topic Re: Spanish Bar Cake in Recipes

Spanish Bar Cake

Barbarainnc — Sun, 15 Nov 2020 23:34:55 GMT

A & P use to sell this cake. Now it is available online, Jane Paige or Jane Parker? . Some bread outlets sell it. I need a picture of the ingredient label. Thanks for helping me out.

Re: Spanish Bar Cake

lovesrecess — Sun, 15 Nov 2020 23:39:38 GMT

Ann Page was the store brand for A&P. Not familiar with a Spanish bar cake though.

Re: Spanish Bar Cake

candyagain — Sun, 15 Nov 2020 23:41:27 GMT

This was my late Mother's favotite cake, I haven't thought of it in years. Yes, the A&P sold it and it was very nice. She always bought the A&P version but she also made her own which wasn't quite the same, not as dense, sweet or moist, but still good.

I haven't seen it anywhere but if I do I'll let you know.

Re: Spanish Bar Cake

QVCkitty1 — Sun, 15 Nov 2020 23:41:29 GMT

That is a blast from the past, I haven't see one of them since I was a kid.

Re: Spanish Bar Cake

Zhills — Sun, 15 Nov 2020 23:52:44 GMT

Here is a Website that says she has duplicated it!

Spanish Bar Cake

Now, let me be crystal clear; I make NO claims that my recipe is “just like the famous A & P Spanish Bar Cake”. As mentioned earlier, it is unlikely that cake can ever be duplicated at home because of the way the bakeries created them for A & P. BUT this is very reminiscent in my mind of the famous version and I experimented with it multiple times while developing my recipe. It is close enough to make me and my family happy. As always, your mileage may vary as we all remember things differently.

Reminiscent of the beloved and famous Jane Parker (A & P) Spanish Bar Cake, these loaves are studded with chopped raisins and filled with fragrant spices.

INGREDIENTS

1/2 cup vegetable shortening
1/2 cup applesauce
1/2 cup dark brown sugar
1 egg, room temperature
3/4 cup baking molasses
1 cup boiling water
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour (spoon and swipe method – stir flour with a spoon, lightly add to measuring cup, then level with straight edge)
1 1/2 Tablespoons cocoa powder
2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspoon allspice
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 cup dark raisins (chop roughly after plumping and draining)
Frosting
1/4 cup softened butter
2 Tablespoons vegetable shortening
approximately 3 cups powdered sugar
3 tablespoons milk or cream
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla

DIRECTIONS

Boil the 1 cup water and add the raisins; remove from heat and set aside. Let plump until water is lukewarm. Drain, reserve water, roughly chop raisins. Set aside.
Preheat oven to 325F degrees. Line two 9 x 5 loaf pans with parchment.
Cream together shortening and sugar, then beat in egg.
Blend in molasses, applesauce, vanilla and raisin water.
Sift together remaining dry ingredients and stir into batter until well blended. Stir in raisins.
Bake in loaf pans about 38 to 40 minutes or until tested done. Do not over-bake!
Cool 15 minutes on rack in pans. Remove cakes from pans. Cool on wire rack completely. Remove parchment.
Cut loaves in half lengthwise and frost as a two-layer cake, if desired. Otherwise, just frost the top of each layer.
Frosting
Place butter and shortening in a bowl; mix with mixer until light and fluffy.
Gradually add 1 cup of the powdered sugar and vanilla. Beat until blended.
Add the remaining powdered sugar then enough milk or cream to beat to a smooth, spreadable frosting. Use to frost loaves.

Re: Spanish Bar Cake

Diva on The Q — Mon, 16 Nov 2020 00:28:59 GMT

@candyagain wrote:
This was my late Mother's favotite cake, I haven't thought of it in years. Yes, the A&P sold it and it was very nice. She always bought the A&P version but she also made her own which wasn't quite the same, not as dense, sweet or moist, but still good.

I haven't seen it anywhere but if I do I'll let you know.

OMG @candyagain: This cake was one of my mother's favorites also! I remember the A&P stores, too. Oh...the memories.

