Applesauce Toast Dessert

A simple, light dessert...

Tart applesauce and smooth cream cheese are complemented by the flavors of cinnamon and sugar. It's all sandwiched between lightly buttery slices of wholesome whole wheat toast and dusted with sweet powdered sugar.

Using ingredients that are commonly on hand, these sandwiches are easy to cook up in a pinch. It's a nice dessert that isn't full of fat and sugar. It's a tasty treat, even for kids--and they can help make it, too.

To make the dessert a bit fancier, try trimming off the crusts (before buttering the bread slices), cutting the finished sandwiches in fourths, and dusting the dainty squares with powdered sugar.

The measurements I list for the ingredients are approximations because amounts will depend on the size of bread you use--and the amounts should be according to your taste.

Applesauce Toast Dessert
Estimated time: 20 minutes
Serves: 1 sandwich per person (see ingredients below)

Ingredients
(Listed are approximate amounts for each sandwich)

• Whole wheat bread (2 slices per sandwich)
• Butter (just enough to spread lightly on 1 side of each bread slice: about 1/2 tablespoon per sandwich)
• Unsweetened applesauce (2-3 tablespoons per sandwich)
• Cream cheese, softened slightly (1-2 tablespoons per sandwich)
• Granulated sugar (just a sprinkling for each bread slice: about 1/4 teaspoon per sandwich)
• Ground cinnamon (enough to evenly sprinkle atop each bread slice: about 1/4 teaspoon per sandwich)
• Powdered sugar (about 2 teaspoons for each sandwich)

Instructions
1. Lightly butter 1 side of every bread slice (2 slices per sandwich).
2. Place the slices butter-side-down on a cutting board or plate.
3. Spread the cream cheese on half of the slices (on the un-buttered sides).
4. Spread the applesauce on the other half of the slices (on the un-buttered sides).
5. Heat a griddle or low-sided skillet over medium-low heat.
6. Lightly sprinkle some sugar on top of the applesauce-coated slices.
7. Lightly sprinkle some ground cinnamon on top of the applesauce-coated slices and the cream-cheese-coated slices (or just the ones with applesauce).
8. Carefully transfer all slices to the griddle or skillet, and arrange them in one layer--buttered-sides down.

9. Cook on medium-low heat until the buttered sides are lightly golden (it will take just a few minutes).

10. Using a spatula (of the turner or flipper variety), scoop up a cream-cheese-coated slice and place it, cream-cheese side down, on top of an applesauce-coated slice and press down lightly, making a sandwich. Repeat with the other slices.

11. Cook sandwiches for another minute on low heat, being careful not to burn them.
12. Remove sandwiches from the heat, sprinkle some powdered sugar atop each one, slice them in half, and serve warm.

Enjoy!