These bars reward patience. Not because they take a long time to make, but because they taste so much better when they’re completely cooled. They’re delicious warm too, but the spiced apple flavor is more pronounced when cool.
The inspiration for the bars is a jar of Smucker’s Apple Cinnamon Topping.
I’ve been seeing this in the stores for several weeks now (along with a Pumpkin Spice Topping that I can’t wait to try). Back in August, it seemed out of season, but now it is September and we can officially celebrate fall, despite temps in the 90s.
For the record, Smucker’s has no idea who I am. I don’t know how widely available this topping is or if you’ll be able to find it. I do have a couple of ideas for substitutes that I’ll share at the end of the recipe.
I adapted my Gooey Turtle Bars recipe to make this. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Spice cake mix
- 3/4 cup butter, melted (1 1/2 sticks)
- 2/3 cup milk
- Smucker’s Apple Cinnamon Topping *see below for substitute ideas
- 1/2 chopped pecans
- 3/4 cup toffee chips
In a mixer, blend the cake mix, melted butter and milk together. The batter will be thick. Put half the batter into a greased 9×13 pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes.
Remove from the oven. Spread the apple topping over the cake. Sprinkle with pecans and toffee chips. Put the rest of the batter over on top of it all. Spread it out as best you can. It is thick and it’s okay if it doesn’t completely cover the top. Bake for about 28 minutes longer, or until the cake is done. Cool completely before serving.
*If you can’t find Smucker’s Apple Cinnamon Topping, try using apple butter, or chunky applesauce or even a can of fried apples or apple pie filling. If you try one of these substitutes, let me know how it works!
Tiffany, this sounds wonderful. It so happens that Friday is the day I make the menu/grocery list for next week, so this is perfect timing. This will make a great treat for my crew next week. (We’ve been having lots of peaches and cream for dessert, but I don’t think anyone will complain if I change up dessert one night.) Do you mind if I ask where you found the topping?
Beverly, I found it in Walmart. The same one we always shop in. I need to start shopping earlier in the day so I can run into you there again 😉
I have a jar of this and no idea what I was going to do with it. I can’t wait to try this out. It looks so good and I am sure that my family will love this !!
This looks and sounds soo good and so much like a Fall treat! I haven’t seen these new Smuckers toppings so I am going to have to pay attention when I go to the store tomorrow 🙂
Wow, Tiffany, I am not an “apple person” at all, but this looks great! I will check to see if my local Walmart carries the topping. If not, the texture looks kinda thick, so I’m thinking apple sauce or apple butter may just get absorbed and not give a dense texture but a lighter cake texture. I would experiment with fried apples with a decent amount of butter and brown sugar with a slight hint of corn starch to thicken the mixture. I will let you know when I get to try this. Thanks for sharing!
This sounds heavenly! I haven’t seen that topping out here yet, but I’m going to keep my eyes peeled for it. The Pumpkin Spice one, too! Yum!
Wow these look amazing – will have to try them soon now that fall is starting to arrive!
I made this today and did use my homemade crockpot apple butter (recipe in comments on the apples spotlight post). I ended up almost creating a new recipe. Since, as I stated, the apple butter is pretty spicy, I used a yellow cake mix instead of a spice cake. I used toasted pecans. (I toast my nuts in big batches and keep them in the refrigerator or freezer as I use toasted nuts in almost all recipes calling for nuts.) When I went to get the toffee chips, I found that I only had the ones with milk chocolate included. Oh well, used them anyway. Morale: check to make sure you have ALL ingredients on hand first! I should know this, I have been cooking for over 50 years! I had about 1 cup of the apple butter. It was very thick so I had to more like dallop the apple butter on rather than spread it and 1 1/2 c. probably would have been better. I think commercial apple butter is not as thick I mine was. Anyway, apple butter worked, but I ended up with something a little different that what you made. I have sampled the finished product, and it is very good, but a little different. This would be extra special with some ice cream on the top. Now I am anxious to find the Smucker’s topping and make your real recipe.
Super YUM! It’s always fun to find a new kind of sauce out there….this Apple Cinnamon sauce looks de’lish! – but made into your bars looks even yummier!!!! Fun to find your blog! I look forward to checking out more of your recipes. 🙂
This is such a great treat. I want to make this soon. It should be a hit with everyone, in the family.