Recipe: Raisin Spice Bars with Vanilla Icing

RAISIN SPICE BARS

2 cups sugar
2 cups water
2 cups raisins
1 cup butter
2 tsp. ground cloves
1 tsp. salt
3 1/2 cups sifted flour
1 tsp. baking soda dissolved in 1 tbsp. water
Vanilla Icing (recipe follows)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly butter a (11 1/2 x 17 1/2-inch) baking pan.

Combine sugar, 2 cups water, raisins, butter, cloves and salt; bring to a boil, stirring occasionally. Boil for 1 minute, then remove from heat.

Mix in flour and baking soda mixture. Spread in preapred pan.

Bake at 350 degrees F for 15 minutes or until middle puffs slightly. Cool.

Spread Vanilla Icing thinly over top; cut into bars.

VANILLA ICING

1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1/4 tsp. vanilla extract
2 to 3 tbsp milk (as needed)

Combine the frosting ingredients together and beat until smooth; adding enough milk to make icing easy to spread thinly over bars.

From: Debbie D., AL - 10-05-99