VICTORIAN SEED CAKE
I read a lot of English novels, and often see Seed Cake mentioned as served at Tea. So I did some searching and came up with this recipe. The original was all in Victorian measurements, so I have changed them to modern measurements. Seed Cake is discussed at length in Agatha Christie's novel, At Bertram's Hotel, as well as other...
Provided by Susan Feliciano
Categories Other Snacks
Time 50m
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- 1. Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C). Grease two 7" or 8" round cake pans, line the bottoms with a parchment circle, and then grease the parchment.
- 2. Beat the eggs in a medium bowl with a whisk. In a large bowl or stand mixer, cream the butter and sugar together until mixture is pale and fluffy. Gradually beat in the eggs a little at a time. When all the egg, sugar and butter have been mixed well, whisk in the caraway seeds, mace, and nutmeg. Then lightly add in the flour. Finally, stir in the brandy.
- 3. Add just enough milk to loosen the mixture and give the cake batter a good consistency - it should drop, not pour, off a spoon. Mine only took 2 tablespoons. Spoon the batter into the prepared cake pans. Level off the surface with a spatula or back of a spoon. Sprinkle the demerara sugar all over the tops to make a nice sweet crust.
- 4. Bake cakes in the center of the oven for about 35 to 40 minutes, or until a tester comes out clean and dry. Cool in pans for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack and cool completely. The cake keeps well when wrapped tightly in foil or parchment and kept in an airtight tin. This cake is not traditionally stacked or frosted; you just have 2 round Seed Cakes that can be sliced for Tea.
- 5. NOTE: Caraway is a type of seed common to both cake and biscuit recipes of the Medieval and Tudor periods; and the English usage of the term Caraway dates back to at least A.D. 1440.
VICTORIAN SEED CAKE
This solid, satisfying cake was typical of a hearty Victorian tea. Fresh lavender makes a pretty and aromatic garnish
Provided by Lise in Indiana
Categories Dessert
Time 1h20m
Yield 14-16 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Soak poppy seeds in milk for 4 hours (or over-night) then rinse under cold running water; drain well.
- Preheat oven to 350ºF. Grease and flour a Bundt pan or 10-inch tube pan.
- Cream the butter and gradually add 1 1/4 cups of the sugar.
- Beat in the zests and the poppy seeds.
- Add the egg yolks, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
- Continue beating for about 5 minutes, until the mixture if very light and creamy.
- In a large mixing bowl, beat the egg whites until soft peaks form. Add the remaining 1/4 cup sugar and beat until peaks are stiff, but not dry.
- Sift the flour and salt over the egg yolk mixture, one third at a time, folding in after each addition.
- Gently fold in about 1/4 of the egg whites into the batter, then fold in remaining whites, blending gently but thoroughly.
- Pour batter carefully into the prepared pan.
- Bake one hour, or until a toothpick comes out clean when tested in the center.
- Make syrup while cake bakes: Combine juices with sugar and heat until sugar is completely dissolved; cool slightly.
- Immediately after removing cake from the oven, pierce the top all over with a thin skewer.
- Pour the citrus syrup all over the top to cover completely.
- Cool cake in the pan to allow syrup to be absorbed completely.
- Remove cake from pan and serve.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 424.5, Fat 25.3, SaturatedFat 13.8, Cholesterol 174.4, Sodium 173.1, Carbohydrate 44.2, Fiber 0.9, Sugar 27.6, Protein 6.7
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