Recipe: Chewy Apple Brownies

CHEWY APPLE BROWNIES

1 cup margarine (2 sticks), softened
1 3/4 cups granulated sugar
2 large eggs, well beaten
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 medium baking apples, peeled, cored, and chopped
1/2 cup chopped pecans
VANILLA GLAZE:
1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
1 tablespoon hot water
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9-inch square baking pan; set aside.

Beat margarine, granulated sugar, eggs and vanilla in large bowl of electric mixer until light and fluffy.

Combine dry ingredients and add to egg mixture. Mix until flour is moistened; fold in apples and nuts. Spread into prepared pan.

Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 45 minutes. Cool on wire rack.

GLAZE:
Combine glaze ingredients and mix until smooth. Drizzle over cooled brownies in a thin stream, forming a woven pattern. Let glaze set before cutting brownies.

Serve brownies warm with frozen yogurt or at room temperature.

Yield: 9 servings
Source: Kay Fitzgerald, Wind Lake, Wisconsin