Applesauce Linzer Bars (Gluten- Free Variation as well)

Tastes like an apple crumb pie in a bar! Perfect for your Thanksgiving dessert buffet – not too sweet with a touch of warm spices.

Attention all you bakers! Make these easy bars for the ultimate Fall treat. Not too sweet with cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg in the crumb crust.

Gluten-Free – no problem!!  For these bars, pictured above – I have used a gluten-free flour blend… They’re delicious!!

Similar ingredients to Linzer bars – ground nuts, butter, flour and confectioner’s sugar are the main ingredients for the crust/topping. I’ve added rolled oats and warm spices to make them special.

The mixture (dough) doubles as a topping – just sprinkle and bake. Oatmeal, almonds and walnuts in the crust/topping adds a healthy content and fiber.

To Make:
Simply press 2/3’s of the dough on the bottom of your pan.
Smooth homemade applesauce on top (will add some sugar and flour to sweeten and thicken.)
Sprinkle the remaining 1/3 of the dough on top to almost cover.
Bake, cool and cut into squares.

Homemade chunky applesauce is the filling (see my simple recipe.) Soft apples; Golden Delicious, Macon and McIntosh are easier to peel, and cook very quickly!

I was happy to accept these wonderful apples that were literally falling off my friend’s Isabelle’s tree. It’s fun to make applesauce, especially after apple picking, when you bring home buckets of apples wondering what to do with them! Farmers’ Markets are also a great way to purchase apples, many times organic and super-fresh.

Thanksgiving Holiday Dessert Guide – What I’m having at my table this year:

Pumpkin Pie (a friend is baking)
Southern Pecan Pie
Applesauce Linzer Bars – Gluten- Free
Flourless Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
Vegan Butter Pecan “Ice Cream”
Fresh Berries

See below for my favorite Thanksgiving A Zest For Life Recipes!
Have a sweet, healthy and tasty Thanksgiving,
Karen

Thanksgiving A Zest For Life Recipes:

           Soups & Salads:

• Kabocha Squash Soup with Apples and Cashew Crema – Vegan
• Thanksgiving Squash and Celeriac Soup with Harissa
• Fall Salad with Pears, Pomegranate Seeds and Zesty Garlic Confit Vinaigrette
• Winter Salad with Grilled Radicchio and Pomegranate-Macadamia Vinaigrette
• Radicchio, Spinach and Kale Salad with Raspberry & Home Made Almond Oil Dressing
• Fall Salad ~ Greens, Nuts and Fruits with a Pickled Radish and Apple Vinaigrette
  

  Breads & Appetizers:

• Karen’s Cornbread
• Blue Corn Madeleines with Cheddar, Fresh Corn and Scallions
• Goat Cheese and Garlic Pâté with Walnuts and Chives ~ Balsamic-Honey Drizzle
• Lebneh Balls – Yogurt Cheese with Herbs, Spices, Walnuts and Olive Oil
• Karen’s Cornbread
  
• Tuscan Stuffed Mushrooms
  

  The Main Course:

• Roast Thanksgiving Turkey Basted with Fruit Juices and Marsala Gravy
  
• Thanksgiving Turkey Marsala Gravy – the best, richest and most delicious!
• Chunky Cranberry Sauce with Pineapple and Ginger
• Chestnut Stuffing with Shiitake Mushrooms, Apricots and Fresh Herbs
• Sticky Glazed Onions with Butter, Honey and Pomegranate Molasses

• Roasted Carrots with Fresh Figs ~ Pomegranate Glaze and Pistachios
  Karen’s Skillet Succotash
  Hasselback Sweet Potatoes with Aged Gouda – Maple Syrup Glaze
  
• Roasted Brussel Sprouts with Spiced Candied Pecans
  

            Sweets:

• Karen’s Fall Apple Cake with Streusel and Caramelized Apples
  Poached Pears in Spiced Red Wine & Pomegranate Juice (with Caramel Zabaglione)
• Vegan Apple Raspberry Crisp
  Pumpkin Cider Pie with Shortbread Cookie Crust
  Caramel Vanilla Bean Vegan Ice Cream
  Caramelized Apple Deep Dish Cheesecake Pie
   Caramel Vanilla Bean Vegan Ice Cream
  Chocolate Lava Cakes with Chocolate Peanut Butter Truffles
  Cashew Caramel Lace Cookies