Molasses Whisper Cake

[feliciakw]

just_ruth asked for the recipe to the molasses cake Geo made me for my b-day. So here it is. :-) It's from the Pillsbury's Best 1000 Recipes: Best of the Bake-Off Collection, copyright 1959. The cake was the Junior Winner, submitted by Margaret Mary Flesse of Youngstown, Ohio.


Molasses Whisper Cake

A hint of molasses flavor in a moist, tender spice cake, with luscious raisin and nut filling.

BAKE at 350 degrees for 25 - 35 minutes.
Makes two 8 or 9-inch layers.

Sift together:
1 3/4 c sifted Pillsbury's Best All Purpose Flour*
1 tsp soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp cloves
Set aside.

Add:
1 c sugar gradually to
1/2 c shortening, creaming well.

Blend in:
3 unbeaten eggs, beating well after each.

Stir in:
1/4 c molasses

Add:
3/4 cup buttermilk or sour milk alternately with the dry ingredients. Blend well after each addition.

Turn into two 8 or 9-inch round layer pans, well greased and lightly floured on the bottoms.

Bake at 350 for 25 - 35 minutes. Cool; fill with Raisin Nut Filling.

*For use with Pillsbury's Best Self-Rising flour, decrease soda to 1/2 tsp and omit salt.

Now, since I prefer date things when I can get them, Geo used date filling instead of the raisin nut filling.

Date Filling

Combine:
1/2 c sugar
2 Tbs flour
1/8 tsp salt
in saucepan. Gradually add
2 c milk

Stir in:
1 1/4 c (1 8-oz pkg) dates, cut fine. Bring to boil; cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until very thick.

Blend:
a little of the hot mixture into
2 slightly beaten egg yolks; add to hot mixture. Cook 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Stir in 1 tsp vanilla. Cool.

Now, you might or might not already know this, but this cookbook was put together by bakers for bakers. So there's no indication, for example, that the cakes should be cooled on a rack for 10 minutes in order to turn them cleanly out of the pan. Just so you know.

He had also intended to make from scratch my requested cream cheese frosting, but he ran out of time, so the frosting came out of a can.

Enjoy!