These Raisin Squares, similar to Hermit Squares, bring a warm, spicy fragrance to the kitchen.
Not a traditional German recipe, you may wonder why it is featured here. Check out Gerhild's Quickies to find out why.
Quick and easy, this is a great bar recipe to use for Bake Sales and Potlucks. With its spicy aroma, it's great at Christmas as well.
Covered with a Lemon Butter Icing, you can alter it using almond flavoring instead - a mock marzipan flavor - hence, a German twist.
Raisin Spice Bar Recipe
Ingredients:
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
Instructions:
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.
