The other weekend I wanted to make a sweet dessert for the upcoming week.  I do try to keep a little sweet something in the house for our “lunch box” and evening snacks.  I was also busy with other things and didn’t want to do anything difficult or time consuming.

This bar cookie fit the bill for my criteria of the day.  It’s so stinking simple by mixing it in a bowl, dump it into a greased 9×13 pan and bake.  I make a super easy powdered sugar based citrus icing and call it done!  Not only is it super easy, it’s also super delicious!  I kid you not that they were gone by Friday!  It stays on the ‘short list’ of our sweets list.

This is a molasses type bar cookie with both dates and raisins.  The icing is a thin Citrus Icing that gives the bar cookie exactly what it needs to work.

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Here’s how I make them.

Cherokee Molasses Bars

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Thoroughly grease a 9x13x2 baking pan with vegetable shortening or cooking spray.

In a large mixing bowl, combine the sugar, vegetable shortening, egg and molasses with a hand held mixer at medium speed until well mixed.

About two minutes…

Add the self rising flour, baking soda and milk.

Folding with a spatula, mix until it’s all incorporated into the batter.

Stir in the raisins and chopped dates.

It looks good enough to eat as it is!  But we have one more thing to do…

Pour this bowl licking batter into the well greased 9x13x2 baking pan.

And spread it around so it’s all nice and even.  Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Let cool to room temperature.

Spread a thin layer of the Citrus Icing and let the icing set up and develop a slight crust on top before cutting.

Aren’t ya ready to cut into it already!  I’m telling you, it’s gonna be one lip smacking bar cookie.  Want to see what it looks like inside?  Scroll on down…

And here they are.  I truly had to get the pictures made before the pan was gone.

Notice the thin layer of icing.  That’s all you need for these Cherokee Molasses Bars.  Otherwise it would be too sweet and overpowering.

Don’t ya wish you had one?

Makes about 30 bars.

For the Citrus Icing, click on the link or the picture!

For other bar cookies, check out:

Click on the photos above or these links for the recipes!

Chocolate Pecan Pie Bars, Raspberry Shortbread Bars and Lemon Bars!

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Here’s the printer friendly recipe.