Eggless~ milkless spice cake

1 7inch tube

Ingredients

QuantityIngredient
1cupWater or beer
2cupsRaisins
1cupPacked brown sugar
cupButter or shortening
½teaspoonEach cinnamon and allspice
½teaspoonSalt
teaspoonNutmeg
2cupsCake flour, sifted
1teaspoonDouble action baking powder
1teaspoonBaking soda
1cupChopped almonds (optional)
Caramel Icing
1cupChopped dates
1cupChopped figs
1cupChopped 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.