fresh apple bars

These apple bars pack a punch.  They are spicy and tremendously flavorful.  They remind me of how every home should smell and taste at Christmas.

fresh apple bars (slightly adapted from food.com)
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup softened butter
1 1/3 cups brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon nutmeg
1 large egg
1/4 cup apple cider or apple juice or milk
1 cup finely chopped peeled apple

glaze
1 cup powdered sugar
1 tablespoon butter
1/4 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 tablespoons milk

Preheat oven to 375.  Sift flour and baking soda together then set aside.
Cream butter and sugar with electric mixer.  Blend in salt, spices and egg.  Add half the flour mixture and blend well.  Blend in half the apple cider (I used milk).  Add the chopped apples to the remaining flour mixture and stir to coat.  Add this and the remaining apple cider to the creamed mixture and stir by hand.  For cookies: Drop by very small spoonfuls on cookie sheet and bake 8-9 minutes.  Remove from sheet while still warm.  For bars: Spread in a greased 9x13 pan and bake for 25 minutes.   For glaze:  Mix ingredients together then drizzle over cookies or bars.