Why it works: Cinnamon and nutmeg match in chemistry and in kitchens. They rank in the top 1% of all ingredient pairs, and cooks put them together in 11,917 recipes. Both carry estragole, which smells anise, licorice. The science ↓
Raisin Bars
Ingredients
Directions
Prepare the raisin mixture
In a saucepan combine the raisins and the apple juice.
Bring to a boil and cool.
Make the batter
Meanwhile, mix the flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, egg and vegetable oil together.
Add the raisin mixture and blend thoroughly.
Spread the mixture into a lightly oiled 8-inch square pan.
Sprinkle on the grated orange rind.
Bake and serve
Bake in a 350°F oven for 30 to 40 minutes.
Cool in the pan on a wire rack and cut into bars.
Nutrition, whole recipe (rough)
What these numbers assume: 9 portions
| Ingredient | Portion assumed | kcal |
|---|---|---|
| Flour | 1 cup (125g) all-purpose | 455 |
| Olive Oil | 1 tbsp (14g) | 119 |
| Apple Juice | 1 medium (182g) | 95 |
| Egg | 1 large egg (50g) | 78 |
| Grape | 1/2 cup (76g) | 62 |
| Orange | 1 medium (131g) | 62 |
| Nutmeg | 1 tsp ground (2.2g) | 12 |
| Cloves | 1 tsp ground (2g) | 7 |
| Cinnamon | 1 tsp ground (2.6g) | 6 |
One typical portion per ingredient; the recipe's quantities are not counted. A rough guide only, not for medical or dietary planning.
Steps grouped into stages for easier reading; the method is the source's own.
Explore the science
The flavor team
The pairs that carry this dish. Each one is judged two ways: how much their aromas overlap, and how often cooks already put them together.
-
Cinnamon + nutmegtop 1% of all pairsSmell alikestrongCooked together11,917 recipes
Shared aroma: estragole (anise, licorice).
-
Cinnamon + clovetop 1% of all pairsSmell alikestrongCooked together14,189 recipes
Shared aroma: ethyl cinnamate (sweet, balsamic).
-
Nutmeg + clovetop 1% of all pairsSmell alikestrongCooked together8,686 recipes
Shared aroma: estragole (anise, licorice).
-
Raisin + flourtop 1% of all pairsSmell alikestrongCooked together9,075 recipes
Shared aroma: isobutyraldehyde (malty, green).
-
Raisin + cinnamontop 1% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together5,390 recipes
Shared aroma: 1-octen-3-ol (mushroom, earthy).
Ranks compare each pair with 20,000 random ingredient pairs on CompKitchen. How we score pairs
What each ingredient does
- Raisins
- Provide sweetness and moisture, plumped by the hot apple juice, keeping the bars chewy.
- Whole wheat flour
- Forms the structure of the bars as its starch sets during baking.
- Egg
- Binds the batter and helps set its structure as it bakes.
- Baking soda
- Reacts with acidic ingredients to produce gas that helps the bars rise.
- Baking powder
- Releases gas during baking to lift the batter and give a lighter crumb.
- Vegetable oil
- Adds fat that tenderises the crumb and carries the spice flavours.
The step that matters
Cool the raisin mixture before adding it. The mixture must cool after boiling so it does not melt the fat or deflate the leavening in the batter when combined. Overly hot liquid can also cook the egg unevenly.
Swap the apple
How well each one fits the dish's main ingredients (raisin, wheat, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, egg):
- Figfits better
- Vanillafits better
- Blueberryfits better
- Applethe original
Fit is the average pairing score against raisin, wheat, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, egg. Candidates are from the same food group and used in at least 100 recipes.
“What each ingredient does” and “The step that matters” were written by Claude from this recipe’s own method and reviewed in samples by CompKitchen.
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