Cakes
Fancy-cakemakers and confectioners prefer to use “pastry” flour for the making of cakes and pastry, which is a flour of different grade from that used for bread and general baking purposes. Bread flour contains a large proportion of gluten, the nitrogenous property of the wheat grain, which gives bone and muscle, and makes bread a nutritious food. When bread flour is used for cake and pie crust the result is not quite as flaky and light as it should be, because of the gluten in the flour. A special sack of pastry flour for use in making fine cakes and pastry will be advantageous. In appearance pastry flour is whiter than bread flour. When rubbed between the fingers it feels as soft and fine as corn-starch; if squeezed in the hand it forms a firm ball. Because of this tendency to “pack” it should always be sifted very thoroughly.
Generally speaking, Royal Baking Powder used with any good flour will make satisfactory cake which will be creditable to any housekeeper.
In no department of cookery is Royal Baking Powder of greater use and importance than in making fine cake. Eggs are too expensive nowadays to be used as lavishly as they were a generation ago—ten or more to a cake. Not as a substitute wholly, but as an accessory,—as an aid toward producing the lightness and digestibility of the food,—we use the Royal Baking Powder. We thereby obtain uniformly good results and do a large amount of work at a minimum expense. The quantity called for by the receipt should be thoroughly mixed with the flour before the latter is sifted.
The Royal Baking Powder has worked a revolution in cake-making. It is now no trouble to make at home the finest cakes in almost endless variety, which shall rival the productions of the confectioner. If you follow these directions there will be no spoiled or heavy cakes, no wasted materials through failures in mixing or baking.
Cream the butter, beating till light. Gradually add the sugar, beating till light and creamy. Add the yolks of eggs beaten till light, then the flavoring. Beat in alternately the liquid and flour, the latter mixed with salt and baking powder. Lastly, add the beaten whites, and fruit, if used.
Beat the egg yolks until very light and thick. Add the sugar gradually, beating till very light and spongy. Add the flavoring and liquid, if used. Have the whites of eggs whipped to a stiff froth. Add them alternately with the sifted flour (mixed with baking powder), and cut both in very lightly and quickly.
Thin cakes need a hotter oven than loaf cakes. Cakes without butter (sponge cakes) should have a more moderate, longer baking than cakes of same size containing butter. The process of baking may be divided into four periods or quarters of time: in first quarter the cake begins to rise; in second quarter it is still rising and begins to color; in third quarter it browns all over; in last quarter it shrinks from sides of pan.
To test, insert a clean broom-straw into the middle of the cake; if it comes out clean, the cake is done. Hold the pan to the ear; it should scarcely “sing.”
Line loaf-cake pans with buttered paper; fruit cakes need several thicknesses of the same.
Do not use sour milk, buttermilk, or any of the so-called prepared or self-raising flours.
Adelaide Cake.—1 cup butter, 1½ cups sugar, 4 eggs, 1 pint flour, 1 teaspoon Royal Baking Powder, 1 cup dried, stoned cherries, ½ cup cream, 1 teaspoon extract vanilla. Rub butter and sugar to white, light cream; add eggs, 2 at a time, beating 5 minutes after each addition. Sift flour and powder together, add to butter, etc., with cherries, cream, and extract vanilla. Mix smoothly and gently into rather firm batter. Bake in paper-lined cake-tin (fig. IX) 40 minutes in moderate, steady oven. Watch carefully; if getting too brown, protect with paper.
Almond Cake.-½ cup butter, 2 cups sugar, 4 eggs, ½ cup almonds blanched—by pouring water on them until skins easily slip off—and cut in fine shreds, ½ teaspoon extract bitter almonds, 1 pint flour, 1½ teaspoons Royal Baking Powder, 1 glass brandy, ½ cup milk. Rub butter and sugar to smooth white cream; add eggs, 1 at a time, beating 3 or 4 minutes after each. Sift flour and powder together, add to butter, etc., with almonds, extract of bitter almonds, brandy, and milk; mix into smooth, medium batter, bake carefully in rather hot oven 20 minutes in a fluted mold (fig. I).
Almond Cake, 2.-¾ cup butter, 1 cup sugar, ½ cup milk, 3 eggs, 2 cups flour, 2 level teaspoons Royal Baking Powder, 1 pound almonds blanched and cut in strips. Cream the butter, add the sugar, and cream again; add the beaten yolks, then, alternately, the milk and the flour sifted with the baking powder. Lastly, add the whites whipped to a stiff froth and the almonds. Bake in a loaf in a moderate oven.
Angel Food Cake.—Whites 11 eggs, 1½ cups fine granulated sugar, 1 cup flour sifted four times with 1 teaspoon Royal Baking Powder, 1 teaspoon vanilla. Whip the whites to a firm, stiff froth. Cut in lightly the sugar, then the flour mixed with the baking powder, lastly the vanilla. Pour into an ungreased pan (fig. IV) and bake 40 minutes in moderate oven. When baked invert pan on 2 cups; let stand till cold.
Apple Jelly Cake.—1 cup butter, 2 cups sugar, 4 eggs, 3 cups flour, 1½ teaspoons Royal Baking Powder, 1 cup milk, 6 apples, 6 ounces sugar, 1 teaspoon butter. Rub together butter and sugar to fine, light, white cream, add eggs 2 at a time, beating 10 minutes after each addition. Sift flour and Royal Baking Powder together, add to butter, etc., with milk, and mix into rather thin batter. Bake in jelly-cake tins carefully greased. Meanwhile have apples peeled and sliced, put on fire with sugar; when tender remove, rub through fine sieve, and add butter. When cold use to spread between layers. Cover cake plentifully with sugar sifted over top.