Re: Spanish Bar Cake

1Snickers — Mon, 16 Nov 2020 01:55:41 GMT

@Barbarainnc I had forgotten about that cake, it was so good!

Re: Spanish Bar Cake

LilBitMissty — Mon, 16 Nov 2020 03:30:13 GMT

@Barbarainnc....... Hi my friend. Out of curyousity I went on the website JaneParker dot com... And I see you can buy the cake, but for a whopping $34.97 WOW!!! I also saw there is a "contact" button on the bottom of the page. Maybe if you try that, you might be able to ask them for the ingredients of the cake. Maybe it's worth a shot? At any rate I hope you are doing well. Always nice to see you.

Re: Spanish Bar Cake

rms1954 — Mon, 16 Nov 2020 03:46:03 GMT

@Barbarainnc wrote:
A & P use to sell this cake. Now it is available online, Jane Paige or Jane Parker? . Some bread outlets sell it. I need a picture of the ingredient label. Thanks for helping me out.

I remember that cake. Spicy and chock full of raisins -- like a heavier carrot cake without the carrots. The frosting was TO DIE FOR.

I googled it and found this. I'm going to try it!!!

YIELD: 12 OR MORE SERVINGS Spanish Bar Cake

Spanish Bar Cake. A real old fashioned treat! A supermarket favourite from years ago, this simple raisin spice cake is easy to make, moist and utterly delicious.

PREP TIME20 minutes

COOK TIME35 minutes

ADDITIONAL TIME2 hours

TOTAL TIME2 hours 55 minutes

Ingredients

2 cups water
1 cups raisins
1/2 cup vegetable shortening, or butter
1 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoons baking soda
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 large egg, beaten
1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans, (optional)

For the Frosting

2 1/4 cups icing sugar
1/4 cup butter, at room temperature
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla
1 to 2 tablespoons milk, more if needed

Instructions

Heat the oven to 325 degrees. Grease a 9x13 baking pan and line it with parchment paper.
Add the water and raisins to a saucepan. Bring to a gentle boil and simmer for 10 minutes.
Add the shortening to the boiled mixture. Allow the mixture to cool to room temperature.
Sift together the sugar, soda, flour, cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice and salt.
Add the sifted ingredients to the cooled raisin mixture, along with the beaten egg and the nuts, if you are adding them.
Fold gently until the flour is just incorporated into the batter. Do not over mix.
Pour the batter evenly into the prepared pan and Bake for 30-35 minutes or until a wooden toothpick inserted into the centre comes out clean.
Cool completely and ice with frosting if you like

To prepare the frosting

Beat together the icing sugar, butter, vanilla and a tablespoon of milk until smooth.
If necessary, add more milk until the frosting is a good spreadable consistency.
Cut the cake in half, frost the first layer then top with the second layer and frost again. To get the characteristic lines on top, run the back of a fork over the top frosting in straight lines.
This recipe also makes about a dozen cupcakes if you prefer.

Re: Spanish Bar Cake

Barbarainnc — Mon, 16 Nov 2020 13:17:41 GMT

I sent a request for the ingredients list label. Will see if they send it. Thanks for all the replys to my post. 🙂🙂🙂

Re: Spanish Bar Cake

FranandZoe — Mon, 16 Nov 2020 13:53:45 GMT

Thanks for the memory - my parents used to buy this cake from the A&P in our town.

Re: Spanish Bar Cake

candyagain — Mon, 16 Nov 2020 15:35:04 GMT

@Diva on The Q wrote:
@candyagain wrote:
This was my late Mother's favotite cake, I haven't thought of it in years. Yes, the A&P sold it and it was very nice. She always bought the A&P version but she also made her own which wasn't quite the same, not as dense, sweet or moist, but still good.

I haven't seen it anywhere but if I do I'll let you know.

OMG @candyagain: This cake was one of my mother's favorites also! I remember the A&P stores, too. Oh...the memories.

