Spiced Apple Bars

The recipe calls for raisins which should be plumbed up before used for better taste. Soak them in either hot or boiling water for 10 - 15 minutes with cover. Then drain and dry them thoroughly using paper towels.

To keep raisins from sinking to the bottom during baking, coat them with a little flour that is to be used in the recipe.

If you line the baking pan with parchment paper, you also need to grease the sides of the pan. It may be easier to use aluminum foil. Just make sure to adequately extend the foil above the top of the pan for easy removing of the whole apple bar after baking.

Unsalted butter	1 cup or 2 sticks
Dark brown sugar, packed	1 cup
Granulated sugar	½ cup
Eggs	4 large
All purpose flour	2 and 2/3 cups
Baking powder	2½ tsp
Ground cinnamon	1 tsp
Ground ginger	½ tsp
Apples, peeled and coarsely grated	2½ cups
Raisins	1½ cups

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F., and line a 13 x 9-inch baking pan with either parchment paper or aluminum foil.

  
  

• Melt butter in a saucepan over low heat, or in a bowl over simmering water. Make sure that bottom of bowl does not touch the water.
  
  

  
  
  
  

• Remove from heat and stir in both brown and granulated sugars. Then add eggs and combine.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Gently stir in flour, baking soda, ground cinnamon and ground ginger.
  
  
  
  
  
• Then mix in grated apples and raisins.
  
  
  
  
  
• Transfer the batter to prepared baking pan.
  
  
  
• Bake for about 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out slightly wet.

• Cool completely in baking pan on wire rack.
  
  
  
  
  
• Lift the entire bar to cutting board using the overhang as a handle. Carefully remove the foil and cut it into pieces of your choice.

This recipe for spiced apple bars comes from All About Cookies by Irma S. Rombauer, Marion Rombauer Becker, Ethan Becker.