War Cake
Description: This recipe, passed down from my mother, embodies the spirit of resourcefulness during times of scarcity, reminiscent of the cakes baked during wartime rationing. Moist and flavorful, it carries the nostalgia of Christmases past, where it was eagerly anticipated as a special treat.
Recipe Category: Dessert 🍰
Keywords: Fruit 🍇, Low Cholesterol 🥦, Healthy 🥗, Weeknight 📅, Oven 🍳, < 4 Hours ⏳
Ingredients:
| Ingredient | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Brown sugar | 2 cups |
| Water | 1 cup |
| Raisins | 1 cup |
| Vegetable shortening | 1/4 cup |
| Cinnamon | 1 tsp |
| Nutmeg | 1/4 tsp |
| Ground cloves | 1/4 tsp |
| Flour | 3 cups |
| Salt | 1/4 tsp |
| Baking powder | 1 tsp |
| Baking soda | 1 tsp |
| Walnuts | 1/2 cup |
Nutritional Information (per serving):
- Calories: 1968.6
- Fat Content: 28g
- Saturated Fat Content: 7.8g
- Cholesterol Content: 0mg
- Sodium Content: 1179.2mg
- Carbohydrate Content: 418.2g
- Fiber Content: 8.6g
- Sugar Content: 257g
- Protein Content: 21.9g
Servings: 2 loaves 🍞
Total Time: 1 hour and 5 minutes ⏱️
- Preparation Time: 20 minutes ⏲️
- Cooking Time: 45 minutes ⏲️
Instructions:
- In a heavy gauge saucepan, combine brown sugar, water, raisins, vegetable shortening, cinnamon, nutmeg, and ground cloves.
- Bring the mixture to a boil, then cook gently for 5 minutes.
- Remove from heat and let the mixture cool until comfortably warm to the touch.
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 degrees Celsius).
- Grease and flour 2 loaf pans to prevent sticking.
- In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, salt, baking soda, and baking powder.
- Add the sifted dry ingredients to the cooled sugar mixture, and beat well until combined.
- Stir in the chopped walnuts until evenly distributed throughout the batter.
- Pour the batter evenly into the prepared loaf pans.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Allow the cakes to cool in the pans for 10 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes:
- This War Cake is best enjoyed sliced and served with a dollop of whipped cream or a sprinkle of powdered sugar.
- Store any leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, or freeze for longer preservation.
- Experiment with different types of nuts or dried fruits to customize the flavor to your liking.
