recipe: apple spice cookie bars

Last week after our apple picking trip, I went on a search for apple recipes in my favorite foodie blogs and on the net. Last weekend's cake was a huge hit but, I wanted to try something a little different this time and also wanted something a bit more portable to send with Mr. B who will be away for work most of this week. Heather of Heather Drive always inspires me with her baking prowess so, when I saw her rave about these cookie bars, I knew I'd have to try them.
Apple Spice Cookie Bars
(Source: Heather Drive & Good Things Catered)
Ingredients:
- 2 cups + 2 tbsp. all purpose flour
- 2 tsp. baking powder
- 1/4 tsp. salt
- 2 tsp. ground cinnamon
- 1/8 tsp. nutmeg
- 1/8 tsp. allspice
- small pinch ground cloves
- 1/2 cup (8 tbsp.) unsalted butter, melted
- 1 cup packed brown sugar
- 1 cup white sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 tbsp. vanilla extract
- 2 apples, peeled, cored and diced (about two cups)
- cinnamon sugar for sprinkling

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line 9x13 pan with foil and baking spray.
2. In medium bowl, combine flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and cloves. Whisk to combine well and set aside.
3. In bowl of stand mixer, combine sugars and butter and beat on medium high until light and fluffy, about 1 minute.
4. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well to combine.
5. Add vanilla extract and beat to combine.
6. Turn mixer on slow and fold in flour mixture a little at a time until just combined.
7. Fold in apples.
8. Spread mixture evenly into prepared pan and sprinkle top generously with cinnamon sugar.
9. Place in oven and bake until cooked through, when top slightly bounces back to the touch, about 30 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool completely before removing from pan, cutting and serving. (Bars will be very soft.)

The verdict: This recipe more than lived up to Heather's rave. Light and fluffy, moist and just delicious! I'd liken the consistency to a cake, definitely not a denser cookie bar as one normally thinks of them but, oh-so-good. I had two of my male cousins over to watch football tonight and several bars disappeared, I did damage to a couple others and so did Mr. B. I'm sending the majority out of town with him because I know I won't be able to resist them if they stay in the house!