1/4 cup plus two tablespoons butter or margarine, melted
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 egg, beaten
1/2 cup applesauce
1 teaspoon grated orange zest (I just zest a whole orange!)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/4 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup chopped pecans, toasted
GLAZE:
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
2 Tablespoons (I use a bit more) orange juice from the zested orange
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Combine the first 6 ingredients in a large mixing bowl, stirring well. Combine flour, baking powder, salt and baking soda; add to applesauce mixture, beating well. Stir in the toasted pecans. Spoon the batter into a greased 9x12x2-inch baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 to 35 minutes. Cool on a wire rack.
Combine powdered sugar, orange juice, and vanilla extract and mix until smooth and well blended. Spread over cooled cake, and cut into squares.