Need a recipe for the Spanish bar cake? Discover how to make delicious Spanish bar cakes at home for friends and family…
The Spanish bar cake was commonly available in stores previously but is more and more difficult to find now. This cake is a very moist and spicy cake which is shaped like a loaf and frosted with white icing which could be either cream cheese or vanilla.
With its unique blend of spices, walnuts and raisins you can enjoy a moist and succulent cake for tea and coffee. The unique flavor makes it a favorite for fancy tea parties or for everyday or evening consumption.
Ingredients for Spanish Bar Cake
The Spanish bar cake is a spiced and simple cake with a unique flavor. You will require 4 cups of water, 2 cups of raisins and 1 cup of shortening along with 4 cups of all-purpose flour and two eggs to make the cake.
Other ingredients you will require include 2 cups all-purpose flour and 2 teaspoons of baking soda. To season the Spanish bar cake you will need 1 teaspoon of ground cloves, 1 teaspoon of ground nutmeg and 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon along with 1 teaspoon of ground allspice.
To balance out the spices you will require half a teaspoon of salt. For additional flavor and crunch you can add 1 cup of walnuts.
Directions for Making the Spanish Bar Cake
Pre-heat your oven to 350°F and lightly grease a 13 x 9″ cake tin. Heat the raisins in a little water for 10 minutes over a medium flame and stir in one whole cup of shortening. Remove it from the flame and let it cool down.
In a mixing bowl combine the flour, sugar, baking soda, salt as well as the ground spices which will include the cloves, nutmeg, allspice and cinnamon and sprinkle some salt in it. Add the flour mixture to the cooled raisin and shortening mixture and blend everything well.
Beat the eggs and stir them into the mixture. Sprinkle with chopped walnuts on top and mix in gently. Transfer the batter into the greased cake tin and bake it for 35 minutes at 350° F.
When ready remove it on a wire rack and let it cool before you take it out of the baking pan. Serve warm with a little cream and poached pears. A good topping for Spanish bar cake is vanilla frosting.
Frosting Ingredients for Spanish Bar Cake
For the frosting you will require an 8 ounce packet of cream cheese and half a cup of butter, 1/3 cup of dark corn syrup, 1/4 teaspoon of ground cloves along with 1 tablespoon of grated dry orange rind and 3 1/2 cups sifted confectioner’s sugar.
For a simpler ingredients list you can also mix one pot of ready-made cream cheese frosting with 1/4 teaspoon of clove powder and 1 tablespoon of grated dry orange rind.
Directions for Preparing Frosting for the Spanish Bar Cake
To prepare the frosting, combine all the ingredients and beat them till they are creamy and have a spreadable consistency. If you do not want to frost the cake simply sprinkle it with additional confectioner’s sugar.
