Old Fashioned Raisin Cake (Vintage Boiled Cake Recipe)
Spiced old-fashioned raisin cake is a delicious vintage dessert that features juicy boiled raisins and a simple brown sugar frosting! It makes a wonderfullytasty dessert during the fall due to the blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice, but is equally enjoyable year-round!
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and lightly butter, grease, or spray your 9x13 baking pan with non-stick cooking spray.
Bring a saucepan with the first 1 cup hot water and 1 ½ cups raisins to a boil then reduce heat and simmer on low for 10 minutes. Remove from heat when done.
1 ½ cups raisins, 1 ½ cups water
In a large mixing bowl cream together the shortening and granulated sugar until smooth. Stir in the cooked raisins (with the water) then add the ½ cup cold water and warm baking spices (cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice), salt, and the dissolved baking soda.
1 ½ cups water, ¼ cup shortening, 1 cup sugar, ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon, ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg, ½ teaspoon ground allspice, ½ teaspoon salt, 2 teaspoon baking soda
Add the all-purpose flour and mix until smooth, then transfer into your prepared 9x13 pan. Bake in the center of your oven's middle rack at 350°F (175°C) for 25 minutes or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.
2 cups all-purpose flour
Allow the cake to cool before mixing the (optional) frosting.
Brown Sugar Frosting
In a saucepan, combine the light brown sugar, butter, and milk and cook over medium heat until the brown sugar is fully dissolved. Whisk frequently while cooking, then remove from heat and allow to cool completely.
1 ½ cups light brown sugar, ¼ cup butter, 3 tablespoon milk
Once the sugar mixture is cooled, transfer it into a large mixing bowl or the bowl of your stand mixer and combine with confectioners' sugar. Add milk in small 1 tablespoon portions if desired to thin out the frosting.
2 cups confectioners' sugar
Spread over your old fashioned raisin cake using an offset spatula, cut, and serve.
Notes
Nutrition is calculated with the optional frosting.
¼ cup butter is 4 tablespoons or ½ the standard stick of butter (in the states).
This cake is also commonly called poor man's cake, depression era cake, or war cake.