Gerhild's Raisin Squares

Raisin Spice Bar Recipe

• 1 cup raisins
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/4 cup butter
• 1 tsp. cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp. ground cloves
• 1/4 tsp. allspice
  
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 2 tsp. water
• 1 cup flour, all purpose
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• 1 1/2 cups icing sugar
• 3 tbsp. butter
• 1 1/2 tbsp. lemon juice or 1 tsp. almond flavoring

• Preheat oven to 350° F. Grease 8 X 8 inch pan.
• Put first 8 ingredients into large pot. Bring to boil, lower heat, and simmer for about 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat.
• Mix baking soda and 2 tsp. of water in a small bowl. Stir into raisin mixture.
• Let raisin mixture cool.
• Mix together flour and baking powder. Stir into raisin mixture. Mix well.
• Spread batter in prepared pan. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes until set.
• Let cool in pan on wire rack.
• In mixing bowl, beat icing sugar, butter, and lemon juice (or almond flavoring) until smooth, adding more juice (or water) until spreading consistency.
• Spread over cooled raisin squares. Cuts into 25 squares.