Recipe: Frosted Apple Brownies (with Cream Cheese-Pecan Frosting)

FROSTED APPLE BROWNIES

1/2 cup shortening
1 1/2 cups sugar
3 eggs
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 cup finely chopped baking apples
1/2 cup chopped pecans
Cream Cheese Frosting (recipe follows)

Cream shortening; gradually add sugar, beating well at medium speed of an electric mixer. Add eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition; set aside.

Combine flour, salt, baking soda, and cinnamon; gradually add to creamed mixture. Fold in apple and pecans. Pour batter into a greased 15.x10x1-iflch jellyroll pan.

Bake at 350 degrees F for 30 minutes. Spread with Cream Cheese Frosting while slightly warm. Cool before cutting into squares.

CREAM CHEESE FROSTING
Makes about 1 1/4 cups

1/4 cup butter, softened
1 (3-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1 1/2 cups sifted powdered sugar
I teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup chopped pecans

Cream butter and cream cheese; gradually add sugar, beating until light and fluffy. Stir in vanilla and pecans.

Makes 4 dozen
Source: Georgia Apple Commission