Raisin Molasses Bars Recipes

RAISIN BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter a 10-by-15-inch rimmed baking sheet. Line bottom with parchment paper, and butter parchment; set sheet aside.
• Make filling: Pulse raisins and sugar in a food processor until almost pureed. Transfer to a saucepan. Whisk cornstarch into 1 cup cold water; whisk into raisin mixture. Stir in cider. Simmer over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until mixture thickens and sugar has dissolved, about 6 minutes.Let cool completely.
• Make dough: Whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl; set aside. Put shortening in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix on medium speed until smooth. Add brown sugar, and mix until pale and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Add egg and vanilla, and mix until combined. Reduce speed to low. Add flour mixture; mix until just combined. Mix in oats.
• Press half the dough into prepared baking sheet. Spread raisin filling evenly over top of dough. Crumble remaining dough on top of filling using your fingers, gently pressing down so that topping covers filling. Bake, rotating sheet halfway through, until top is golden brown, about 35 minutes. Let cool completely in sheet on a wire rack. Cut into 2-inchsquares. Bars can be stored between layers of parchment in airtight containers at room temperature up to 5 days.

RAISIN MOLASSES BARS

Steps:

• 1. Melt butter and cool slightly. Stir in sugar, molasses, egg, and vanilla.
• 2. Sift together the flour, salt, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, and ginger. Stir the raisins and nuts (if used) into the flour to coat well.
• 3. Combine dry ingredients with the sugar mixture until well blended. Pour into a greased 15 x 10 x 1-inch cookie or jelly roll pan. Bake at 375 degrees for about 12-13 minutes.
• 4. Cut the cake into bars when cool and dust with the cinnamon-sugar topping. *OR, top with the lemon glaze: Stir together, adjusting sugar or juice to desired consistency.

HERMIT BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Butter an 8-by-8-by-2-inch pan and line with parchment paper, leaving a 2-inch overhang. Butter parchment; set pan aside. In a medium bowl, sift together flour, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, salt, and cloves; set aside.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add egg; beat until combined, scraping down sides of bowl once. Add molasses; beat until combined and scrape down sides of bowl. Add the flour mixture and raisins; beat on low until dough just comes together, about 1 minute. Press dough into prepared pan. Bake until golden but still very soft to the touch, 20 to 25 minutes. Transfer pan to a wire rack to cool completely. Cut into bars. Hermit bars can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature up to 1 week.

FROSTED MOLASSES BARS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 9x13 inch pan.
• In a large bowl, cream together the shortening and sugar. Blend in the egg, molasses and hot coffee. Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and cinnamon; stir into the molasses mixture until well blended. Mix in the raisins. Pat the mixture evenly into the prepared pan.
• Bake for about 25 minutes in the preheated oven, or until firm. To make icing, combine butter, confectioners' sugar and cold coffee in a medium bowl; beat until smooth. Frost bars while warm, but allow them to cool before cutting.