The delicious Coffee Cake Cashew Bars with raisins and cashew nuts make a nice breakfast treat or can also be enjoyed as dessert or with coffee in the afternoon.
Here in Thailand, I hate to say it, but, bakeries aren’t that common. So, my husband and I were quite surprised to walk by a bakery in our town one day! We were even more surprised to see that it was set up like a European style bakery and café. As many of you may have guessed, bakeries and cafes are commonplace throughout Europe, so we’re quite used to frequenting bakeries.
Upon entering the bakery, we were pleased to find that the selection was exquisite! Aside from all kinds of different breads, they had many small whole cakes to take home, sliced cakes to enjoy at the café, and many options for already packaged one-serving treats. They even had what looked like chocolate cake balls. We stumbled upon a hidden bakery gem!
Although it was tempting to try everything at once, unfortunately, there was simply no way we could. Both of us have actually started losing weight here and we wouldn’t want to reverse that all in one day.
So, getting down to business, aside from a sample of sliced bread, we decided on a cashew coffee cake bar for a little sweet treat. It was already conveniently boxed so we waited until we got home to enjoy it.
The Recipe for The Coffee Cake Cashew Bars
The base of the Coffee Cake Cashew Bars was a raisin coffee cake topped with chopped cashews and brown sugar. We really enjoyed the flavor and texture of the soft base with a crunchy topping. It was the perfect contrast in taste and texture to us.
I especially loved these bars and this recipe overall because it was a bit of sweetness to satisfy my sweet tooth but also had healthy components to balance it out, like the cashews and raisins. It’s the perfect snack for a protein boost, a small pick-me-up—or both!
For our palates, that hadn’t had many baked desserts aside from cookies, for quite a while, it was a real treat. However, I suspect that it wasn’t freshly made that day or the one before. This really made me wish I was able to re-create a home-baked version of it. I felt it was a yummy dessert and a great sweet snack, but I envisioned it being even better freshly baked.
Since our oven-less situation hasn’t resolved yet, all I can do is day-dream and research recipes. I found a recipe for very similar cake bars with great reviews and with just a little tweaking it becomes a fresher version of what we ate that day at the bakery.
To add a little saltiness to the sweetness (for those of you who perhaps love the combination of sweet and salty) try using salted cashews rather than plain.
These bars go great with a cup of coffee at any time a day or when you just need a small, sweet fix. You could even add it in as part of your breakfast!
Since we happen to be oven-less, give this recipe a try and leave feedback with your thoughts! Enjoy!
Recipe
Cashew Bars Recipe
Ingredients
Cake Layer
- ¾ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ cup sugar
- ½ cup brown sugar packed
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 2 eggs
- ½ cup raisins
Topping:
- ½ cup chopped cashews can be natural or salted
- ¼ cup brown sugar packed
- 2 tablespoons butter melted
- 4-½ teaspoons heavy whipping cream
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350° F. Combine the flour, sugars, baking powder and salt in a large mixing bowl. Add the eggs and beat just until combined. Fold in the raisins.
- Spread batter into a greased 8 inch square baking dish. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until the top springs back when lightly touched.
- In a small bowl, combine the topping ingredients. Spread the topping over the cake.
- Put the pan back into the oven on the broil setting for 1-2 minutes or until bubbly and lightly browned. Cut into bars while still warm. Cool on a wire rack.
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Common Questions
A cashew bar is a type of snack or dessert that typically contains cashew nuts as one of its main ingredients. It may consist of a variety of ingredients, including cashews, other nuts, sweeteners, and flavorings, often held together in a bar shape.
Yes, cashews are considered a healthy snack. They are a good source of healthy fats, protein, and various essential nutrients. Consumed in moderation, they can be part of a balanced diet.
There are approximately 78 calories in 10 cashews, but this can vary slightly based on the size of the nuts.
The appropriate number of cashews to eat in a day depends on your dietary needs and calorie intake. As a general guideline, a small handful, around 1 ounce or 18-20 cashews, is a reasonable portion for a snack.
Coffee cake is called so because it pairs well with coffee. It's a type of cake that's often enjoyed with coffee due to its sweet, crumbly, and mildly spiced nature, making it a delightful accompaniment to a cup of coffee.
Coffee cake, with its cinnamon, streusel topping, and not overly sweet flavor, is a classic choice to pair with coffee. Other cakes, such as pound cake, biscotti, or simple butter cakes, can also complement coffee nicely.
The cake that's specifically designed to be served with coffee is often referred to as "coffee cake." This type of cake is meant to enhance the coffee-drinking experience and typically has a crumbly or streusel topping.
Chelsea
Nice Recipe - Cashew Coffee Cake Bars