Bride’s Cake.—1 scant cup butter, 3 cups sugar, 1 cup milk, whites 12 eggs, 3 teaspoons Royal Baking Powder, 1 cup corn-starch, 3 cups flour, ¼ teaspoon salt. Cream butter and sugar. Mix flour, baking powder, and corn-starch, and add alternately with milk and whipped whites. Flavor with vanilla or almond extract and bake in loaf-tin lined with 4 thicknesses of paper; have oven moderate.
Banana Cake.-½ cup butter, 1 cup sugar, ½ cup milk, 2 scant cups flour, 1½ teaspoons Royal Baking Powder, whites 4 eggs, ½ teaspoon vanilla. Mix flour and baking powder. Cream butter and sugar, add milk and flour alternately, then vanilla and beaten whites. Bake in 3 layer-tins in hot oven. To receipt for boiled icing (seeCake Fillings) add ½ cup mashed banana and use as filling. Dust top with powdered sugar.
Chocolate Cake.—Make a cake as for banana cake, and bake in 3 layers. Put together with chocolate filling (seeCake Fillings).
Chocolate Cream Cake.—1½ pounds each butter, sugar, and flour, 14 eggs. Beat the yolks separate with sugar and butter. Beat the whites separately, and add to above. To ½ of the dough mix ¼ pound chocolate, and bake of each part (the dark and light) 6 cakes. For filling take ¾ pint cream, yolks 8 eggs. Sugar to taste; flavor with extract vanilla, put on fire and stir until it thickens, then put between the cakes.
Chocolate Layer Cake.—2 eggs, 2 cups powdered sugar, 1 cup milk, 2 cups flour, 2 scant teaspoons Royal Baking Powder, ¼ teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon vanilla. Mix flour, salt, and baking powder. Beat egg yolks till thick. Gradually add and beat in the sugar. Add vanilla and milk, whites whipped stiff, and flour. Bake in 3 layer-cake pans in hot oven. Put together with chocolate filling, No. 2 (seeCake Fillings).
Chocolate Loaf Cake.-½ cup butter, 1½ cups sugar, 2 cups flour, 2 teaspoons Royal Baking Powder, ¼ teaspoon salt, ½ cup milk, 4 eggs, 4 ounces chocolate dissolved in 5 tablespoons boiling water, 1 teaspoon vanilla. Mix flour, salt, and baking powder. Cream butter and sugar, add egg yolks, vanilla, and dissolved chocolate. Alternate the milk and flour and beat hard, then add whipped whites, turn into buttered loaf-pan lined with 3 thicknesses of paper. Bake in moderate oven.
Cinnamon Chocolate Cake.-½ cup butter, 1 cup sugar, 2 eggs, ½ cup milk, 1½ cups flour, 1½ teaspoons Royal Baking Powder, ¼ teaspoon salt, 3 teaspoons powdered cinnamon. Mix flour, salt, and baking powder. Cream butter and sugar. Add cinnamon and beaten yolks, then alternate milk and flour. Add whipped whites, beat hard, and bake in 3 layer-pans in quick oven. When cold put together with boiled icing containing melted chocolate.
Centennial Cake.-¾ pound butter, 1½ pounds brown sugar, 6 eggs, 2 cups milk, 1¾ pounds flour, ⅓ teaspoon salt, 2 teaspoons Royal Baking Powder, ¾ pound cleaned currants, ¼ pound seeded raisins, ¼ pound sliced citron, 1 grated nutmeg, 1 glass wine. Dredge fruit well with a little of the flour. Mix flour, salt, and baking powder. Cream butter and sugar. Add beaten yolks, nutmeg, and wine. Beat in alternately the milk and flour, add whipped whites, and beat hard. Stir in prepared fruit. Line 2 loaf-pans with 3 thicknesses of paper. Divide the batter between the pans and bake about 1¼ hours in moderate oven.
Cocoanut Layer Cake.-½ cup butter, 1¼ cups sugar, whites 8 eggs, 2½ cups flour, ¼ teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon Royal Baking Powder, 1 teaspoon vanilla. Mix flour, salt, and baking powder. Cream butter and sugar. Add vanilla, then, alternately, the flour and whipped whites. Beat hard; bake in 3 layer-cake pans. When cold put together with cocoanut filling, No. 2 (seeFillings).
Cocoanut Loaf Cake.-½ cup butter, 1 cup sugar, 5 eggs, 2 cups flour, 1 cup milk, 2 teaspoons Royal Baking Powder, ¼ teaspoon salt, 2 cups freshly grated cocoanut. Put together same as chocolate loaf cake, and bake in loaf-pan in moderate oven.
Citron Cake.—1½ cups butter, 2 cups sugar, 6 eggs, 1 teaspoon Royal Baking Powder, 1 pint flour, 1 cup citron cut in thin, large slices, 1 teaspoon extract nutmeg. Rub the butter and sugar to a smooth, light cream, add the eggs, 2 at a time, beating 5 minutes after each addition. Sift the flour and powder together, which add to the butter, etc., with the citron and extract nutmeg. Mix into a firm batter, and bake carefully in paper-lined shallow, flat cake-pan (fig. XIII), in a moderate oven, 50 minutes.
