Abracadabra Bars

Recipe courtesy of the North Carolina Sweet Potato Commission.

Recipe Ingredients:

1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup vegetable shortening
1 cup North Carolina Sweet Potatoes, cooked and mashed
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 cup raisins or dates
1/2 cup bran flakes, crushed
1/4 cup butter or margarine, melted
1 cup powdered sugar
1 tablespoon milk

Cooking Directions:

1. In electric mixer bowl, beat together sugar and shortening until light and fluffy. Add sweet potatoes and vanilla extract and beat well to blend.
2. In large bowl, combine flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, cloves, ginger and nutmeg.
3. With mixer at low speed, gradually add dry ingredients to sweet potato mixture; beat until well blended. Stir in raisins.
4. Spread mixture into an 11x9x2-inch greased baking pan.
5. In bowl, blend melted butter and bran flakes. Sprinkle over batter in baking pans; pat gently.
6. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 15 minutes or until toothpick inserted near center comes out clean. Cool in pan on wire rack.
7. In small bowl, combine powdered sugar and milk until smooth. Drizzle over cooled bars. Cut into bars or diamonds.

Makes 60 bars.

Nutritional Information Per Serving (1/60 of recipe): Calories: 108; Total Fat: 4g; Saturated Fat: 1g; Cholesterol: 2mg; Total Carbs: 18g; Protein: 1g; Sodium: 82mg; Potassium: 59mg.

Recipe and photograph courtesy of the North Carolina Sweet Potato Commission.