Raisin Cake Bars

Ingredients:

• 1 cup (240 ml) of milk
• 1 cup (200 g) of sugar
• 1/2 cup (115 g) of butter, softened
• 2 eggs
• 1 1/2 cups (190 g) of all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon of baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon of ground nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract
• 1 cup (150 g) of raisins
• 1/4 cup (30 g) of chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)

Instructions:

1. Preheat Oven and Prepare Pan:
   Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9×9-inch baking pan or line it with parchment paper for easy removal.
2. Prepare Dry Ingredients:
   In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Set aside.
3. Cream Butter and Sugar:
   In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy using a hand mixer or stand mixer.
4. Add Eggs:
   Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add the vanilla extract and mix until combined.
5. Add Dry Ingredients and Milk:
   Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture in three parts, alternating with the milk. Begin and end with the dry ingredients, mixing just until combined after each addition.
6. Fold in Raisins and Nuts:
   Gently fold in the raisins and chopped walnuts or pecans (if using).
7. Bake:
   Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan, smoothing it out evenly. Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
8. Cool and Slice:
   Allow the cake to cool completely in the pan on a wire rack. Once cool, cut it into bars.

Tips:

• For a twist, you can add a bit of orange zest or a handful of chopped dried apricots along with the raisins.