1918 War Cake Recipes

CANADIAN WAR CAKE

Steps:

• Bring 2 cups water to a boil in a large pot.
• Add pecans.
• Add butter.
• Add ginger.
• Add cinnamon.
• Add brown sugar.
• Add nutmeg.
• Add allspice.
• Add raisins.
• Stir well, let boil for 5 minutes.
• Remove pot from heat and allow mixture to completely cool. (cooling is very important)
• Add baking soda.
• Add ½ cup water.
• Add flour, a little at a time, stirring to combine as you go. Do not overmix.
• Grease and lightly flour 2 - 9inch cake pans.
• Pour batter into pans, dividing equally between both pans.
• Bake in preheated oven, at 350 degrees for 25-35 minutes, or until done. Test with a toothpick or knife.
• Remove cake layers from oven, place on a wire rack, let cool 10 minutes.
• Run a butter knife around the inside of the pan to separate the layer from the edge of the pan.
• Turn layers out of baking pans, let cool completely before icing on the wire racks.

MARITIME WAR CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease and flour a round tube pan or two loaf pans.
• Bring water, raisins, molasses, sugar, and shortening to a boil in a saucepan; reduce heat to low and simmer until raisins are plump, about 5 minutes. Allow to cool.
• Whisk flour, baking soda, and cinnamon together in a bowl. Stir flour mixture into raisin mixture until well combined; pour into prepared baking pan.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean, about 1 hour.

WAR CAKE

Steps:

• Combine raisins, brown sugar, water, lard, salt, cinnamon, and cloves in a 2-quart saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat; cook 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Cool to room temperature.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 10-inch tube pan. Stir together flour and baking soda. Fold dry ingredients into cooled raisin mixture. Spoon into greased pan and bake 45 to 50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
• Cool 5 minutes in pan, then invert onto a wire rack to cool completely.

WAR CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9x13-inch baking pan.
• In a large saucepan over medium heat, combine brown sugar and water. Add raisins, nuts, candied citron, shortening, salt, nutmeg, and cinnamon; bring to a boil and boil 3 minutes. Remove from heat and cool.
• Sift in flour and baking powder; stir until well blended. Pour into prepared pan.
• Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Remove from oven and cool on a wire rack. Leave in pan and cut into squares. .

CANADIAN WAR CAKE (WW I) RECIPE - (4.3/5)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 10 ¼ X 3 ⅝-inch loaf pan. Combine raisins, butter, brown sugar, spices and water in a heavy saucepan. Place on high heat and bring to a boil. Lower heat and simmer for 6 minutes. Remove from heat and transfer raisin mixture into a large bowl. Let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. Meanwhile combine flour, salt and baking soda and mix gently. When the raisin mixture cools, add the dry ingredients, orange juice and vanilla. Bake for 50 to 60 minutes. Allow cake to cool in pan for 10 minutes then remove from pan to cool completely on wire rack. Let cake sit at least one day before slicing. Frosting: Bring all ingredients to boil until forms a soft ball and remove from heat. Beat with mixer until it is thick enough to spread.