Minna Canth’s Spice Cake
Cook Time: 1 hour
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Discover a delightful treat with this enchanting Spice Cake, a recipe inspired by Minna Canth, the Finnish literary icon and advocate for women’s rights. Her legacy lives on through this soft, fragrant cake, enhanced with a secret ingredient—whipped cream! The original recipe called for bitter orange peel, but I’ve opted for a more familiar flavor profile with cinnamon, making this cake a warm, comforting dessert. Feel free to experiment with your favorite spice blends to make this cake uniquely yours!
Ingredients:
- 2 large eggs
- 200 grams granulated sugar
- 400 grams all-purpose flour
- 600 grams molasses (treacle)
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 200 grams melted butter
- 200 milliliters heavy whipping cream
Instructions:
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Preheat and Prepare: Begin by preheating your oven to 175°C (350°F). Generously grease and flour a 2-liter cake pan or a Bundt pan to ensure your cake releases easily after baking.
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Cream the Eggs and Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, whip the eggs and granulated sugar together until the mixture becomes light, fluffy, and pale. This step is crucial as it helps create the cake’s tender crumb.
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Incorporate the Cream: Gently fold the heavy whipping cream into the egg mixture, combining thoroughly to ensure a smooth texture.
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Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, sift together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, ground cinnamon, ground cloves, and ground ginger. This helps distribute the baking soda and spices evenly throughout the cake batter.
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Mix Dry and Wet Ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the egg and cream mixture, alternating with the molasses. Mix after each addition until well combined. The batter will be rich and thick, but this is expected.
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Add Melted Butter: Finally, fold in the melted butter until the batter is smooth and evenly mixed.
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Bake the Cake: Pour the batter into the prepared cake pan, spreading it evenly. Bake in the preheated oven at 175°C (350°F) for 30 minutes. After this initial baking period, reduce the oven temperature to 150°C (300°F) and continue baking for an additional 20-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.
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Cool and Serve: Allow the cake to cool in the pan for 10 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack to cool completely. Once cooled, you can frost it if desired or enjoy it plain to savor the full depth of its spices.
Indulge in the warm, aromatic flavors of this classic Finnish dessert, a tribute to Minna Canth’s legacy and an irresistible addition to any dessert table. Whether for a special occasion or a cozy afternoon treat, this spice cake is sure to delight and impress. Enjoy the journey into Finnish culinary tradition with each delicious bite!
