Love Bars
Love Bars are sweet, nutty, cinnamon-spiced treats with a chewy raisin filling, perfect for those who enjoy a combination of fruit and nuts in a comforting dessert. Their rich flavor and hearty texture make them ideal for sharing at gatherings or enjoying as a homemade snack.
Ingredients
Instructions
- Mix sugar, raisins, water, oleo, and cinnamon in a pan and bring to a boil.
- Add the soda dissolved in 1 tablespoon hot water.
- Boil for 5 minutes, watching closely to prevent boiling over.
- Remove from heat and add the chopped nuts. Cool.
- Sift flour and baking powder into the mixture and mix well.
- Spread into a greased and floured pan.
- Bake at 350°F for 25 minutes.
Tips & Substitutions
For a richer flavor, consider substituting half of the sugar with brown sugar. If you're short on oleo, unsalted butter works well as a substitute. To enhance the texture, you can toast the chopped nuts before adding them to the mixture. Keep an eye on the boiling raisins to prevent them from overflowing. This recipe is also great for using up leftover nuts from other dishes like Stuffed Potato Skins.
Serving Suggestions
These Love Bars are perfect for a sweet treat with your afternoon tea or coffee. Serve them alongside a scoop of vanilla ice cream for an indulgent dessert or pair with fresh fruit for a lighter option. They also make a delightful addition to a dessert platter at gatherings, complementing other sweets like Candy Apple Walnut Pie.
Storage & Reheating
Once cooled, store the Love Bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week. If you want to keep them longer, consider refrigerating them, where they can last for up to two weeks. To reheat, simply warm them in the microwave for a few seconds or enjoy them at room temperature.
Nutrition & Diet Analysis (per serving)
Each serving of Love Bars contains roughly 326 calories, with 5g protein, 48g carbohydrates, and 15g fat. It is a good source of calcium (11% of the Daily Value) and potassium (11% of the Daily Value).
Estimated from ingredients & per-serving nutrition — verify against package labels for allergies or strict diets.
* % Daily Values based on a 2,000 calorie diet (FDA 2020).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use other fruits instead of raisins?
Absolutely! Dried cranberries, chopped dates, or even chopped dried apricots can be great alternatives to raisins. Each will bring a unique flavor to the bars, so feel free to experiment based on your taste preferences.
What type of nuts work best in this recipe?
While the original recipe calls for chopped nuts, walnuts or pecans are excellent choices due to their rich flavor and texture. However, you can use almonds or hazelnuts if you prefer. Just ensure they are chopped into small pieces for even distribution.
Can I make this recipe vegan?
Yes, you can easily make these Love Bars vegan by replacing oleo with a plant-based butter alternative and ensuring the sugar is vegan. Additionally, you might want to use a flaxseed meal mixed with water as a binding agent if you wish to enhance the texture further.
Nutrition is estimated from USDA FoodData Central ingredient data and may vary with brand, portion and preparation — see our methodology. This information is for general educational purposes only and is not medical or dietary advice (disclaimer).