Christmas Cake

Christmas Cake

Godey's Lady's Book 1862

Sometimes recipes were in written as verses.

 

Victorian Christmas Cake

 

To two pounds of flour, well sifted, unite

Of loaf-sugar, ounces sixteen;

Two pounds of fresh butter, with eighteen fine eggs,

And four pounds of currants washed and clean;

Eight ounces of almonds well blanched and cut small,

The same weight of citron sliced;

Of orange and lemon-peal candied one pound,

And a gill of pale brandy uniced;

A large nutmeg grated:exact half an ounce

Of allspice, but only a quarter

Of mace, coriander, and ginger well ground,

Or pounded to dust in a mortar,

An important addition is cinnamon, which

Is better increased than diminished;

The fourth of an ounce is sufficient.  Now this

May be baked for good hours till finished.

Makes about 24 lbs.