Colonial Spice Bars
Take a flavorful trip back in time with these Colonial Spice Bars, a nostalgic dessert packed with warm, aromatic spices and rich molasses. Perfectly balanced with the deep flavors of cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and nutmeg, these tender bars are studded with crunchy walnuts or pecans and sweet optional raisins for added texture. This easy-to-make recipe requires just 20 minutes of prep and bakes to golden perfection in under half an hour, making it an irresistible choice for holidays, tea time, or everyday snacking. Whether served plain or dusted with a touch of powdered sugar for a decorative finish, these spiced bars capture the comforting charm of vintage baking with every bite.
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 115 grams unsalted butter
- 200 grams brown sugar, packed
- 2 large eggs
- 80 milliliters molasses
- 250 grams all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 0.5 teaspoon ground cloves
- 0.25 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 0.5 teaspoon salt
- 100 grams chopped walnuts or pecans
- 75 grams raisins (optional)
- 2 tablespoons powdered sugar (for dusting, optional)
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 175°C (350°F) and grease a 9x13-inch baking dish or line it with parchment paper.
In a large mixing bowl, cream together the butter and brown sugar with a hand or stand mixer until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.
Add the eggs, one at a time, and mix until fully incorporated. Then stir in the molasses, blending well.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, nutmeg, and salt.
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing just until combined. Do not overmix.
Fold in the chopped nuts and raisins (if using) with a spatula, ensuring they are evenly distributed throughout the batter.
Pour the batter into the prepared baking dish, spreading it out evenly with a spatula.
Bake in the preheated oven for 22-25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Remove from the oven and allow the bars to cool completely in the pan on a wire rack.
Once cooled, optionally dust the top with powdered sugar for a decorative finish.
Cut into 16 squares or rectangles and serve. Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
3940 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 178.1 g | 228% | |
| Saturated Fat | 67.9 g | 340% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.1 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 627 mg | 209% | |
| Sodium | 2721 mg | 118% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 562.5 g | 205% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 19.7 g | 70% | |
| Total Sugars | 338.6 g | ||
| Protein | 58.7 g | 117% | |
| Vitamin D | 2.1 mcg | 10% | |
| Calcium | 678 mg | 52% | |
| Iron | 25.3 mg | 141% | |
| Potassium | 3293 mg | 70% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
