Raisin Walnut Spice Bars Food

OLD FASHIONED RAISIN BARS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
• Combine raisins and water in a small saucepan; bring to a boil.
• Remove from heat, add butter; cool to lukewarm.
• Whisk the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, allspice, cloves, and salt together in a medium-size bowl.
• Pour the raisin mixture in large mixing bowl; add sugar, egg and dry ingredients.
• With an electric mixer, beat until thoroughly blended.
• Pour into greased and floured sheet pan (15½x10½x1-inch) and bake about 25 minutes.
• Cool.
• To frost:
• In a medium bowl, mix together the butter, vanilla, confectioners' sugar and 1 tablespoon at a time of milk to the desired consistency.

RAISIN-WALNUT BARS

Steps:

• 1. Blend one cup flour, butter, 1/4 cup brown sugar and 1/4 teaspoon salt with a pastry blender or 2 knives until mixture is evenly combined. Pat into bottom of a 13" x 9" baking pan. Bake at 325 degrees for 15 minutes or until golden.
• 2. Mix remaining brown sugar, eggs, remaining flour, vanilla, baking powder, ginger or cinnamon and remaining salt in a medium bowl. Stir in walnuts and raisins. Pour raisin mixture over hot crust.
• 3. Bake an additional 20 to 25 minutes until top is golden and set. Cool completely and cut into bars.

RAISIN WALNUT SPICE BARS

Steps:

• Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, ground cloves, nutmeg, and salt in a bowl. Using medium speed of an electric mixer, beat together butter and brown sugar until fluffy. Beat in molasses and 3 eggs until blended. Stir in flour mixture just until combined. Stir in raisins and walnuts. Cover and refrigerate dough for 1 hour.
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Line two large rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Divide dough into 6 pieces. On a lightly floured surface, pat each piece into a strip 14 inches long and 1 1/2 inches wide. Place 3 strips on each prepared pan, leaving a 2 inch space between strips. Combine beaten egg and water. Brush tops of strips with beaten egg mixture.
• Bake for 25 - 30 minutes or until strips are firm and lightly browned at edges. Let strips stand for 10 minutes on pans. Transfer strips to a cutting board and cut each strip diagonally into 12 bars. Cool bars on racks. Store in an airtight container in a cool dry place for up to 5 days. May be frozen.

SPICE COOKIES WITH RAISINS AND WALNUTS

Steps:

• Beat butter and both sugars in large bowl until creamy. Beat in milk, egg and vanilla. Stir flour, baking powder, cinnamon, allspice, cloves and salt in medium bowl. Add to butter mixture; beat to blend. Stir in raisins and walnuts. Cover dough and refrigerate until chilled, about 2 hours (dough will be sticky).
• Preheat oven to 375°F. Drop dough by rounded teaspoonfuls onto heavy large baking sheets, spacing evenly. Bake until cookies are pale golden, about 12 minutes. Transfer baking sheets to racks; cool 5 minutes. Transfer cookies to racks; cool. (Can be made 2 days ahead. Store in airtight container at room temperature.)

GERMAN WALNUT RAISIN SPICE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F Grease and flour lightly THREE (8-by-1 1/2-inch) round layer cake pans.
• Chop raisins and 1 cup walnuts fine; place in a medium bowl.
• Add baking soda; then stir in boiling water.
• Let mixture cool 1/2 hour.
• Sift flour with cinnamon and salt.
• In large bowl, with electric mixer at medium speed, beat 3/4 cup butter until creamy.
• Add sugar, a little at a time, beating until light and fluffy.
• Stop beater once or twice; scrape down side of bowl with rubber spatula.
• Add eggs and egg yolks, one at a time.
• Beat after each addition; scrape side of bowl with rubber spatula.
• Beat until light and fluffy.
• Add lemon juice and 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla.
• With wooden spoon, beat in flour mixture, in fourths, alternately with nut mixture, in thirds; begin and end with flour mixture.
• Pour batter into prepared pans.
• Place in oven, leaving space between pans.
• Bake 25 to 30 minutes, or until top springs back when lightly pressed with fingertip and cake pulls away from edge.
• Cool on wire rack 5 minutes.
• With small spatula, loosen edge.
• Turn out on wire rack; turn top up; let cool completely—about 1 hour.
• MAKE FROSTING: In large bowl, with electric mixer at medium speed, beat cheese with butter and vanilla until creamy.
• Add the confectioners; sugar; beat until light and fluffy.
• Using 1 1/2 cups frosting, put layers together.
• Use rest of frosting to cover top and side of cake.
• With metal spatula, make decorative swirls in frosting; coarsely chop remaining walnuts; sprinkle around top.
• Refrigerate until serving.
• Makes 16 servings.