Eggless, milkless spice cake

1 7inch tube

Ingredients

QuantityIngredient
1.00cupWater or beer
2.00cupRaisins
1.00cupPacked brown sugar
cupButter or shortening
½teaspoonEach cinnamon and allspice
½teaspoonSalt
teaspoonNutmeg
2.00cupCake flour, sifted
1.00teaspoonDouble action baking powder
1.00teaspoonBaking soda
1.00cupChopped almonds (optional)
Caramel Icing
1.00cupChopped dates
1.00cupChopped figs
1.00cupChopped citron

Directions

ADDED INGREDIENTS TO TURN

INTO A FRUIT CAKE

Recipe from the Joy of Cooking

Comment: the spice level is very subtle. For a spicier version, increase the amount of spice and/or add in some stronger ones such as ginger, anise, cloves.

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

Boil for 3 minutes the water (beer), raisins, brown sugar, butter, spices, and salt. Cool.

Sift together the cake four, baking powder and baking soda.

Stir the flour gradually into the other ingredients. Stir until smooth. Add almonds. [If making the fruit cake variation, add the remaining ingredients.]

Bake in a greased tube pan for 1 hour or more. Frost with caramel icing.