Coffee Cake.—1 cup very strong coffee, 1 cup butter, 2 cups sugar, 3 eggs, 1½ pints flour, 1½ teaspoons Royal Baking Powder, 1 cup stoned raisins, cut in two, ½ cup chopped citron, 10 drops each extract allspice and nutmeg, and ½ cup milk. Rub the butter and sugar to a white cream; add the eggs, 1 at a time, beating 3 or 4 minutes after each. Sift together flour and powder, which add to the butter, etc., with the coffee, raisins, citron, milk, and extracts. Mix into a smooth batter.Bake in paper-lined cake-tin (fig. IX), in a hot oven, 50 minutes.
Coffee Cake, No. 2.—1 cup brown sugar, 1 cup butter, 2 eggs, ½ cup molasses, 1 cup strong coffee, ½ teaspoon soda dissolved in the molasses, 2 teaspoons powdered cinnamon, 1 teaspoon cloves, ¼ teaspoon salt, 1 cup chopped raisins, 5 cups flour, 2 teaspoons Royal Baking Powder. Sift together the flour, salt, baking powder, and spices. Dredge raisins with some of the flour. Cream butter and sugar. Add beaten yolks and molasses, then alternate the coffee and flour; lastly beat in whipped whites. Divide into 2 loaves and bake in moderate oven.
Cream Cakes (Éclaires à la Crême).—10 eggs, ½ cup butter, ¾ pound flour, 1 pint water. Set the water on the fire in a stewpan with the butter; as soon as it boils, stir in the sifted flour with a wooden spoon; stir vigorously until it leaves the bottom and sides of pan; remove from fire, beat in the eggs, 1 at a time. Place this batter in a pointed canvas bag having a nozzle at small end, press out the batter, in shape of fingers, on a greased tin, a little distance apart. Bake in steady oven 20 minutes. When cold, cut the sides and fill with following:
PASTRY CREAM
2 cups sugar, 1½ pints milk, 3 large tablespoons corn-starch, yolks of 5 eggs, 1 tablespoon good butter, 2 teaspoons extract vanilla. Bring the milk to a boil; with the sugar add the starch dissolved in a little cold water; as soon as it reboils, take from the fire. Beat in the egg yolks. Return to the fire 2 minutes to set the eggs. Add the extract and butter. Spread tops, when cold, with chocolate or vanilla icing.
Cream Cake.-¾ cup butter, 2 cups sugar, 1½ pints flour, 5 eggs, 1 teaspoon Royal Baking Powder, 1 cup milk. Rub the butter and sugar to a white, light cream. Add the eggs, 2 at a time, beating 5 minutes after each addition. Sift the flour with the powder, which add to the butter, etc., and the milk. Mix into rather thin batter, and bake in jelly-cake tins, well greased, in hot oven 15 minutes. When cold spread pastry cream between the layers, and ice the top with clear icing. (See pastry cream, above.)
Continental Fruit Cake.—1 pound butter, 1 pound sugar, 1½ pounds flour, 1 cup cream, 1 wine-glass each brandy and wine, 1 grated nutmeg, 1 teaspoon each mace and cloves, 2 teaspoons cinnamon, ¼ teaspoon salt, 8 eggs, ¾ pound each raisins and currants, ½ pound shred citron. Put together as for centennial cake, and bake in 2 loaves in moderate oven, lining pans with 3 thicknesses of paper.
Cup Cake.—1 cup butter, 2 cups sugar, 4 eggs, 1 teaspoon Royal Baking Powder, 3 cups flour, 20 drops extract bitter almonds. Rub the butter and sugar to a cream. Add the eggs, 2 at a time, beating 5 minutes after each addition. Sift together the flour and powder, which add to the butter, etc., with the extract. Mix into a smooth, medium batter. Bake in well-greased cups or muffin-pans (fig. VII), in a rather hot oven, 20 minutes.
Currant Cake.—1 cup butter, 1 cup sugar, 4 eggs, 1 teaspoon Royal Baking Powder, 1 pint flour, 1½ cups currants, washed and picked, 2 teaspoons extract cinnamon, and 1 teaspoon extract lemon. Rub the butter and sugar to a white, light cream. Add the eggs, 1 at a time, beating a few minutes after each. Add the flour sifted with the powder, the currants, and the extracts. Mix into a medium batter. Bake in paper-lined cake-tin (fig. IX) 50 minutes, in a moderate oven.
Currant Cake, No. 2.-½ cup butter, 1 cup sugar, 3 eggs, ½ cup milk, 2 cups flour, ¼ teaspoon salt, 1½ teaspoons Royal Baking Powder, 1 cup cleaned currants, 1 teaspoon vanilla. Mix flour, salt, and baking powder, dredge the currants. Cream butter and sugar. Add beaten yolks and vanilla. Beat in flour and milk; add whipped whites and currants, and beat hard. Bake in shallow pan in moderately hot oven.
Currant Cake (English).—1½ cups butter, 2 cups sugar, 7 eggs, 1 teaspoon Royal Baking Powder, ½ cup citron, in small thin slices, the rind of an orange, peeled very thin and cut in shreds, 2 cups currants, washed and picked, 1½ pints flour, 1 teaspoon extract nutmeg. Rub the butter and sugar to a white, light cream. Add the eggs, 2 at a time, heating 5 minutes after each addition. Sift the flour and powder together. Add it to the butter, etc., with the citron, orange peel, currants, and the extract. Bake in a thickly paper-lined tin (fig. XIII), 1 hour and 25 minutes, in a moderate oven.
