Apple Brownies

I have about 500 apples in my refrigerator at the moment. I feel like I have tried to integrate apples into just about everything. I was just about on apple overload and the idea of apple brownies came to me. I thought it was going to be a disaster. They turned out great! My co-workers, who are normally my test subjects, loved them. They were so moist!! And the addition of the butterscotch chips made them even better- thank goodness for that extra bag I had in my cupboard.

Here's the recipe:

• 1 1/4 Cups flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 stick unsalted butter, room temperature
• 3/4 cup Splenda blend
• 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup Beak & Skiff apple cider, room temperature
• 2 large eggs
• 1 cup almonds, chopped
• 1 tsp vanilla
• grated orange peel
• 4 large apples, diced (I used sweet Empire apples)
• 3 cups instant oats
• 11 oz package of Nestle Butterscotch Morsels

Put salt, flour, baking soda and cinnamon in a separate bowl and set aside. Put butter, Splenda, apple cider and brown sugar into a large bowl and cream together. Add eggs and vanilla, mix again. Fold in grated orange peel. Sift in dry ingredients and blend one cup at a time. Fold in apples, almonds and Nestle's Butterscotch Morsels. I baked in a 9 x 13 in pan for about 35 minutes.

I hope you enjoy these as much as I did!!!!!

~ Melissa