Flavors of cinnamon, allspice, and nutmeg make these raisin spice bars deeply comforting, while applesauce keeps them moist and tender. A brown sugar cream cheese frosting adds a smooth, creamy finish that complements the warm spices.
This easy-to-make dessert is perfect for cooler months and brings a cozy aroma to the kitchen as it bakes.
Raisin Spice Bars
These classic raisin spice bars have a light cake texture and are traditionally baked thin. I prefer using an 8×8 baking dish when I want thicker, heartier bars with a bigger bite.
If you’d rather use a 13×9 baking dish, the same recipe works fine, but the bars will be thinner and require a slightly shorter bake time—watch them closely near the end of baking.
The combination of allspice, nutmeg, and cinnamon gives these bars a warm, fall-like flavor that’s comforting any time the weather cools.
Moist Raisin Spice Bars
Applesauce is the secret to the bars’ moist, tender crumb. I use original applesauce, but unsweetened or cinnamon-flavored applesauce can be substituted depending on your sweetness preference.
Don’t skip the applesauce— it helps create a consistently soft texture throughout the cake.
Brown Sugar Cream Cheese Frosting
The topping is a brown sugar cream cheese frosting with a rich, buttery note. The brown sugar and butter are warmed together first to dissolve the sugar and remove any graininess, then cooled slightly before being mixed with cream cheese and vanilla.
Let the butter–brown sugar mixture cool for a few minutes so it won’t melt the cream cheese; a warm but not hot mixture can help spread the frosting more easily on the cooled bars.
Slicing Into Bars
I typically cut an 8×8 pan into 16 smaller squares for bite-sized servings by slicing 4 by 4. You can, of course, cut the bars to any size you prefer.
For clean, even slices, chill the frosted bars for 20–30 minutes before cutting. A bench scraper or a large sharp knife works well for straight edges.
📖 Recipe
Raisin Spice Cake Bars
Dana
Ingredients
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ⅓ cup butter, softened
- 1 egg
- 1 ½ cup applesauce
- 1 ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon allspice
- ½ teaspoon nutmeg
- 1 ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ¾ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¾ cup raisins
Brown Sugar Cream Cheese Frosting
- 4 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup butter, softened
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F and grease or line an 8×8 baking dish.
- In a large bowl, beat together the softened butter and sugar until combined.
- Beat in the egg, then stir in the applesauce.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, allspice, nutmeg, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt.
- Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined.
- Stir in the raisins.
- Pour the batter into the prepared dish and bake for 25–28 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Allow the cake to cool completely before frosting.
Brown Sugar Cream Cheese Frosting
- In a medium saucepan, melt together the butter and brown sugar until the sugar dissolves. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
- Beat the cream cheese into the cooled brown sugar mixture, then add vanilla and mix until smooth.
- Spread the frosting over the cooled cake, chill briefly if desired, then slice into bars.
Notes
Nutrition
|
Calories: 263kcal
| Carbohydrates: 44g
| Protein: 2g
Nutritional information is an estimate based on third-party calculations. Actual values may vary depending on ingredients and portion sizes.
© Mama Needs Cake
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