Duchesse Cake.—1½ cups butter, 1 cup sugar, 6 eggs, 1 teaspoon Royal Baking Powder, 1 pint flour, 1 teaspoon extract cinnamon. Rub the butter and sugar to a light cream. Add the eggs, 2 at a time, beating 10 minutes after each addition. Sift together flour and powder, add to the butter, etc., with the extract. Mix into a medium thick batter, and bake in small, shallow, square pans (fig. XII), lined with thin white paper, in a steady oven 30 minutes. When they are taken from the oven, ice them.
Soft Gingerbread.-½ cup butter, 2 cups molasses, 1 cup sugar, 4 cups flour, 1 cup milk, 4 eggs, 1 teaspoon Royal Baking Powder, ginger and cloves to taste.
Dark Fruit Cake.—2 cups butter, 2 cups sugar, 12 eggs, 4 cups flour, 1 teaspoon Royal Baking Powder, ½ teaspoon salt, 1 pound currants, 1 pound sliced citron, 3 pounds seeded raisins, 1 pound chopped figs, ½ cup any kind of wine, 2 tablespoons strained lemon juice, 2 teaspoons cinnamon, ½ teaspoon each cloves and mace, ¾ teaspoon each allspice and nutmeg. Sift together flour, salt, baking powder, and spices. Dredge fruit thoroughly. Cream butter and sugar, add beaten yolks and lemon juice. Alternate flour and wine, add whipped whites, and beat for 10 minutes. Stir in prepared fruit. Line loaf-pans with 4 thicknesses paper; pour in batter. Bake in slow oven from 3 to 5 hours, covering pans with paper until ⅔ baked.
Delicate Fruit Cake.-¾ cup butter, 2 cups sugar, 1 cup milk, 2½ cups flour, ¼ teaspoon salt,2 teaspoons Royal Baking Powder, whites 5 eggs, 2 tablespoon grated lemon rind. Cream butter and mix dry ingredients. Cream butter and sugar. Add whipped whites, flour, and milk, and beat hard. To 5 tablespoons of this batter add spices to taste, and 1 cup raisins and ½ cup sliced citron, and bake in 1 layer. Bake remainder of batter in 2 layer-pans. When cold put together with boiled icing, having dark layer in center.
Fig Cake.—1½ cups sugar, ½ cup butter, ½ cup sweet milk, 1½ cups flour, ¼ teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon Royal Baking Powder, ½ cup corn-starch, whites 6 eggs. Put together as for corn-starch cake, and bake in 2 shallow oblong pans in a quick oven. Put together with fig filling (seeCake Fillings).
French Cake.—1½ cups butter, 2 cups sugar, 12 eggs, 1 quart flour, ½ teaspoon Royal Baking Powder, 1 gill each of cream, wine, and brandy, 20 drops each extract bitter almonds and nutmeg, 1½ cups raisins, stoned, ½ cup almonds, blanched, 1 cup chopped citron. Rub butter and sugar to a white, light cream; add the eggs, 2 at a time, beating 10 minutes between the first 3 additions, and 5 minutes between the rest; add the flour, sifted with the powder, raisins, almonds, citron, extracts, cream, wine, and brandy. Mix into a smooth, consistent batter; bake in a thickly paper-lined cake-pan (fig. XIII), in a steady oven, 2 hours.
Light Fruit Cake.-½ cup butter, 1 cup sugar, ½ cup milk, 2 cups flour, 1½ teaspoons Royal Baking Powder, whites 4 eggs, ½ cup seeded raisins, ½ cup sliced citron, ⅓ cup chopped blanched almonds, ¼ teaspoon salt. Mix flour, baking powder, and salt. Dredge fruit with flour. Cream butter and sugar, add beaten whites, and beat hard; add flour and milk and beat again; stir in the prepared fruit. Line a loaf-pan with 3 thicknesses of paper, and bake cake 1½ hours in moderate oven, covering with paper for first hour.
Geranium Cake.-½ cup butter, 1 cup sugar, ⅔ cup water, ¼ teaspoon salt, 2 cups flour, 1 teaspoon Royal Baking Powder, whites 4 eggs. Mix flour, salt, and baking powder. Cream butter and sugar. Add alternately the water and flour, then whites of eggs, and whip hard for 5 minutes. Line loaf-pan with buttered paper, then with rose-geranium leaves. Bake in a moderate oven. The leaves can be pulled off with the paper.
Ginger Cake.-¾ cup butter, 2 cups sugar, 4 eggs, 1½ teaspoons Royal Baking Powder, 1½ pints flour, 1 cup milk, 1 tablespoon extract ginger. Rub the butter and sugar to a light cream; add the eggs, 2 at a time, beating 5 minutes between; add the flour, sifted with the powder, the milk and extract; mix into a smooth batter; bake in a cake-tin (fig. IX), in rather hot oven, 40 minutes.
Ginger Sponge Cake.—2 cups brown sugar, 4 eggs, 1 pint flour, ⅔ cup water, 1½ teaspoons Royal Baking Powder, 1 tablespoon extract ginger, 1 teaspoon extract lemon. Beat the eggs and sugar together for 10 minutes; add the water, the flour sifted with the powder, and the extracts; mix into a smooth sponge, and bake in quick oven 30 minutes.
