Molasses Fruit Bars

Before you go on to read this post I must ask you a very important question.  Imagine you are at Starbucks for an afternoon coffee and treat and you are craving a cookie.  It's nearing the end of the afternoon and there are only two cookies left in the case - one snickerdoodle and one ginger molasses.  Which cookie would you take?  If you answered snickerdoodle then this recipe might not be your favorite but I would strongly encourage you to try it anyway. But, if your answer was the ginger molasses then hold onto your keyboard because I have THE recipe for you!

Actually it's not a cookie recipe per se - they're bars.  But they are A to the MAZEing  - especially if you love ginger and molasses together!

I acquired this recipe when I nannied for a lovely family during my college years in Portland.  They would frequently make a pan of these and leave them sitting out on the counter taunting me the entire day.  I would try and sneak inconspicuous little corners so it didn't look like I was PIGGING out on them.  Finally I could take it no longer and asked for the recipe so I could eat an entire pan in the privacy of my own home.  I hope you enjoy them as much as I have!

Molasses Fruit Bars

3/4 cup butter or margarine
1 egg
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup golden or dark molasses
~cream the above four ingredients together

Combine:
2 cups flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. ground cloves
1 tsp. ginger

Add the dry ingredients to the wet and mix well, then add in 1 cup raisins.  Pour the mixture into a greased and floured pan.  Pat the top down evenly with wet fingers, then sprinkle lightly with white sugar.  Bake about 20 min. @ 350.

An 8" by 11" pan works best for this recipe.  The key is to not over cook - it's better to keep these slightly soft in the middle.

Watch them disappear before your eyes!