Grandma's Depression Cake
"This is an eggless, milkless, butterless cake. " A delicious spiced cake that's easy on the budget".
I found this recipe in the "Guideposts" magazine (August 2009 issue). The recipe was part of a wonderful article with the same title written by Rosemary Marbach."
- Ready In:
- 1hr 25mins
- Ingredients:
- 12
- Yields:
-
1 cake
- Serves:
- 10-12
ingredients
- 1 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
- 1 1⁄2 cups water
- 1⁄3 cup vegetable oil
- 2 cups dark raisins
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1⁄2 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1⁄2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons water
- 2 cups flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
directions
- 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.
Questions & Replies
Got a question?
Share it with the community!
Reviews
-
Delicious, but I found the bake time was too long for an 8 inch square glass pan. My cake was done in 35 minutes. Thanks for the recipe. -
Although I can't say that I ever had a cake like this when I was young (my days-of-remembering start about 1943-44!), but it's great to be able to have something like that that my parents used to talk about ~ Not something I'd usually make for a dessert, but it really is a very nice cake, & definitely a conversation piece, at that! Very enjoyable! [Tagged, made & reviewed for one of my adoptees in the current Pick A Chef]
-
My Grandmother handed down a similar recipe that she called "Poor Man's Cake", except that hers calls for coffee instead of water, and lard or bacon drippings instead of vegetable oil. My mother, born in 1912, told me that this recipe was popular during the war because so many things were rationed. Apparently it wasn't that hard to get raisins! This is a fast and easy cake to make in a hurry or when there's not much left in the pantry. We made it often when I was a kid and usually ate it unfrosted. Moist, chewy and satisfying.
-
A very nice breakfast cake. Full of flavor. My neighbors are old and they remember this from their childhood. Thanks for posting. Justine -
This is my favorite cake. I have had this cake since I was a child - a staple in our household. My mother-in-law makes it for me every year for my birthday with penuche icing. My grandma used to ice it with butter cream icing. Try this you will love it.
Tweaks
-
My Grandmother handed down a similar recipe that she called "Poor Man's Cake", except that hers calls for coffee instead of water, and lard or bacon drippings instead of vegetable oil. My mother, born in 1912, told me that this recipe was popular during the war because so many things were rationed. Apparently it wasn't that hard to get raisins! This is a fast and easy cake to make in a hurry or when there's not much left in the pantry. We made it often when I was a kid and usually ate it unfrosted. Moist, chewy and satisfying.
RECIPE SUBMITTED BY
Hi!
I love to bake.
Even though I love baking, my absolute first love is MUSIC! I'm involved in vocal music ( solo, choir, duet, etc.)
I work full time in the health care field and I love my job.
I've been married for a little over 13 years.
My hobbies are music, reading, swimming, arts and crafts (acrylic painting on wood, tin, glass, etc). some gardening, and of course......baking.
We have 2 dogs.....a 12 year old Miniature American Eskimo (Cloud Dancer) and a 3 year old Chocolate Lab (Cinnamon D'Light).
