really wish I could have a few, but don't really feel like baking :/
Your frosting is decadent looking. It looks rich and creamy and I am sure it is.
Nice how-to! I appreciate it because I made my several months ago and couldn't remember the details.
Yours look fantastic!
bars looks so good!
My those are beautiful!!
I love apple desserts! This is a winner!
I love baked apples, raisins not so much! These look decadent and tasty! I wish I was your neighbor!