When a recipe is this easy and this inexpensive, you have no reason not to make it. Don’t like raisins? Try apricots, dates, or even currants! Chewy, moist 3 Ingredient Raisin Squares can be whatever you want them to be!
Who doesn’t love a great cookie bar? And, who doesn’t love an easy recipe? A budget-friendly recipe? And more importantly, a delicious recipe? I think we can all agree that those things are all important when cooking and baking.
Lord Byron’s Kitchen is no stranger to a good cookie recipe, but I tend to favour bars over cookies. I find that bars tend to be more chewy and just tastier in general.
My love of bars over cookies probably also stems from my mom. She would very often make bar-type desserts, but very rarely did she make cookies. Most homes have moms that make chocolate chip cookies or peanut butter cookies, but not mine.
My mom made Hershey’s Copycat Eat More Fudge Bars, Walnut Oh Henry Bars, Newfoundland Date Squares, or my personal favourite, Coconut Square Chewies!
She would often bake with raisins too, but I would never partake in anything that had raisin in it. Until just two or three years ago, anything with raisins was completely avoided, or the raisins were meticulously removed from the food item with a toothpick.
Now, I absolutely love raisins. I will incorporate them into my baking whenever I can. Not only do they taste great, and provide that little pop of sweetness to any baked good, they will also help to keep your homemade cakes, cookies, or breads moist for a longer period of time.
If you are interested, here are a few of my favourite recipes using raisins as an integral part of the recipe in terms of taste and texture: Dutch Oven Cinnamon Raisin Bread, Oatmeal Raisin Cookies, and Apricot Raisin Cream Cheese Bundt Cake.
3 Ingredient Raisin Squares, like the title of the recipe states, is prepared with only 3 ingredients. You’re going to need raisins, of course, condensed milk, and self-raising flour.
Now, if you don’t have self-raising flour, you don’t nee to run out and buy it. You can make your own at home. Self raising flour is a pre-mixed flours consisting of flour, baking powder, and sometimes salt – depending on the brand.
To make your own, sift together one cup of flour with one and a half teaspoon of baking powder, and one half a teaspoon of salt. That’s it!
Lastly, you will note that I dusted the top of the 3 Ingredient Raisin Squares with confectioner’s sugar. That’s completely optional and entirely up to you. I just thought the dusting of sugar made the squares look a little prettier and elegant.
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3 Ingredient Raisin Squares
Ingredients
- 14 ounces canned condensed milk
- 2 cups raisins
- 1 1/4 cups self-raising flour
- 1 tablespoon confectioner's sugar, optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a square 9x9 inch cake pan with parchment paper. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, use a sturdy spoon or spatula to stir together the condensed milk, raisins, and flour until combined.
- Transfer batter to lined cake pan. The batter is very sticky! Press the batter into the pan, being sure to get into the corners. Try to get the top as evenly flat as possible. I found that dipping my finger tips in water and shaking off the excess, allowed me to press the batter without leaving too much of it sticking to my hands.
- Bake for 25 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely before removing from pan. Cut into 24 squares and dust with confectioner's sugar if you so desire. Enjoy!
Nutrition
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Cristina M says
Hello, this recipe looks amazing and wonderfully simple. One question though, is the canned condensed milk sweetened or unsweetened?
byronethomas@gmail.com says
Hi Cristina! Thank you. The condensed milk is sweetened.
Steph says
Hi, just made these bars with apricots and lemon peel – chewy, fruity and delicious! I think I will soon try another version with chopped prunes and cinnamon, or maybe cranberries and almond extract. Thank you for this recipe!
byronethomas@gmail.com says
Steph, those sound wonderful! You can put just about anything into this recipe.
Lyn Sutton says
These are fabulous!!! I added a teaspoon of vanilla for no particular reason other than habit, and the dough was still as you described. I also made a glaze that I drizzled over the top of the bars. They are great anytime, but especially delicious in the morning with that first cup of coffee. Thank you !!
Lisa says
Super easy….took longer than 25 minutes….but i must say they came out deelish…definately make again
Rita Inglis says
Can I freeze these they are so good I want to make a big batch?
Thank you.
byronethomas@gmail.com says
Hi Rita – Yes, cut them into bars and freeze them for up to 12 weeks. Let them thaw at room temperature before serving.