PAULA'S SPICED CRANBERRY PECAN BARS

 Crust:

2 1/2 cups all-purpose* flour

1/2 cup sugar

1 1/2 tsp apple pie spice

3/4 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp ground ginger

1/2 tsp kosher salt 

1 cup cold butter, cubed

1 egg

Line a 9" x 13" baking pan with parchment paper.

In a medium mixing bowl, whisk the first 6 ingredients together; add butter. On medium speed of electric mixer, beat until crumbly. Beat in the egg. Reserve 1 cup of the mixture and press the remaining into the bottom of the prepared pan. Bake 18 minutes until golden brown.

Filling:

5 cups fresh cranberries

3/4 cup sugar

1/2 cup applesauce

1/2 cup maple syrup

2 tbsp orange juice

1/4 tsp kosher salt

1 1/2 tbsp cornstarch

In a large pot, mix 3 cups of the cranberries with the sugar, applesauce, syrup, orange juice and salt. Cook over medium-high heat while stirring until the cranberries begin to burst. Reduce heat to low and simmer, stirring, 10 minutes. Whisk the cornstarch and 1 1/2 tablespoons water into the mixture. Cook about 2 minutes until thick. Remove from the heat and fold in the remaining berries. Spread over the crust.

Topping:

1/2 cup chopped pecans

1/2 cup old-fashioned oats

Mix the pecans and oats with the reserved cup of crust mixture. Sprinkle evenly over the filling. Bake at 350-degrees until golden brown, about 30 minutes. Cut into 24 bars to serve.

PD photo