Gingerbread.—1 cup brown sugar and 3 tablespoons butter, stirred to a cream; add 1 cup New Orleans molasses, 2 eggs; mix well; stir dry 2 teaspoons Royal Baking Powder in 2½ cups flour, put in ginger or spice to taste, bake in 1 loaf 1 hour.
Gold Cake.-¾ cup butter, 2 cups sugar, yolks 10 eggs, 1½ pints flour, 2 teaspoons Royal Baking Powder, 1 cup thin cream, 1 teaspoon each extract lemon and nutmeg. Rub the butter and sugar to a white cream; add the yolks, 3 at a time, beating a little after each addition; add the flour sifted with the powder, the thin cream, and the extracts; mix into a pretty firm batter; bake in a paper-lined cake-tin (fig. IX), in a steady oven, 50 minutes.
Gold Cake, No. 2.-½ cup butter, 1 cup sugar, yolks 6 eggs, 2 cups flour, ¼ teaspoon salt, 1 heaping teaspoon Royal Baking Powder, grated rind and strained juice 1 large orange. Mix the dry ingredients. Cream the butter and sugar, add well-beaten yolks, orange rind and juice, and flour. Bake in shallow pan in moderate oven, and ice with orange-water icing.
Harrison Cake.—1½ cups sugar, 1½ cups butter, 1 cup thick molasses mixed with ⅓ teaspoon soda, ½ cup milk, 1 teaspoon each cinnamon and cloves, 5 eggs, 2 cups stoned raisins, 5 cups flour, 2 teaspoons Royal Baking Powder. Mix flour, spices, and baking powder. Cream butter and sugar. Add molasses, then beat in ½ of flour. Add milk and beaten yolks, add remainder of flour, then egg whites whipped stiff. Beat hard, and bake in a loaf-pan in moderate oven about 1½ hours.
Hazelnut Cake.—9 ounces flour, 4 ounces butter, 4 ounces sugar, 4 ounces chopped hazelnuts, 4 eggs, 1 teaspoon vanilla, ¼ teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon Royal Baking Powder. Mix flour, salt, and baking powder. Cream butter and sugar, add vanilla, chopped nuts, and beaten yolks. Add flour, then whipped whites, and beat well. Bake in shallow pan in medium oven, and when cold ice with boiled icing.
Honey Cake.-½ cup butter, 1 cup sugar, 1 cup honey, 1 pint flour, 1 teaspoon Royal Baking Powder, 2 eggs, 1 teaspoon caraway seeds. Mix the honey with the sugar; add the butter melted, the eggs slightly beaten, the flour, sifted with the powder, and the seeds; mix into a smooth batter of the consistency of sponge cake, and bake in a fairly hot oven 35 minutes.
Ice Cream Cake.—1 cup butter, 2 cups sugar, 1 cup milk, 3½ cups flour, 2 teaspoons Royal Baking Powder, whites 8 eggs, ¼ teaspoon salt. Mix dry ingredients. Cream butter and sugar, add milk, then flour, and beat. Add whipped whites and beat again. Flavor with almond extract. Bake in three jelly-tins in hot oven, and when cold put together with boiled icing flavored with almond extract.
Imperial Cake.—1 cup butter, 1 cup sugar, 5 eggs, 1 teaspoon grated lemon rind, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, ½ pound seeded raisins, ½ cup sliced blanched almonds, ½ pound flour, ¼ teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon Royal Baking Powder. Mix dry ingredients. Cream butterand sugar. Add 1 whole egg and beat hard until incorporated. Stir in some of the flour. Alternate eggs and flour in same way until all the eggs are added, then beat hard 10 minutes. Add lemon juice, almonds, and dredged raisins. Line loaf-pan with 3 thicknesses paper. Bake in moderate oven about 1¼ hours.
Jelly Cake.—Beat 3 eggs well, whites and yolks separately; take a cup of fine white sugar and beat in well with yolks, and 1 cup sifted flour, stirred in gently; then stir in the whites, a little at a time, 1 teaspoon Royal Baking Powder, and 1 tablespoon milk; pour into 3 jelly-cake plates and bake from 5 to 10 minutes in a well-heated oven; when cold spread with currant jelly, place each layer on top of the other, and sift powdered sugar on top.
Rolled Jelly Cake.—4 eggs, ⅔ cup powdered sugar, ⅔ cup pastry flour, ¼ teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon Royal Baking Powder. Beat egg yolks and sugar till light. Add mixed dry ingredients; then stiffly beaten whites. Mix lightly together. Bake in thin sheet in quick oven. As soon as done turn quickly on a towel wrung out of water, spread with jelly, roll up, and dust with powdered sugar.
Lemon Cake.—1 cup butter, 2 cups sugar, 7 eggs, 1½ pints flour, 1 teaspoon Royal Baking Powder, 1 teaspoon extract lemon. Rub to a light cream the butter and sugar; add the eggs, 2 at a time, beating 5 minutes after each addition; add the flour, sifted with the powder, and the extract; mix into a medium batter; bake in paper-lined tin (fig. XIII), in a moderate oven, 40 minutes.
Lady Cake.—1½ cups butter, 3 cups sugar, whites 8 eggs, 1 pint flour, ½ teaspoon Royal Baking Powder, 1 cup milk, 20 drops extract bitter almonds. Rub the butter and sugar to a cream; add the flour sifted with the powder, milk, and extract; mix into a smooth batter; then gently mix the 8 egg whites, whipped to a dry froth; when thoroughly mixed, put into a shallow cake-pan (fig. XIII), papered, and bake carefully in steady oven 40 minutes. When cool, ice the bottom and sides with white icing.
