Sweet Baked Goods Black Cake

black cake.
(from The Great Western Cook Book, Or Table Receipts: Adapted to Western Housewifery, by Anna Maria Collins, 1857)

Ingredients:

1 lb. fresh butter​

1/2 lb. lard​

1-1/4 brown sugar​

4 eggs​

1 pint new milk​

1 grated nutmeg​

1 tsp. pounded mace​

1 tsp. soda​

1-3/4 lbs. flour​

1-1/2 lbs. raisins​

1-1/2 lbs. currants​

wine and brandy for flavor​

Instructions:

Take a pound of fresh butter, and half a pound of lard, cream it well together, and add one pound and a quarter of brown sugar. Beat in four eggs, one at a time; put in a pint of new milk, and one grated nutmeg, a tea-spoonful of pounded mace, and a tea-spoonful of soda. Gradually mix with this, one pound and three-quarters of well-dried flour, and beat all well together. Then add a pound and a half of raisins, stoned, and the same quantity of currants. Flavor with wine and brandy, and bake one hour in a quick oven.​

 

[mofederal]

I will have to ask my cook about this one.

 

[donna]

Sounds tasty and one to make. Thanks again for all the recipes.

 

[donna]

The poet Emily Dickinson had Black Cake recipe. She was a very good cook.

See: http://www.americanfoodroots.com/recipes/emily-dickinsons-black-cake-recipe/

 

[Anna Elizabeth Henry]

I'd never heard of this type of cake before, sounds really good. Excellent fall/holiday suitable cake with the all the spices and dried fruit in it. Thanks @Albert Sailhorst and @donna for Emily's recipe - I had no idea she was a good cook!

 

[nitrofd]

Talk about excess,a pound of butter,1/2pound of lard and 1 1/2 pounds brown sugar.i'm sure the recipe works but lookout waistline.

 

[Anna Elizabeth Henry]

Talk about excess,a pound of butter,1/2pound of lard and 1 1/2 pounds brown sugar.i'm sure the recipe works but lookout waistline.

I always wonder if you bake these huge quantities of dough/batter in one giant cake/loaf tin or if you do like the one Donna linked to for Emily Dickinson's recipe, and use four pans. Regardless it's a lot of butter, sugar and lard!

 

[nitrofd]

With a pound and a half of flour this would be for a large In height 10 inch,maybe a12.

 

[AshleyMel]

Rich and dense! Like a fruit cake!

 

[JOHN42768]

Was this number one on weight watchers list?