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. A great weeknight recipe to master.
Servings: 24 servings; or 16 larger servings
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Ingredients
The Base:
- 10 tablespoons unsalted butter softened
- 1 cup confectioner's sugar
- 1 1/4 cups flour gluten-free all purpose flour or regular flour
- 1 cup rolled oats DIVIDED
- 1 cup nuts half almonds, half walnuts – chopped finely
- 1 1/4 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg freshly grated
- 1/4 teaspoon sea salt or Himalayan sea salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pure almond extract
Middle Layer:
- 2 1/2 cups chunky homemade apple sauce (see my recipe)
- 1/3 cup light brown sugar or coconut palm sugar
- 1/4 cup flour gluten-free all purpose flour or regular flour
Instructions
- Make Karen’s Homemade Applesauce. Can be made a few days ahead for a quick recipe. (See recipe.)
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a 9″x 13″* baking pan with parchment paper, lightly butter, set aside.
- In a stand mixer add first 10 ingredients, butter through almond extract – adding ONLY 1/2 cup of the oats. Mix on low speed until crumbly yet well mixed, about 30 seconds. Press dough down and take out 2/3’s of the mixture and press into the bottom of the prepared pan.
- In a medium sized bowl, add the applesauce, sugar and extra flour, mix well. (Add 1/2 t. some extra cinnamon if you like.) Spread evenly over the uncooked crust.
- Top Layer: Add 1/2 cups of remaining oats to remaining 1/3 dough, mix in with your hands. Top this topping over the applesauce layer evenly, dropping small sized chunks over. Topping will mostly cover, with a little applesauce peaking through.
- Add a sprinkling of your favorite spice on top; I used ground cloves.
- Bake for 35 minutes until the bars feel firm and just starting to become golden on top.
- Cool, cut into 24 squares (or 16 larger squares.)
NOTES:
- These bars have a nice layer of crust and crumb topping that stands up to the applesauce filling. If you want thicker layers, cook in a 9″ square pan instead of the 9’x13′ pan. You will have 16 bars.
- Yes – you can make these up to 2 weeks ahead. Freeze tightly covered, defrost fully on countertop and cut into squares.
Notes
This recipe may not be reproduced without the consent of its author, Karen Sheer.
Nutrition Facts
Applesauce Linzer Bars (Gluten-Free Variation as well)
Amount per Serving
Calories
142
% Daily Value*
Fat
8
g
12
%
Saturated Fat
3
g
19
%
Trans Fat
0.2
g
Polyunsaturated Fat
1
g
Monounsaturated Fat
3
g
Cholesterol
13
mg
4
%
Sodium
27
mg
1
%
Potassium
82
mg
2
%
Carbohydrates
21
g
7
%
Fiber
1
g
4
%
Sugar
5
g
6
%
Protein
2
g
4
%
Vitamin A
154
IU
3
%
Vitamin C
0.3
mg
0
%
Calcium
13
mg
1
%
Iron
1
mg
6
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.