Food Friday: Apple Bars

I was searching for some main dish recipes on the internet this past Saturday and came across this amazing recipe. Of course, it isn't a main dish, but that didn't stop me from trying them. I was planning on making cookies that afternoon but as soon as I realized I had the ingredients, these bars quickly replaced the cookies. They will be gooey when done but they are delicious. Warning, it is hard not to eat the entire pan.

Apple Spice Cookie Bars

2 cup plus 2 Tbsp all purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
2 tsp cinnamon
1/8 tsp nutmeg
1/8 tsp allspice (I left this out since I didn't have any)
small pinch ground cloves
1/2 cup butter, melted
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 cup white sugar
2 eggs
1 Tbsp vanilla
2 apples, cored and diced (a little less than 2 cups)
cinnamon sugar for sprinkling

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line 9x13 pan with foil and baking spray. In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice and cloves. Whisk to combine well and set aside.

In a bowl from stand mixer, combine sugars and butter and beat on medium speed until light and fluffy, about one minute. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well to combine. Turn mixer on slow and fold in flour mixture a little at a time until just combined. Fold in apples.

Spread mixture evenly into prepared pan and sprinkle top generously with cinnamon sugar. 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 and gooey).