Grasmere cake

1 cake

Ingredients

Quantity Ingredient
12 ounces Plain flour
1 teaspoon Mixed spice
1½ teaspoon Bicarbonate of soda
6 ounces Butter or margarine
½ pint Milk
1 tablespoon Milk
1 tablespoon Lemon juice
6 ounces Demerara sugar
6 ounces Currants, cleaned
3 ounces Sultanas, cleaned

Directions

Line a 9¾-in. by 5 ¾-in. loaf tin with greased greasproof paper.

Sift the flour, spic and bicarbonate of soda into a wide bowl; cut the fat into small pieces and add to the bowl. Using the tips of the fingers, rub the fat into the flour until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs. Add the lemon juice to the milk (the milk will clot and turn sour). Add the sugar, currants and sultanas to the dry ingredients and mix well. Gradually add the soured milk, stirring with a wooden spoon, until a dropping consistency is reached. Leave the mixture covered for several hours or overnight. Turn the mixture into the prepared tin. Level off the surface of the mixture with a spatula or knife. Place the tin on a baking sheet and bake in the centre of the oven at 325F for about 2 hours. The Grasmere cake should be evenly risen and have a smooth surface. Leave it for a few minutes in the tin before lifting it out on to a wire rack to cool.

Carefully remove the paper. Grasmere cake can be stored satisfactorily for about 1 week. Wrap it in kitchen foil when cold, or else wrap it in greaseproof paper and store in an airtight tin.

NOTE: If you prefer, omit the milk and lemon juice and use an equivalent quantity of butter milk.

Submitted By JAMES LEAR On 10-08-95

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