Reviewed: Jun. 1, 2009

I don't like spice cake, but this was an awesome recipe! My mom mentioned how much she loved Spanish Bar Cake, so I made this for her birthday. She said it was very close to the original (A&P) version. Used the Allspice Cream Cheese Icing from this site. Wow! REally added to it. I cut the water for the raisins down to 3 1/2 cups, added extra allspice (didn't have cinnamon), 1 1/2 cups walnuts and used self-rising flour. The result was a deliciously moist cake that I'm planning to take to my in-laws for Thanksgiving. Mom also suggested adding a can of apple pie filling to the bottom of the pan before adding the batter over top. Baked for 40-45 minutes.

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BEARLVR325

Cooking Level: Expert

Home Town: Raleigh, North Carolina, USA

Living In: Asheville, North Carolina, USA

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Reviewed: Oct. 27, 2008

I made it just by this receipe and my family loved it. I iced it with cream cheese icing. It is a keeper. The next time I make it I will substitute 1 cup of sugar with 1 cup of brown sugar but it was great.

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gknight

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Reviewed: Mar. 21, 2007

I found this recipe very unsucessful to make. There is to much water and the cake is very soft inside I tried this recipe, twice with the same results , cooking longer each time.It is not the A & P cake of my childhod.

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WANZA GIORGIO

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Reviewed: Jan. 1, 2007

This was good but tasted more along the lines of a spice cake than the spanish bar cake (store bought)that were use to but good and I would definately suggest you try...if you grew up with it as a family recipe than the store ones.Was worth the effort...thanks.

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TRUDY_FLETCHER

Cooking Level: Expert

Home Town: East Liverpool, Ohio, USA

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Reviewed: Dec. 8, 2006

i made a half recipe as a birthday cake for my boyfriend, rounded off my spices & baked the cake in a 4"x8" loaf pan for 40 minutes because the spanish bar i grew up with was loaf (bar) shaped. i then trimmed away the bottom & side edges, cut the bar into 2 layers & iced it with the outstanding "allspice cream cheese frosting" from this website. the combination was a knock out! thanks for your recipe janice!

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LESLIE30

Cooking Level: Intermediate

Living In: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA

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Reviewed: Mar. 24, 2006

Pretty good, too many raisins though! I cut them back to a cup and a half and that seemed like a little too much. This is a good cake in general, very moist too.

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Chrisa

Cooking Level: Intermediate

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Reviewed: Feb. 20, 2006

Not bad but it was way too moist!! must have been all the water, and cooking the raisins is the water for 10 mins was too long, they absorbed alot of water, the cake seemed to get wetter the longer it took to cool! and the raisins just seemed wet rather than being juicy. I will try again using less water and some brown sugar and wheat flour as this is how the A&P one is made. It also needs a frosting, I used butter icing sugar vanilla and milk.

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CANNOLIEATER

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Reviewed: Oct. 28, 2005

I didn't have raisins, so used chopped fresh cranberries, and a chopped fresh apple. Came out great, . Back in the late 40's my Mother used to buy a cake called "Spanish Bar Cake" from the Acme Markets, however that cake did not have raisins in it.

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LILY1

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Reviewed: Apr. 1, 2005

I needed a "Spanish Dish" for my daughter's class (50 extra points) so came here. This cake is SO moist and flavorful ... I didn't use icing, but will try the one suggested by the other reviews next time - though it doesn't need any more flavor. I didn't use the nuts at my daughter's request ... may try them next time, this recipe is definately a keeper.

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FRANKLYSCARLETTT

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Reviewed: May 6, 2004

This is wonderful. I made it last night for a Cinco de Mayo dinner, and everyone loved it. I iced it with the Allspice Cream Cheese Frosting here on the site, and it just complimented it perfectly. Tasted like a bakery cake. I followed the recipe, except I did put my raisins through my food processor, just to chop them up a little bit, and then, I thought that was just a bit too much batter for a 9X13 pan, so I used a 10X16 and it worked out just great. If you do use a bigger pan, adjust your time down about 6 minutes or so.

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BARB MAXWELL

Cooking Level: Intermediate

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Reviewed: Aug. 27, 2003

I love this recipe! I used to find a Spanish Bar cake at my local grocer, then, of course, no more. Their's had a frosting, and I knew it had spice in it, so when I make it, I top it with another recipe I found at this sight called Allspice Cream Cheese Frosting, combine the two together, you have one great cake that even cake haters love! (my son Mike love's this cake, he's not a cake eater) lol

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