Embark on a culinary journey back in time with Dot’s Civil War Cake. This historic recipe, featuring a hearty mix of apples, raisins, and spices, offers a delightful taste of the past.
Ingredients
- 3 medium apples, chopped
- 2 c. raisins
- 1 c. brown sugar
- 1 c. granulated sugar
- 2 Tbsp. shortening
- 2 c. cold water
- 3 c. flour
- 2 tsp. soda
- 1 tsp. cinnamon
- 1 tsp. nutmeg
- 1 tsp. cloves
- 1 tsp. salt
- 1 c. nuts
Baking Instructions
- Combine and cook first 6 ingredients.
- Bring to boil and boil 5 minutes; cool.
- Add sifted, dry ingredients to apple mixture. Stir and blend only.
- Add nuts.
- Pour into greased and floured tube pan.
- Bake 1 hour at 350°.
- Serves 16.
Calorie: 350
Total cooking time:1 hour
Difficulty level: Easy
A Stroll Down Memory Lane with Dot’s Civil War Cake
Ahoy there, fellow foodies! Journey with me today as I attempt to make the legendary Dot’s Civil War Cake. Now, don’t let the name intimidate you. This is a cake, not a cannonball. But boy, does it pack a flavor explosion!
The Gathering of the Troops
First things first, we rally our soldiers – I mean, ingredients. This army includes 3 medium apples, chopped so they can fit into their uniforms better, 2 cups of raisins, who’ve been sunbathing a little too long, and a cup each of brown sugar and granulated sugar. These are the sweet twins of the family, and they always get along well, except when they’re fighting over who’s sweeter.
We also have 2 tablespoons of shortening, because every cake needs a little grease to slide down your throat. Then there’s 2 cups of cold water, the universal solvent and peacemaker, and 3 cups of flour, the backbone of any good cake. The spice squad is next – 2 teaspoons of soda to make the cake rise in ranks, a teaspoon each of cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves (the spice, not the garlic relative), and salt for flavor.
And let’s not forget the nuts! You’ll need a cup of these crunchy fellas. They’re not just there for the crunch, they add an extra layer of flavor too!
The Battle Begins
Now, it’s time for the action. We start by combining and cooking the first six ingredients. Or as I like to call it: the “boil and bubble” phase. This isn’t a witches’ brew, but it sure does feel like one as you stir and watch the ingredients meld together. After a five-minute boil, we cool down our troops. Don’t want them to burn out too soon, do we?
Reinforcements Arrive
Next, we add the sifted, dry ingredients to our apple mixture. It’s like throwing a surprise party, only this time the surprise is a burst of flavor. We stir and blend, but only just. There’s a fine line between blending and battering, my friends. And then, the nuts join the fray. They might seem like a handful, but they’re a crunchy delight.
The Final Push
Now, we pour our mixture into a greased and floured tube pan. It’s like tucking our troops into bed before the big fight. The oven is set at 350°, and we send our cake in for a full hour. It’s a brave cake, ready to face the heat and rise to the occasion.
Victory is Sweet
And there you have it, folks! After an hour, the smell of victory fills your kitchen. You’ve successfully prepared Dot’s Civil War Cake. This cake serves 16, but let’s be real, we all know how “sharing” works.
So, join me in raising a slice to Dot, the culinary general who led us to this sweet victory. Her Civil War Cake is a testament that great flavor often emerges from the heat of the battle, or in this case, the oven.
Until our next culinary conquest, keep your aprons ready and your spatulas high, my friends!
