July 13: Pork and Beans Bars

Pork and Beans Bars

Ingredients:
1 1/3 cups (6 oz) all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
2/3 cup vegetable oil
2 large eggs
3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 generous cup (10 oz can) baked beans with pork
2/3 cup raisins (optional)
Confectioners' sugar, for dusting

1. Preheat oven to 350 and place a rack in the center. Line a 9x13 metal baking pan with nonstick foil or just spray it with flour-added baking spray.
2. Mix the flour, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, and granulated sugar together in a medium-size bowl; set aside.
3. In a large mixing bowl, using a handheld electric mixer, beat the sugar, oil, eggs, vanilla, and beans. As you beat, mash the beans up with the mixer -- you'll have a few whole beans, but that's okay because they add character to the bars. Add the flour mixture gradually and stir until it is incorporated. Stir in the raisins (if using). Spread the mixture in the prepared pan and bake for 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let cool completely in the pan. Cut into 24 squares and dust with confectioners' sugar.

Thoughts: I know that the name may turn some heads, but the taste is pretty much like a spice cake. The only exception is that you might be biting into a bean not a raisin. I ended up putting it in the oven for a little longer than 30 minutes...maybe 40 minutes. I used the whole 10 oz can of pork and beans. Patrick was not crazy about this one and I thought it was just ok. When I brought it into work, my co-worker and I decided to call it spice cake instead of the real title so people would try it!