Imagine a time before grocery stores as we know them, when home cooks relied on ingenuity and resourcefulness. Lydia Maria Child’s The American Frugal Housewife, published in 1833, was a bible for such cooks. This recipe for “Wedding Cake,” as you’ll find the recipe listed in Mrs. Child’s book, draws inspiration from her timeless wisdom, offering a taste of history and a reminder that simple ingredients can create extraordinary flavors.
Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup raisins
- 1/2 cup currants
- 1 1/4 tsp freshly grated nutmeg
- 3/4 tsp ground mace
- 1 1/2 sticks butter
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 3 eggs
- 1/8 cup molasses
- 1 tsp pure lemon extract
- 5 Tbs candied citron
- Pinch of salt
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease an 8×8 inch baking pan.
In a mixing bowl, combine the flour, spices, and salt. Whisk thoroughly to ensure the spices are evenly distributed. Add the currants, raisins, and citron, tossing to coat them completely with the flour mixture.
In a separate bowl, cream together the softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Lightly beat the eggs and then blend them into the butter-sugar mixture. Stir in the molasses and lemon extract.
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, gently folding them together until just combined. Be careful not to overmix. Pour the batter into the prepared pan.
Bake for approximately 50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.