Period Fine Ginger Cakes

[Anna Elizabeth Henry]

From The Complete Confectioner a yummy ginger cake for the holiday season from 1809.

 

[John Winn]

That's a lot of ginger cakes ! Almost eight pounds of ingredients.

 

[Anna Elizabeth Henry]

That's a lot of ginger cakes ! Almost eight pounds of ingredients.

I noticed that, too! I always wondered if recipes like this were meant for entertaining hence the volume. It's not like you could store them properly in the era.

Also, I think you'd need some more ginger in order for the cakes to taste gingery enough and maybe some spices like nutmeg to dress it up a bit, too.

 

[donna]

I think many entertained like George and Martha Washington did. They always had large quantities.

In those days, when people came to visit they stayed a long time.

 

[Anna Elizabeth Henry]

I think many entertained like George and Martha Washington did. They always had large quantities.

In those days, when people came to visit they stayed a long time.

Oh that's right! I forgot that when visitors came it was for the long haul, often times weeks, so you'd need plenty of cakes to keep them happy! Though what an expense for the host. Imagine buying all those eggs, flour, etc. for all that entertaining?!

 

[donna]

I think on big estates and plantations they had chickens for eggs, their own cows, vegetables from their gardens. They had lots of things to make things.

Some folks stayed months.