

9 Copycat Dessert Recipes: Easy Dessert Recipes to Make at Home
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A&P Spanish Bar Cake Copycat Recipe

This old-fashioned cake recipe was inspired by the famous A&P cake. This homemade spice cake is full of flavor and topped with the perfect sweet cream cheese frosting. You'll fall in love with this cake long before you take a single bite of it. The aroma of nutmeg and cinnamon will fill your kitchen. Once you take a bite, you will be hooked. It’s a good thing this is a “snack cake,” so you and your family can snack on it throughout the day.
This cake is great for winter months when you are craving comforting cakes, such as gingerbread and spice cake. This cake is completely made from scratch, but once you’ve gathered all the ingredients it can be made in a jiffy! Try out Copycat A&P Spanish Bar Cake when you’re planning for your next get together.
Cooking Vessel Size9 x 13-inch baking dish
Ingredients
- 1 cup raisins
- 2 cups flour
- 1 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon ground allspice
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 cups applesauce
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 2 eggs
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softenend
- 4 tablespoons butter, softened
- 1 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 1/3 cup milk
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- pinch of salt
For another favorite copycat dessert recipe, try Copycat Olive Garden Lemon Cream Cake Recipe
Instructions
-
Preheat oven to 350º F. Spray a 9 x 13 baking pan with cooking spray.
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Place raisins in a small saucepan, cover with water and simmer 3 minutes, then drain well.
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Sift flour, sugar, baking soda, cocoa, and spices into a large bowl. Add applesauce, oil, and eggs and beat well. Stir in raisins, then spoon into prepared baking pan and bake 30 – 35 minutes until center tests done. Cool on a wire rack until completely cooled.
-
Prepare the frosting: Using an electric mixer, cream together the cream cheese and butter, then add the powdered sugar until smooth. Add milk, vanilla, lemon juice and salt and beat until completely smooth. Frost the cake and cut into bar shapes to serve.
Don't miss the reader-favorite recipe that inspired this one, Copycat A&P Spanish Bar Cake by Bunny's Warm Oven. Copycat A&P Spanish Bar Cake
Read NextCafe Style Chocolate Tiramisu Cake
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bjdentalgirl84 494 6636
Feb 07, 2016
I noticed in the recipe ingredients it called for baking powder but in the directions it says baking soda. Which is it, or both and how much do I use? I'm in the middle of making this. Someone please help me!!!

BestDessert Editor
Feb 08, 2016
The ingredients list should have said "baking soda." Thanks for letting us know!

daniellek
Dec 11, 2015
I've never really had a cake like this before, but I enjoyed it! The frosting was amazing, and it was super moist as well.

CreativityGoddess
Dec 11, 2015
I was surprised by how much I liked this cake! It had a great blend of spices and a fluffy texture. It'd be great with chocolate chips instead of raisins, if you aren't a raisin fan.

JennyBee1
Dec 11, 2015
I never had the original version of this, but I liked this copycat version a lot! I actually am not the biggest raisin fan, so I did not use a full cup in my version, which was a good idea for me :)

Princess Carolyn
Dec 11, 2015
This was really good! As others have said - similar to carrot cake. I like the raisins in this a lot. It's a very moist and flavorful cake with terrific frosting.
jkblindt 3345314
Dec 11, 2015
Great cake! It reminded me of a carrot cake which is one of my favorites. I particularly liked the frosting.

caitlinmm
Dec 11, 2015
I loved the frosting. Simple cream cheese frosting is my favorite. The cake was good, but I prefer classic chocolate or vanilla.

lalalaura
Dec 11, 2015
Like others have said, this was a lot like a carrot cake! It was very moist and had a good blend of spices. I loved the frosting, too.

bambakes7
Dec 11, 2015
I really liked this dessert! The frosting was delicious, but I would have used less of it. That would have cut down on a bit of the sweetness.

dana123
Dec 11, 2015
This really does resemble a carrot cake, in the best way! Super moist and flavorful. I'm a fan of raisins so it all worked well for me.
shelizabeth99
Dec 11, 2015
This cake is so. Good. It's super-moist, the amount of frosting is perfect, and the balance of spices is great! I love it and would make it again!

jamieegee
Dec 11, 2015
This cake was similar to a carrot cake sans carrots. Super moist, and not too sweet. I'd make this without frosting for a breakfast bread.

nashmeow
Dec 11, 2015
Plump, delicious raisins embedded in a flavorful, moist spice cake...you really can't go wrong, as far as I'm concerned. I quite enjoy the combination of spices used in this cake; I would use a lighter hand with the frosting next time, simply because I'm not a huge lover of frosting. This is definitely a recipe to keep in my recipe box!

DanaDanaBoBanaFoFe eFiFoFanaDana
Dec 11, 2015
This isn't my first choice for a dessert, but it was enjoyable. I would omit the raisens (raisons? raisans? how do you spell that word) next time, though. I enjoyed the frosting!!

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