WWI Spice Cake

WWI Spice Cake This recipe contains no eggs, milk or butter. This is an authentic World War I cake that was popular when rationing was in full force in England. It's a dense spice cake that goes with pretty much anything. Coffee, ice cream, a cold glass of milk, hot chocolate, well, you get the idea.

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour

Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes

Yield: 8 slices

Source: I found it online, can't remember when or where.

Ingredients:

1 cup water
1/3 cup shortening
1 cup brown sugar
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground cloves
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
2 cups flour
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder

Steps:

Combine water, shortening, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and brown sugar into small saucepan. Bring to boil and cook 3 minutes. Allow to cool.
Meanwhile, combine flour, salt, baking powder and baking soda.
When cooked mixture cools, combine with dry ingredients. Mix until smooth.

Pour into greased 1.5 quart baking dish or loaf pan.

Bake in 350 degree F oven for one hour.

A baking dish filled with WWI spice cake

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bryguy
Bronze Feedback Medal for All Time! 167 Feedbacks

September 8, 20161 found this helpful

If you omit the spices, this sounds like a nice base cake for any flavoring you'd like to add, i.e. lemon juice for a lemon cake. The only substitution I'd make is margarine for shortening since margarine is more readily available (due to the trans-fat scare) and cheaper. Or even use butter since it's no longer WWI. Thanks for sharing!

Anonymous

September 8, 20161 found this helpful

My recipe has raisins.

Paige P.

September 18, 20160 found this helpful

Shortening is much cheaper than butter. It's always in my pantry.

Paige P.

September 18, 20160 found this helpful

Yes, it is a good base cake. I posted it because it could be considered vegan as well, no animal products used, and it's handy if you want to bake something but don't have eggs nor milk and can't get it for a few days.

Anonymous

September 8, 20160 found this helpful

WW1 or WW2....sounds more like WW2.....

Paige P.

September 18, 20160 found this helpful

It's from England during WWI. I got it from a digitized pamphlet.

Janet S.

September 8, 20160 found this helpful

I bet this is WW2, not WW1......Sounds terrific!

Paige P.

September 18, 20160 found this helpful

WWI. If memory serves, this recipe dates to about 1917, give or take a year.

Christine P.

September 8, 20162 found this helpful

I have my great grandmothers handwritten Tomato Soup Cake Recipe, passed down. Very similar to this, except with a can of Tomato Soup!

kcrouse1950

September 8, 20160 found this helpful

My grandmother used to make Tomato Soup Cake as well and I loved it and made it when I was first married. I have since lost the recipe. Would you mind sharing yours with me? I'd love to make one again!

Kathi Crouse