Lightning Cake.—1 cup butter, 1 cup granulated sugar, 3 eggs, 2 cups flour, ½ teaspoon Royal Baking Powder, grated rind 1 lemon. Mix flour and baking powder. Cream butter and sugar, add lemon and beaten eggs, add flour, and beat well. Spread 1 inch thick on flat buttered pans, sprinkle with a mixture of granulated sugar, powdered cinnamon, and few chopped almonds. Bake pale brown in hot oven, and when cold cut in squares.
Lunch Cake (Boston).—2 cups butter, 2 cups sugar, 1½ pints flour, 1 teaspoon Royal Baking Powder, 6 eggs, 1 gill wine, 1 teaspoon each extract rose, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Rub the butter and sugar to a very light cream; add the eggs, 2 at a time, beating 5 minutes after each addition; add the flour sifted with the powder, wine, extracts; mix into a smooth batter, put into a thickly papered shallow cake-pan (fig. XIII), and bake in moderate oven 1¼ hours. When cold, ice the bottom and sides with white icing.
Marshmallow Cake.—1 egg, 1½ cups sugar, 1 tablespoon butter, 1 cup milk, 2 cups flour, ¼ teaspoon salt, 2 teaspoons Royal Baking Powder. Mix flour, salt, and baking powder. Cream butter, add ¼ of sugar, and beat. Add beaten egg and remainder of sugar, and beat 4 minutes. Add alternately flour and milk, beating well. Add vanilla and bake in layer-cake pans in quick oven. Cut fine ½ pound marshmallows. Spread them between cake layers, and stand in open oven till they melt.
Marbled Cake.—This is made in separate batters, a dark and a light one. For the dark one, take ½ cup butter, 1 cup brown sugar, 2½ cups flour, 1 teaspoon Royal Baking Powder, yolks of 4 eggs, ½ cup milk, 1 teaspoon each extract cinnamon, cloves, and allspice. For the light one take ½ cup butter, 1 cup sugar, 2½ cups flour, 1 teaspoon Royal Baking Powder, whites of 4 eggs, ½ cup milk, 1 teaspoon extract lemon. Both batters are made by rubbing the butter and sugar to a cream, adding the eggs, beating a few minutes, then adding the flour, sifted with the powder, the extracts and milk, and mixing into smooth batter, rather firm. Have a paper-lined tin (fig. IX); with a spoon drop the two batters alternately into it, and bake in a rather quick oven 35 minutes.
Minnehaha Cake.-½ cup butter, 1½ cups sugar, 3 eggs, 1 cup milk, 2½ cups flour, 2 teaspoons Royal Baking Powder, 1 teaspoon vanilla. Mix dry ingredients. Cream butter and sugar, add beaten yolks and vanilla, then, alternately, the milk and flour. Beat well, and bake in 3 layers in quick oven. Put together with fruit filling (seeCake Fillings).
Orange Cake.-½ cup butter, 2 cups sugar, 5 eggs, 1 pint flour, 1½ teaspoons Royal Baking Powder, 1 teaspoon extract orange, 1 cup milk. Rub the butter and sugar to a cream; add the eggs, 2 at a time, beating 5 minutes after each addition; add the flour sifted with the powder, the milk and extract; mix into a smooth, fine batter, put in a paper-lined cake-tin (fig. IX), and bake in a moderate oven 30 minutes. When cool, cover the top with the following preparation: Whip the whites of 3 eggs to a dry froth; then carefully mix in 4 cups sugar, the juice, grated rind, and soft pulp, free of white pith and seeds, of 2 sour oranges.
Nut Cake.-½ cup butter, 1½ cups sugar, 3 eggs, 2½ cups flour, 1½ teaspoons Royal Baking Powder, ½ cup milk, 1 cup of any meats of nuts preferred or at hand. Rub the butter and sugar to a light, white cream; add the eggs, beaten a little, then the flour, sifted with the powder; mix with the milk and nuts into a rather firm batter, and bake in a paper-lined tin (fig. IX), in a steady oven, 35 minutes.
Peach-Blossom Cake.—1 cup pulverized sugar, ½ cup butter, stirred together until like thick cream, 2 teaspoons Royal Baking Powder, ½ cup sweet milk; beat the whites of 3 eggs, and add to a cup of flour, mixed with the baking powder; stir and add ½ teaspoon corn-starch. Flavor strongly with extract peach. Bake in 2 square sponge-tins in moderately quick oven, and when done sandwich with finely grated cocoanut and pink sugar. Frost with clear icing, and sprinkle this with pulverized pink sugar.
Molasses Cake.—1 cup butter, 1 cup brown sugar, ½ cup molasses, 1 cup milk, 1½ pints flour, 1½ teaspoons Royal Baking Powder, 1 egg. Rub smooth the butter and sugar; add the milk, egg, and molasses; stir in flour, sifted with the powder; mix into a consistent batter, and bake in cake-tin (fig. IX) 40 minutes.
Pound Cake.—1½ cups butter, 2 cups sugar, 7 eggs, 1½ pints flour, 1 teaspoon Royal Baking Powder, 1 teaspoon extract nutmeg. Rub the butter and sugar to a white, light cream; add 3 of the eggs, 1 at a time, and the rest, two at a time, beating 5 minutes after each addition; add the flour, sifted with the powder; add the extract; mix into a smooth, medium batter, and bake in a paper-lined cake-tin (fig. XIII), in a steady oven, 50 minutes.
