Rum Raisin Bars Recipes

Steps:

• In a heat-proof bowl set over simmering water, heat the cream until hot to the touch but not boiling and turn off the heat. Add the butter and 12 ounces of the chocolate to the hot cream. Stir until the chocolate melts. Meanwhile, mince the raisins and combine them with the rum in a small bowl. Stir the raisins and rum mixture into the melted chocolate mixture, cover with plastic wrap and set aside at room temperature for 6 hours or overnight.
• The next day, using a very small (1 1/4-inch) ice cream scoop (you can also use 2 spoons), scoop balls of the mixture onto sheet pans lined with parchment paper. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
• When the chocolate is cold, place 10 ounces of the remaining chocolate in a small glass bowl and heat it in a microwave on high for 20 seconds exactly. Stir the chocolate and continue to heat it in the microwave for 20 seconds at a time, stirring in between, until the chocolate is smooth and shiny. This will take 5 or 6 times, depending on your microwave. Add the remaining 4 ounces of chocolate and stir until smooth. The chocolate should be 85 degrees F to 90 degrees F on an instant-read thermometer. If it¿s too cool, heat it briefly in the microwave. You¿ll want it to be pourable.
• Using 2 spoons, pick up a chilled ball in one spoon and warm chocolate in the other and roll them around together until the chilled ball is completely coated in warm chocolate (don¿t drop the ball into the chocolate or the warm chocolate will cool off!). Place the coated truffle back on the parchment paper. Continue coating the balls until they¿re all covered with milk chocolate. Allow to sit at room temperature until the chocolate hardens. Serve at room temperature.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter a 10-by-15-inch rimmed baking sheet. Line bottom with parchment paper, and butter parchment; set sheet aside.
• Make filling: Pulse raisins and sugar in a food processor until almost pureed. Transfer to a saucepan. Whisk cornstarch into 1 cup cold water; whisk into raisin mixture. Stir in cider. Simmer over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until mixture thickens and sugar has dissolved, about 6 minutes.Let cool completely.
• Make dough: Whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl; set aside. Put shortening in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix on medium speed until smooth. Add brown sugar, and mix until pale and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Add egg and vanilla, and mix until combined. Reduce speed to low. Add flour mixture; mix until just combined. Mix in oats.
• Press half the dough into prepared baking sheet. Spread raisin filling evenly over top of dough. Crumble remaining dough on top of filling using your fingers, gently pressing down so that topping covers filling. Bake, rotating sheet halfway through, until top is golden brown, about 35 minutes. Let cool completely in sheet on a wire rack. Cut into 2-inchsquares. Bars can be stored between layers of parchment in airtight containers at room temperature up to 5 days.

Steps:

• In medium bowl, pour rum over raisins; let stand 1 hour. Drain, reserving rum if desired.
• Heat oven to 350°F Spray with cooking spray or grease 13x9-inch pan. Crush cereal. (To easily crush cereal, place in plastic bag or between sheets of waxed paper, and crush with rolling pin.)
• In large bowl, stir brown sugar, butter, water (or 1/4 cup reserved rum) and egg until blended. Stir in cereal, raisins and remaining ingredients. Spread in pan.
• Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool completely, about 1 hour.

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, combine the sugar, cornstarch and cinnamon. Stir in sour cream until smooth. Cook and stir over medium-high heat until thickened and bubbly. Reduce heat; cook and stir 2 minutes longer. Remove from the heat. Stir a small amount of hot filling into eggs; return all to pan, stirring constantly. Bring to a gentle boil; cook and stir 2 minutes longer. Remove from the heat. Gently stir in raisins. Cool to room temperature without stirring., Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine the flour, oats, brown sugar, baking soda and salt. Cut in butter until crumbly. , Firmly press 3-1/2 cups of crumb mixture into a greased 13-in. x 9-in. baking pan. Spread with raisin filling. Sprinkle with remaining crumb mixture. , Bake at 350° for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on a wire rack. Cut into bars. Refrigerate leftovers.

Steps:

• Soak the raisins in the rum the day before making the fudge.
• Line a 20 x 20cm cake tin with baking parchment. Tip the sugar, cream, butter and glucose syrup into a large pan. Warm over a low heat to dissolve the sugar and melt the butter, stirring occasionally.
• When the sugar has dissolved, put a sugar thermometer in the mixture, making sure the end is completely covered by the syrup - if it's not, transfer the mixture to a smaller pan that's still large enough for the syrup to bubble. Turn up the heat to medium-high and bring the syrup to the boil, stirring occasionally to stop it catching. When the thermometer reaches 116C - or 'soft ball' stage, remove the pan from the heat.
• Leave the mixture to stand, undisturbed, for 5 mins, until the temperature drops to 110C, then stir in the vanilla bean paste, the plumped-up raisins and a good pinch of salt.
• Remove the thermometer, then vigorously beat the mixture with a wooden spoon, checking the temperature every minute or so until it drops again to about 60C. By this time, the mixture will be really thick and have lost its glossy shine. Take the thermometer out and continue beating the mixture for a few more minutes. This part is crucial as it helps create small sugar crystals that give the fudge its smooth, creamy texture.
• Quickly pour the fudge mixture into the prepared tin and smooth the surface using a spatula. Leave to cool overnight at room temperature - don't put it in the fridge, as it will become sticky and won't set properly. Cut into 36 bite-sized pieces. Will keep in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two months.

Steps:

• In 1-quart saucepan, heat raisins and rum to simmering over medium heat. Remove from heat; let stand 15 minutes.
• Heat oven to 350°F. Spray 9-inch square pan with cooking spray. In medium bowl, beat butter, 1/4 cup of the granulated sugar and the vanilla with electric mixer on medium speed until well blended. On low speed, beat in flour until soft dough forms. Press in bottom of pan. Bake 10 to 15 minutes or until center is set.
• Meanwhile, in large bowl, beat cream cheese and remaining 3/4 cup granulated sugar with electric mixer on medium speed 1 to 2 minutes or until creamy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating until blended. Stir in raisins and any rum remaining in saucepan. Pour over partially baked crust. In small bowl, mix sour cream and brown sugar. Drop sour cream mixture by tablespoonfuls randomly onto cream cheese filling. Swirl sour cream mixture through filling with knife for marbled design.
• Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until set. Cool completely in pan on cooling rack. Refrigerate 2 hours or until chilled. Cut into 4 rows by 4 rows. Store covered in refrigerator.