The A&P stores were the best! My grandparents lived around the corner from one and took me there a lot as a child. I'll bet that Spanish Bar cake was a featured item!

Re: Spanish Bar Cake

rms1954 — Wed, 18 Nov 2020 01:15:46 GMT

Made this today! Just as I remembered.

Re: Spanish Bar Cake

AuntG — Wed, 18 Nov 2020 03:17:22 GMT

Never heard of it. Is icing sugar the same as powdered sugar?

Re: Spanish Bar Cake

sissel — Wed, 18 Nov 2020 06:25:23 GMT

My Dad worked in the A&P warehouse for over 25yrs. Mom would buy the cake a lot. I love that cake. Dad retired but who bought them out? Dad is gone and know A&P is no longer around. I remember my Mom would shop at Acme once in awhile & my Dad would get upset saying you are buying from our competition LOL

Re: Spanish Bar Cake

Barbarainnc — Wed, 18 Nov 2020 17:23:54 GMT

I got a copy of the label. Didn't see applesauce, apples or sour cream that I've seen in some recipes. Imtep, your recipe seems to be what I'm looking for. Looks yummy.

Re:Tried and true Spanish Bar recipe

sarahpanda — Thu, 19 Nov 2020 09:35:59 GMT

This Spanish Bar cake was made at our 'coffee hour' at church years ago. The baker was kind enough to give me the recipe. The recipe was printed in our local newspaper on Wednesday, May 23, 2001 . I've made it before - it's worth making again.

Spanish Bar Cake

4 cups water

2 cups raisins

1 cup vegetable shortening

4 cups all purpose flour

2 cups sugar

2 teaspoons baking soda

1 teaspoon ground cloves

1 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon ground allspice

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 eggs, beaten

1 cup chopped nuts, optional

__________________________

Cream Cheese Frosting

1 -8 oz package cream cheese, softened

4 tablespoons butter, softened

2 teaspoons vanilla

2 and 1/4 cups confectioners' sugar

2 tablespoons of milk (more or less)

1 teaspoon lemon juice

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease 9 x 13 inch cake pan. Place raisins and water in a saucepan, bring to a boil, then reduce heat to simmer and cook about 10 minutes, until raisins plump. Stir in the shortening. Remove from heat and let mixture cool. Whisk together flour, sugar, baking soda, cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon, allspice and salt. Add flour mixture to the cooled raisin mixture and blend well. Stir in the beaten eggs. Add the chopped nuts if desired. Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake at 350 degrees for about 35 minutes or until cake tests done. Makes one 9 x 13 inch cake . To make into bar cakes: Let cool, then slice into 4 bars and top with cream cheese frosting.

For the Frosting:

Cream together the cream cheese and butter, Beat in the vanilla, then the confectioners' sugar. Add milk slowly to reach desired consistency. Add lemon juice.

(I made this cake in January 2015 and made a note, saying ''This is great but I needed ''2'' 9 x 13 pans. Also I made the note ''do not add the milk at all to the frosting''' (so be careful when you come to that part of the ingredients..you be the judge of how much you need, if at all)

Re: Re:Tried and true Spanish Bar recipe

Barbarainnc — Thu, 19 Nov 2020 13:47:37 GMT

Looks yummy. I would make half the recipe. Only 2 of us. Thanks for posting. I took a screen shot of your recipe. 😋😋😋

Re: Re:Tried and true Spanish Bar recipe

toria — Fri, 20 Nov 2020 16:15:55 GMT

I loved this cake and we would eat it all the time. I bet it cost a dollar or so back in the day.

Re: Spanish Bar Cake

Texasmouse — Sun, 22 Nov 2020 15:17:02 GMT

@AuntG wrote:
Never heard of it. Is icing sugar the same as powdered sugar?

@AuntG yes it is. When I was in Canada we called it icing sugar. I came down here and made cookies that called for icing sugar. Everyone asked me for the recipe but then didn't know what icing sugar was. That's when I found out it's called powdered sugar down here.