Pond-Lily Cake.—1 cup butter, 1½ cups sugar, whites 5 eggs, 1½ pints flour, 1½ teaspoons Royal Baking Powder, 1 cup milk; flavor with extract peach and a few drops extract rose. Bake in 2 cakes, in very deep jelly- or sponge-tins, and when done put together with freshly grated cocoanut and pulverized sugar between and on top of the cakes, and ice with clear icing.
Queen Cake.—2 cups butter, 2½ cups sugar, 1½ pints flour, 8 eggs, ½ teaspoon Royal Baking Powder, 1 wine-glass each wine, brandy, and cream, ½ teaspoon each extract nutmeg, rose, and lemon, 1 cup dried currants, washed and picked, 1 cup raisins, stoned and cut in two, 1 cup citron, cut in small, thin slices. Rub the butter and sugar to a very light cream; add the eggs, 2 at a time, beating 5 minutes after each addition; add the flour, sifted with the powder, the raisins, currants, wine, brandy, cream, citron, and extracts; mix into a batter, and bake carefully in a papered cake-tin (fig. XIII), in a moderately steady oven, 1½ hours.
Sponge Cake.—2 cups sugar, 7 eggs, 1 cup flour, 1 teaspoon Royal Baking Powder, pinch salt, 1 teaspoon extract lemon. Whip sugar and eggs together until thick and white; add flour, sifted with powder and salt, and the extract; mix together quickly; bake in tin (fig. XII) lined with buttered paper, in hot oven, 35 minutes.
Sponge Cake (Almond).—1½ cups sugar, 8 eggs, 1½ cups flour, ½ teaspoon Royal Baking Powder, 1 teaspoon extract bitter almonds. Boil sugar in 1½ gills water until, taking some up on end of spoon-handle and cooling in water, it breaks brittle, when at once pour it on the eggs, previously whipped 10 minutes; continue the whipping 20 minutes longer; add flour, sifted with powder, and extract; bake in well-buttered cake-mold (fig. I), in quick oven, 30 minutes.
Sponge Cake (Berwick).—6 eggs, 3 cups sugar, 4 cups flour, 2 teaspoons Royal Baking Powder, 1 cup cold water, pinch salt, 1 teaspoon extract lemon. Beat eggs and sugar together 5 minutes; add flour, sifted with salt and powder, water, and extract; bake in shallow square cake-pan (fig. XIII), in quick, steady oven, 35 minutes; when removed from oven, ice it with clear icing.
Cream Sponge Cake.—6 eggs, their weight in powdered sugar, and ½ their weight in flour, ½ teaspoon Royal Baking Powder, pinch salt, grated rind 1 orange. Beat egg yolks and sugar till thick. Sift in the mixed flour, salt, and baking powder. Mix lightly, add orange rind and stiffly whipped whites. Cut them in lightly, and bake in 2 shallow pans in moderate oven. Put together with cream filling flavored with orange.
Silver Cake.—Whites 6 eggs, 1 cup milk, 2 cups sugar, ⅔ cup butter, 4 cups flour, ¼ teaspoon salt, 2 teaspoons Royal Baking Powder, 1 teaspoon almond extract. Cream butter and sugar; add alternately the milk and flour mixed with salt and baking powder; then the extract and the stiffly whipped whites. Beat well, and bake in loaf-pan in moderate oven.
Snow Cake.—1 pound arrowroot, ¼ pound sugar, 1 cup butter, whites 6 eggs, ½ teaspoon Royal Baking Powder, 1 teaspoon almond extract. Cream butter and sugar. Add whipped whites and ⅓ teaspoon salt, then the arrowroot mixed with baking powder. Beat well for 10 minutes; add extract, and bake in loaf-pan lined with 3 thicknesses paper. Have oven moderate, bake 1½ hours, and cover pan with paper for first hour.
Spice Cake.—1 cup butter, 1 cup brown sugar, 1 pint flour, 2 teaspoons Royal Baking Powder, 1 teaspoon each caraway and coriander seeds, 1 teaspoon each extract nutmeg, cinnamon, and ginger, 1 cup milk. Sift flour, sugar, and powder together; rub in butter; add milk, seeds, and extracts; mix smooth into batter of medium thickness; fill greased patty-pans ⅔ full; bake in hot oven 8 or 10 minutes.
Delicate Spice Cake.-⅔ cup melted butter, ⅔ cup sugar, 2½ cups flour, 1 egg, ⅔ cup molasses, 1 cup milk, 2 scant teaspoons Royal Baking Powder, 1 tablespoon vinegar, 1 tablespoon mixed ground spice, pinch salt. Beat egg, add milk. Add, mixed, flour, baking powder and salt, spice, sugar, melted butter, molasses, and vinegar. Bake in two shallow pans in quick oven.
Scotch Cake.—1½ cups butter, 2½ cups sugar, 8 eggs, 1½ pints flour, ½ teaspoon Royal Baking Powder, 3 cups raisins, stoned, 1 tablespoon extract lemon. Rub butter and sugar to light, white cream; add eggs, 2 at a time, beating 5 minutes after each addition; add flour sifted with powder, raisins, and extract; mix into smooth batter; put into paper-lined square, shallow cake-pan (fig. XIII); bake in moderate oven 1 hour.
