Prison Bars Recipe

Sheath Cake (aka Prison Bars)

This is a tasty recipe from Mother-In-Law.  This would be Hubby's favorite bar recipe. There is a frosting that goes with it, that I will add on this post but we prefer it without.

Prision Bars

Steps to Preparation:
Step 1:  Bring to a boil:  1 Cup Margarine, 4 tsp Cocoa and 1 Cup Cold Water

Step 2: Remove from the burner and cool, then add: 2 Cups White Sugar, 2 Eggs (beaten well) and 1 tsp Vanilla.

Step 3:  Add to that mixture:  2 Cups Flour and 1/2 tsp Salt.

Step 4:  Lastly add:  1/2 Buttermilk (or Sour Milk - see hint below) and 1 tsp Baking Soda.

Beat well and pour into a greased and floured cookie sheet.  Bake at 400 degrees for 20 min. 

Frosting:
Bring to a boil:  1 stick of margarine, 2 Tbsp Cocoa and 5 Tbsp Milk.
Put 4 cups Powdered Sugar in bowl, 1 tsp Vanilla and the above mixture. 
Beat well and spread on bars immediately after removing them from oven.

Hints:
*Sour Milk =  1 cup milk plus 1 Tbsp Vinegar or Lemmon Juice (let the mixture sit together before adding to your recipe to get a better 'sour milk').
*I use a 13*18 inch jelly roll pan and it's a little too big, makes the batter thinner in the pan which dries them out some and you need to cook for less time.  I recommend a small pan.
*Make sure that you cover them tightly not long after letting them cool for a bit, adds some moisture back to them.