cinnamon walnut squares

The original name for this dessert is Cinnamon Walnut Blondies. I found the recipe in a new brownie cookbook (Blissful Brownies) we bought a few weekends ago. I decided to change it up by making it healthier. Because I used applesauce to replace a good portion of the butter that the recipe called for, the result was a cakey snack/dessert that was light, a little fluffy, but definitely tasty. I'll post the original recipe, then I'll post the new one. I made a few other minor changes here and there, like adding more cinnamon and a pinch of nutmeg, but that's just because I love the way those two spices complement each other...and you can never have too much cinnamon! I was happy to recently discover that cinnamon actually has a few health benefits; on top of being tasty, it's also good for you! It can help lower cholesterol levels and just a little more than a teaspoon of it mixed in a dessert can help lower the blood sugar rise following a meal. You can read more about that here.

Here is the original recipe:
Walnut & Cinnamon Blondies
1/2 cup butter
1 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1 egg yolk
1 cup self-rising flour
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 cup coarsely chopped walnuts

Cinnamon Walnut Squares (altered version)
1 cup flour
1 cup brown sugar
¼ tsp salt
1/8 tsp nutmeg
2 tsp cinnamon
1/8 cup applesauce
1/8 cup milk
2 eggs
1 tsp baking soda
½ cup chopped walnuts

Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes, let cool for about 5, and then eat them up!