Amish Honey Bars Recipe

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  This bar is delicious with a strong taste of honey.
  Photo Courtesy Andrews McMeel Publishing
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  “The Amish Cook's Baking Book” is filled with 80 beautiful photographs and more than 100 classic Amish recipes for sweets that have been handcrafted in Lovina Eicher's Amish kitchen. "The Amish Cook's Baking Book" includes the following chapters: Pies; Breads, Rolls and Pastries; Cookies; Cakes; Bars 'n' Brownies; and Special-Occasion Baking. Home cooks get an extra treat with sidebars from Lovina's children, as well as interesting insights into Amish life both inside and outside the kitchen.
  Cover Courtesy Andrews McMeel Publishing

One of the ways the Amish savor their simplicity is through their back-to-basics baking — more of an art form than a chore. In The Amish Cook’s Baking Book (Andrews McMeel Publishing, 2009),celebrated Amish cook Lovina Eicher and her editor, Kevin Williams, introduce a new generation to Amish baking. With more than 100 recipes, learn to use the tools and techniques that have been passed down through generations, and journey through the delicious world of Amish baking. The following recipe is excerpted from the book’s chapter on cookies. 

Buy this book in the GRIT store: The Amish Cook’s Baking Book.

More from The Amish Cook’s Baking Book: 

• Ranger Cookie Recipe
• Dilly Bread Recipe
• Tasty Red Beet Chocolate Cake Recipe  

Honey bars recipe

Makes 2 dozen bars 

Some Amish do keep bees so that they can make and sell their own honey. Pure homemade honey tastes delicious. I often use honey in place of molasses in recipes because we seem to prefer the taste. This bar is delicious with a strong taste of honey.

1 cup granulated sugar
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 large egg, lightly beaten
3/4 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup honey
1 cup walnuts, chopped

Glaze: 

1 cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon water
2 tablespoons mayonnaise

Preheat the oven to 350°F.

In a large bowl, stir the sugar, flour, baking soda, and cinnamon until evenly mixed. Then add in the egg, vegetable oil, honey, and nuts. Stir until the mixture is smooth. Spoon into an ungreased jelly-roll pan or 9 by 13-inch pan. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 20 minutes.

To make the glaze: In a small bowl, stir together the powdered sugar, vanilla, water, and mayonnaise until smooth and creamy. Spread onto the honey bars while they are still warm.

Store the bars in a sealed container or cake safe. These will stay fresh for 3 to 4 days.

This excerpt is reprinted with permission from The Amish Cook’s Baking Book by Lovina Eicher with Kevin Williams and published by Andrews McMeel Publishing, 2009. Buy this book in our store: The Amish Cook’s Baking Book.