Applesauce Bars

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 3/4 cup dry sugar substitute (I used Splenda)
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon clove
• 1 1/2 cups hot unsweetened applesauce
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1/3 cup vegetable oil
• 1/4 cup walnuts, chopped (I used pecans)
• 1/4 cup raisins

Directions

1. 1

   Place flour, sugar, dry sugar substitute, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves in a mixer bowl and mix at low speed to blend well.

2. 2

   Combine hot applesauce and baking soda. (Don't try to be modern and use cold applesauce and mix the baking soda with the flour; it doesn't work as well that way.).

3. 3

   Add the applesauce mixture, along with oil, nuts, and raisins, to flour mixture.

4. 4

   Mix at medium speed until flour is moistened and batter is creamy.

5. 5

   Spread batter evenly in a 9 x 13-inch cake pan that has been sprayed with cooking spray or greased well with margarine or butter.

6. 6

   Bake at 375 degrees for 20 or 25 minutes, or until bars pull away from the sides of the pan and a cake tester comes out clean from the center. Cool on a wire rack.