Monkey Bars

This moist snacking cake might remind you of banana bread.

Yield: 16 servings (serving size: 1 bar)

Ingredients

• 1/2  cup  raisins
• 1 1/2  tablespoons  dark rum or apple juice
• 1  cup  all-purpose flour
• 1/2  teaspoon  baking powder
• 1/2  teaspoon  baking soda
• 1/4  teaspoon  salt
• 3/4  cup  packed brown sugar
• 1/4  cup  butter, softened
• 1/2  cup  mashed ripe banana
• 3  tablespoons  low-fat buttermilk
• 1  teaspoon  vanilla extract
• 2  large egg whites
• 1/3  cup  chopped walnuts
• Cooking spray
• 1  tablespoon  powdered sugar

Preparation

Preheat oven to 350°.

Combine the raisins and rum in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave at high for 1 minute, and set aside. Lightly spoon flour into a dry measuring cup; level with a knife. Combine flour and the next 3 ingredients (flour through salt) in a bowl, stirring well with a whisk. Set aside.

Combine brown sugar and butter in a large bowl, and beat with a mixer at medium speed until well blended. Add banana and next 3 ingredients (banana through egg whites), beating well. Add the flour mixture, beating just until combined. Stir in raisin mixture and walnuts.

Spread the batter into an 8-inch square baking pan coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350° for 30 minutes or until golden. Cool the bars completely on a wire rack. Sprinkle with powdered sugar.

Nutritional Information

Calories:

135 (31% from fat)

Fat:

4.7g (sat 2g,mono 1.1g,poly 1.3g)

Protein:

2g

Carbohydrate:

21.8g

Fiber:

0.9g

Cholesterol:

8mg

Iron:

0.8mg

Sodium:

136mg

Calcium:

27mg

Find more delicious, all-time favorite cookie recipes in our 25-Days to Christmas Cookie Countdown., Cooking Light, OCTOBER 2001