- 1 cup boiling hot water
- 1 cup raisins
- 1/2 cup oil or shortening
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1 medium egg
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 cups flour
Place the raisins in a large bowl while you
heat up the water. When the water boils,
pour it over the raisins. They will swell up
and absorb some of the water. Add the oil or
shortening. The heat from the raisins and
water should be enough to melt the
shortening, if that is the fat you use. Stir
in the sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg. Add the
egg and mix everything until the oil is well
combined with everything else. Add the
baking soda, salt and flour. Mix very well.
The batter will be thin and lumpy. That's
alright, it is supposed to be. Turn this
batter into a well oiled 9 by 13-inch
rectangular pan. Bake at 375° for about 25
minutes. Remove from the oven and cool
before cutting. Frost if desired with a
simple vanilla frosting.
UPDATE from a reader named Karen; November
2005
I have a suggestion for a variation on the
Cinnamon Raisin bars, which are a huge
favorite here. For one, it is possible to
omit the egg with good results--my baby
can't eat eggs yet, and this way he can have
a bite of his big brother's snack. Also, if
you add about a cup or more of shredded
carrots to the raisins (before adding the
boiling water) and mix as usual, they are
wonderfully moist and somewhat like carrot
cake. I'm always looking to sneak veggies in
wherever I can.
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