Apple Cheddar Bread

Makes about 4 mini loaves (2" x 4") or 1 large (5"x 9")

1/4 C butter
2/3 C sugar
2 eggs
1/4 C applesauce
2 apples, chopped
1/2 C grated cheddar cheese
1/2 C walnuts (optional)
2 C flour
1 t baking powder
1/2 t baking soda
1/2 t salt

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs one at a time. Add applesauce and mix well. Gently stir in apples, cheese and walnuts. Combine remaining ingredients in a separate bowl. Slowly add dry ingredients to rest of batter and stir just until moistened.

Pour into greased loaf pans. If using smaller pans, I find it helpful to use a very large cookie scoop.

Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes our clean, 25 minutes or so for smaller loaves, and 50 minutes for a large loaf. Cool in pans 1 or 2 minutes before removing to cooling rack.

Apple Pie Bars

These were a big hit!
Makes 15 bars

2 1/4 cups flour
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2/3 cup butter
1 egg
1/4 cup + 2 Tablespoons sugar
3 Tablespoons flour
2 teaspoons cinnamon
6 1/2 cups cooking apples, cored and thinly sliced

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

In a mixing bowl, combine 2 cups flour, 1/2 cup sugar, baking powder and salt. Cut in butter with a pastry blender until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in egg until combined. Press half of this crust mixture into an ungreased 9"x9" or 8"x8" pan.

In a large bowl, stir together remaining ingredients except the apples. Add apples and toss to combine. Layer evenly over crust in baking pan.

Sprinkle with remaining crust mixture.

Bake for 45 to 50 minutes or until the upper crust is lightly golden. Cool and cut into bars. If it necessary to eat the bars right away, they may be cut while still hot, but will be slightly runny.