A & P Spanish Bar Cake

Feeling nostalgic with this one. Does anyone remember the old A & P grocery store that sold these Spanish Cake Bars years ago, spiced and loaded with raisins? Perfect with a cup of their Eight O'Clock coffee!

Ingredients:

1 cup all purpose flour

1 cup whole wheat flour

3/4 cup sugar

3/4 cup brown sugar

1 1/2 tsps baking soda

2 tbsps cocoa powder

2 tsps cinnamon

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp nutmeg

1 1/2 tsps allspice

1/2 cup avocado or vegetable oil

2 cups unsweetened applesauce

2 eggs

1 1/2 cups raisins

 

Frosting:

1/2 cup butter

5 cups icing sugar

2 tsps vanilla

1/4 cup milk

First plump up the raisins. Cover them with hot water for 15 minutes then drain off the water and set aside. Next mix the flours, sugars, baking soda, cocoa and spices together. Add the oil, applesauce, eggs and then the raisins. Spray a 13 X 9" baking pan with oil and line with parchment paper. Pour the batter in and bake at 350°F for 30-35 minutes. Let cool 15-20 minutes then turn out on a rack, remove parchment and cool completely. Make the frosting by creaming the butter then add the icing sugar in 4 or 5 additions. Add the vanilla and milk and beat until smooth. For a traditional Spanish Bar cake cut the cake lengthwise and frost in 2 layers making fork lines across the top. Or just frost the top of the 13 X 9" cake as a single layer slab cake.

Serves 10-12

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