Washington Cake (St. Louis, 1780).—2 cups butter, 3 cups sugar, 4 cups flour, 2 teaspoons Royal Baking Powder, 5 eggs, 1 cup milk, 1 cup stoned raisins, ½ cup washed and picked currants, ¼ cup chopped citron, 1 teaspoon each extract nutmeg and cinnamon. Rub butter and sugar to light, white cream; add beaten eggs gradually, the flour sifted with powder, milk, raisins, currants, citron, and extracts; mix into smooth, medium batter; bake in shallow square cake-pan (fig. XIII), in rather quick, steady oven, 1½ hours; when cold ice with white icing.
Shrewsbury Cake.—1 cup butter, 3 cups sugar, 1½ pints flour, 3 eggs, 1 teaspoon Royal Baking Powder, 1 cup milk, 1 teaspoon extract rose. Rub butter and sugar to smooth, white cream; add eggs, 1 at a time, beating 5 minutes after each; add flour, sifted with powder, and extract; mix into medium batter; bake in cake-mold (fig. I), well and carefully greased, in quick oven, 40 minutes.
Vanilla Cake.—1½ cups butter, 2 cups sugar, 6 yolks eggs, 1 pint flour, 1½ teaspoons Royal Baking Powder, 1 cup cream, 1 teaspoon extract vanilla. Rub butter and sugar until very light and creamy; add egg yolks and cream, flour, sifted with powder, and extract; mix into smooth, rather firm batter; bake in shallow square pan (fig. XIII), in fairly hot oven, 35 minutes.
Wedding(orBride)Cake.—4 cups butter, 4 cups sugar, 10 eggs, 4 pints flour, 6 cups currants, washed, dried, and picked, 3 cups sultana raisins, 3 cups citron, ½ cup candied lemon peel, 2 cups almonds, blanched and cut in shreds, ½ pint brandy, 2 teaspoons each nutmeg, mace, and cinnamon, tablespoon each cloves and allspice. Prepare all these ingredients in following manner: place butter and sugar in large bowl; break eggs into quart measure or pitcher; cover small waiter with clean sheet of paper; on it lay sifted flour, fruit, citron and lemon peel cut into shreds, the almonds and spices, with brandy measured at hand; also get ready large cake-tin (fig. XVIII), by papering it inside with white paper and outside and bottom with 4 or 5 thicknesses of coarse wrapping-paper, which can be tied on. Having thus prepared everything, and banked up fire to last, with addition from time to time of a shovel of coal, by which means you will not reduce oven heat, proceed to beat to very light cream the butter and sugar, adding eggs, 2 at a time, beating a little after each addition, until all are used; then put in contents of waiter all at once, with brandy; mix very thoroughly and smooth, put into prepared cake-tin, smooth over the top, put plenty of paper on to protect it; bake 8 hours, keeping oven steadily up to clear, moderate heat; watch carefully and you will produce a cake worthy of the occasion; remove from oven very carefully, and suffer it to stay on tin until quite cold; next day ice it with thin coat of white icing, both top and sides; place in cool oven to dry the icing. Now spread a second coat of icing, which will prevent any crumbs or fruit being mixed up with the icing when you are icing to finish; now with broad knife proceed, when first coat is dry, to ice sides, then pour icing on center of cake, in quantity sufficient to reach the edges, when stop; decorate with vase of white, made flowers, etc., to taste.
White Mountain Cake.—1 cup butter, 3 cups sugar, 1 pint flour, 1½ teaspoons Royal Baking Powder, whites 6 eggs, 1 cup milk, 20 drops extract bitter almonds. Rub butter and sugar to light, white cream; add the 6 whites whipped to dry froth, the flour sifted with the powder, the milk, and extract; mix together thoroughly, but carefully, and bake in jelly-cake tins in a quick oven 15 minutes; then arrange in layers with white icing and grated cocoanut mixed, in the proportion of 2 cups of former to 1 of latter.
Wild Rose Cake.—Make the dough after the receipt given for pond-lily cake, flavoring with rose and strawberry instead of peach. Bake in 2-inch-deep jelly-tins, and sandwich with pink icing, and the same on top. (Made by substituting finely pulverized pink sugar for white.) When you have put the last layer of pink icing on top, sift very lightly over with granulated white sugar.
Webster Cake.—1 cup butter, 3 cups sugar, 2 eggs, 5 cups flour, 1 teaspoon Royal Baking Powder, 2 cups raisins, seeded, 1 teaspoon each extract bitter almonds and vanilla, 1½ cups milk. Rub butter, sugar, and eggs smooth; add flour sifted with powder, raisins, milk, and extracts; mix into medium batter; bake in cake-mold (fig. I), in quick, steady oven, 45 minutes.
Wedding Fruit Cake.—1 pound flour, 1 pound sugar, 1 pound butter, 2 pounds currants, 1 pound raisins, ½ pound citron, 1 ounce mace, 1 ounce cinnamon, 4 nutmegs, 1 ounce cloves, 8 eggs, wine-glass brandy, ½ ounce extract rose.
Wine Cake.—1 cup butter, 2 cups sugar, 2 cups flour, ½ teaspoon Royal Baking Powder, 1 gill wine, 3 eggs. Rub butter and sugar to light cream, add eggs, 1 at a time, beating 5 minutes after each addition; add flour sifted with powder, and wine; mix into medium, firm batter; bake in shallow square cake-pan (fig. XIII), in moderate oven, 40 minutes; when taken from oven carefully ice with transparent icing.
(Decorative Design)