Applesauce Spice Squares

These days I have this habit of jotting down recipes which look appealing to my eyes.....Be it from newspapers, magazines or even internet, I make a note of all recipes which I feel I can make someday in the future.....In particular recipes related to baking never misses my eyes, no matter how easy or complicated it is.....

This recipe for Applesauce Spice Squares appeared in the Sunday supplementary of The Hindu - Magazine, some 2 weeks back....made a note of it and the next week itself, I baked it....The cake is very moist and full of flavors.....It was good.....A different treat to your taste buds! I must say, the cake was more tastier as it aged; it tasted better after 3-4 days.....So, go ahead and give it a try.....

Ingredients:
Recipe Source: Magazine, The Hindu

All purpose flour, sifted - 2 cups
Baking soda - 2 tsp
Cinnamom powder - 3/4 tsp
Cloves, powdered - 1/4 tsp
Nutmeg, grated  - 1/4 tsp
Butter, softened - 1/2 cup
Egg - 1
Vanilla extract - 1 tsp
Boiled apple puree - 1 1/2 cups
Chopped walnuts - 1 cup
Golden raisins - 1 cup
Powdered sugar - 1/4 cup (optional)

Method:

• Preheat oven to 180 C. Lightly grease a square pan.
• To make the apple puree, peel and core 2 apples. Cut the apples into small pieces and boil them with little water, until tender. Once cooled, blend it in a blender. Keep aside.
• Sift flour with baking soda, cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg.
• In a large bowl, at medium speed, cream butter and sugar until fluffy. Add egg and vanilla and beat well.
• At low speed, beat in flour mixture, just until combined. Add apple puree, walnuts and raisins. Stir with a spatula until evenly mixed.
• Pour into the prepared pan and bake for 45-50 mins or until surface springs back when gently pressed. 
• Cool completely. Sprinkle powdered sugar on top.

The leftover squares finally ended up in a circular tin.....*smiles*