Depression Cake Recipes

Steps:

• In a saucepan combine the shortening, water, raisins, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, cloves and sugar. Simmer for 10 minutes. Remove form heat and let stand until cool.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease one 9x13 inch baking pan.
• Stir the flour and baking soda into the cooled raisin mixture and mix until just combined. Pour batter into the prepared pan.
• Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 45 minutes.

Steps:

• Pre-heat oven to 325 degrees.
• Combine sugar, water, vegetable oil, raisins, and spices in a saucepan, and bring to a boil. Boil for 3 minutes, stirring frequently. Take pan off heat and let cool for 10 minutes.
• Dissolve baking soda and salt in 2 teaspoons of water and add to raisin mixture (it will foam).
• Blend in the flour and baking powder. Mix well.
• Pour the batter into a greased 9 inch square pan and bake for 55 minutes, or until a toothpick unserted in the center comes out clean.
• Let cake cool for about 10 minutes before serving.

Steps:

• Using a manual egg beater, mix together the above ingredients until just blended. Do not over mix.
• Grease and flour a 9 x 13" one layer cake pan.
• Pour the batter into the pan.
• Bake 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes until it tests done.
• The following cream cheese frosting is not "Depression Era" but is excellent with the cake:.
• 2 squares (4 oz. total) unsweetened baking chocolate; 8 oz. pkg cream cheese - softened; 4 Table butter - softened; 4 cups powdered sugar; 1 teaspoons vanilla; milk as needed - adding 1 Table. at a time.
• Melt the chocolate and set aside. In a mixing bowl put the cream cheese and butter and beat with a mixer until smooth. Add the powdered sugar, about 1/2 cup at a time, until all 4 cups are added. Add vanilla and melted chocolate. Mixture will be a little thick, so slowly add milk until the desired consistency is reached.

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, simmer sugar, coffee, shortening, raisins and apple together for 10 minutes.
• Cool 10 minutes.
• In a large bowl, mix together flour, baking soda, baking powder, all the spices and nuts.
• Pour the cooled mixture into the dry ingredients and mix well.
• Pour batter into a greased 13 X 9 inch pan.
• Bake at 350 for 25 to 30 minutes.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Lightly greased and flour a 9 x 13 inch baking pan, set aside.
• Bring the first five ingredients to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionslly.
• Cool 10 minutes.
• Blend the dry ingredients together and stir into the boiled mixture.
• Pour batter into pan and bake for 25 to 30 minutes.