Our mother finds the most interesting recipes when she is reading.
This one was in the novel "Friends And Family" by Susan Page Davis.
It is, as the name suggests, a cake from the depression era that does not use any eggs, butter, or milk. It is dense and spicy, almost like a fruit cake, except different.
See.... I don't like fruit cake but I like this cake. I find it to be like a dense spice cake with raisins.
Apparently I need to start reading more books.
Who knew?
Depression Era Cake
(From "Friends And Family" by Susan Page Davis)
Ingredients
1 cup brown sugar, packed
1 1/2 cups water
1/3 cup oil
2 cups raisins (dark)
2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground cloves
1/2 tsp nutmeg
2 cups flour
pinch salt
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
2 tsp water
Directions
Preheat oven to 250. Lightly spray a 9 X 9 pan with cooking spray (I also lined mine with parchment paper.) Set aside.
In a saucepan, combine brown sugar, water, oil, raisins, and spices. Bring to a boil over medium high heat, stirring frequently, and then boil for 3 minutes.
Remove from heat and let cool while you prepare other ingredients.
In a small bowl, stir together the flour, salt, and baking powder. Set aside.
In another small bowl, dissolve the baking soda in 2 tsp of water and then stir into the raisin mixture (it will foam!).
Stir the flour mixture into the raisin mixture until well combined.
Spread the batter into the prepared 9 X 9 pan.
Bake at 350 for 45 - 55 minutes, until toothpick inserted near center comes out clean.
Serve warm or room temp.
My mother brought this to her senior's center for a Remembrance Day get together and everyone loved it.
This is a super quick and easy recipe to whip up.
I find it interesting that it has no eggs, butter, or milk and the texture is still very cake-like.
Looking for an interesting conversation starter that also happens to be a delicious treat?
Have we got a deal for you!

This is the recipe I recall eating, not only decades ago but at many of our family dinners and church potlucks. Woo hoo.
ReplyDeleteThat's awesome Gregory! Thank you for letting us know :) We hope you give it a try.
DeleteCould I soak this cake in alcohol after it has been baked? With a couple of additions of Fruit and nut this would make a great vegan Christmas cake!
ReplyDeleteHmmm.. good question Sharon. I really don't know what would happen if you soaked it in alcohol. Please let us know if you give it a try. You have me curious now. :)
DeleteLooking for a war time recipes gingerbread cake made a can of fruit cocktail use in it.can help.please☺
ReplyDeleteCan you make this in a 15x10 jelly roll pan
ReplyDeleteA light dusting of powdered sugar would make this pretty.
ReplyDelete