Boiled Raisin Cake War Cake Recipes

BOILED CAKE (AKA DEPRESSION CAKE, WAR CAKE, POOR MAN'S CAKE)

Steps:

• In a saucepan combine shortening, water, raisins, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, cloves and sugar. Bring to boil, reduce heat, simmer for 10 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand until COMPLETELY cool.
• Preheat oven to 350 F degrees. Grease and flour a 9 x 13-inch baking pan, a Bundt pan, or 9 x 5-inch 2 loaf pans. Set aside.
• Stir the flour and baking soda into the cooled raisin mixture and mix until just combined and flour is mostly incorporated.
• Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake 30 minutes for a 9 x 13-inch pan or until the top of the cake is just firm to the touch. Remove from oven and allow to cool.
• Traditionally served un-frosted.

BOILED RAISIN CAKE I

Steps:

• Boil raisins in 2 cups of water for 15 minutes. Remove from heat.
• Add vegetable oil and cold water to the raisins.
• Mix sugar, flour, spices, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl.
• Add the raisin mixture, and stir till just mixed.
• Pour into a greased and floured 9 x 13 inch baking pan, and bake for one hour in a preheated 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) oven. It is done if a toothpick comes out clean.

BOILED RAISIN CAKE (CANADIAN WAR CAKE)

Steps:

• Mix raisins, butter, brown sugar, spices, and water in heavy saucepan.
• Place on high heat and bring to a boil.
• Lower heat and simmer for 6 minutes.
• Remove from heat and turn raisin mixture into a large bowl.
• Let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, combine flour, salt, and baking soda and mix gently.
• Add orange juice, vanilla and dry ingredients to cooled raisin mixture and beat well.
• Turn batter into a well greased 10 ¼" x 3 5/8" x 2 5/8" loaf pan.
• Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 1 hour.
• Allow cake to cool in pan for 10 minutes.
• Remove from loaf pan and allow to cool completely on wire rack.
• Let cake ripen for at least one day before slicing.

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.

WW2 WAR CAKE

Steps:

• Place the brown sugar, water, raisins.
• oil, cinnamon, and cloves in a heavy-bottomed saucepan and bring to a boil.
• Cook gently for 5 minutes, then remove from the heat and let cool until the mixture is comfortably warm to your finger.
• While the mixture is cooling, preheat t he oven to 350F.
• Grease and flour an 8x4-inch baking pan.
• Sift together the flour, salt, baking powder, and baking soda.
• Add them to the cooled sugar mixture, beating until no drifts of flour are visible and the batter is smooth.
• Stir in the walnuts.
• Spread evenly in the baking pan and bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a broomstraw inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean.
• Let cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then turn onto a rack to cool completely.
• Notes: For a good glaze, even if it is a 90's addition, save back a bit of the hot spiced water.
• Mix with confectioner's sugar, a drop of vanilla, and a pinch salt. Glaze the cake while hot.

BOILED RAISIN CAKE II

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour one 7x7 inch square baking pan.
• Boil sugar, raisins, butter, and the water until the raisins absorb most of the water and are quite soggy and mushy. Set aside and let cool completely.
• Sift the flour, cinnamon, and the baking powder together. Stir the flour mixture into the raisin mixture and mix until just combined. Spread the batter into the prepared pan.
• Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 40 to 45 minutes or until cake springs back upon the touch. Immediately put on a wire rack to cool. This is a very soft cake, liable to break easily. Take care when you cut the cake.