Recipe: Orange Nut Bars with Orange Glaze (makes 54 bars)

ORANGE NUT BARS WITH ORANGE GLAZE

2 1/3 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup molasses
2 eggs
1 cup thick applesauce
1 tbsp grated orange peel
FOR THE ORANGE GLAZE:
3 cups powdered sugar
3 to 6 tbsp orange juice
1/2 cup chopped walnuts (for garnish)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease 3 (8x8x2-inch) square pans.

Stir together flour, soda, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt; set aside.

In large bowl of mixer cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in molasses until well mixed. Add eggs and beat until light. Add flour mixture, applesauce, and orange peel. Gently stir with spoon just until blended. Stir in 1/2 cup walnuts. Pour into prepared pans.

Bake at 350 degrees F for 30 minutes or until pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool completely on racks.

TO MAKE THE ORANGE GLAZE:
In small bowl beat powdered sugar and orange juice until smooth and of glaze consistency.

Frost cooled cakes with Orange Glaze. Garnish with chopped walnuts. Wrap tightly. Store in cool, dry place. Keeps about 1 week.

To serve, cut each cake in 18 bars.

Makes enough for 3 cakes (54 bars)
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