Mincemeat Bars II

By Addie

" A blanket of snowy white sugar covers these sweet, delicious bars. The mincemeat, molasses, raisins, and brown sugar flavors, enhanced by the orange and vanilla extracts combine to give a wonderful rich taste. Perfect for your fall and winter dessert table."

Ingredients

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
• 1 large egg
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
• 3/4 cups firmly-packed light brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons light or dark molasses
• 1 teaspoon grated orange zest
• 1/2 teaspoon pure orange extract
• 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 cup prepared mincemeat
• 1/2 cup golden raisins
• 1/2 cup walnuts or pecans, coarsely chopped
• 2 tablespoons confectioners' (powdered) sugar), for topping

Preparation

Step 1

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Lightly grease and flour a 13- x 9-inch baking pan.

In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, cloves, and allspice together; set aside.

In a large bowl, combine egg, butter, brown sugar, and molasses; beat together until mixture is thick and smooth. Add orange zest, orange extract, and vanilla extract; stir to mix. Add mincemeat, raisins and nuts; stir to mix. Add flour mixture; stir until mixed.

Spread the batter evenly in the baking pan. Bake approximately 25 to 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Remove from oven.

Using a fine-mesh sieve, dust the top of the hot cookie with confectioners sugar. Leave cookie in pan to cool; place baking pan on wire rack to cool. When cool, cut into 2-inch squares.

Makes about 2 dozen bars