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This recipe, from Amelia Simmons’ American Cookery, 1796, was interesting to restore, to say the least. The orginal recipe called for 12 pounds of flour, 3 pounds of lard, 6 pounds of sugar, 3 pounds of butter, 18 eggs, one quart of milk, and a very generous amount of alcohol, among other ingredients! Here’s what I came up with:

Amelia Simmons 1796 Loaf Cake No.1

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Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Calories

Ingredients
  

For the Cake

  • 2 1/2 cups cake flour sifted
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
  • 3 eggs large, well beaten
  • 1 stick unsalted butter room temperature
  • 3/4 cup whole milk room temperature
  • 1/2 cup brandy
  • 1/4 cup wine
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 tsp nutmeg
  • 1 tsp coriander
  • 1 cup raisins or currants (optional)

For the Orange Icing:

  • 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar sifted
  • 1 TBSP milk or heavy cream
  • 2 TBSP fresh orange juice
  • 1 tsp orange zest optional
  • 1/4 cup sliced almonds, toasted optional
  • 2 TBSP sanding sugar optional

Instructions
 

For the Cake:

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Prepare a 10-12 cup Bundt pan by spraying thoroughly with baking spray.
  • Sift together cake flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and coriander, set aside
  • With a stand or electric mixer, cream together butter and sugar, 3-5 minutes.
  • Add in eggs.
  • Combine milk, brandy and wine.
  • Alternate adding in flour mixture with milk, wine and brandy mixture.
  • Continue beating mixture until just incorporated. Stop mixer, scrape down the sides of the bowl and finish mixing by hand.
  • Pour batter into prepared Bundt pan.
  • Bake at 350 degrees F for 40-50 minutes, until a cake tester inserted in the middle of the cake comes out clean.
  • Allow to cool in Bundt pan for at least 10 minutes before turning cake out onto serving plate.
  • Top with Orange Icing, or as desired.

For the Orange Icing:

  • With a stand or hand held mixer, combine powdered sugar, cream and orange juice until smooth. Adjust amount of liquid to suit your taste and to desired consistency.
  • Drizzle cake with orange icing.
  • Garnish with orange zest and toasted almonds if desired.
Keyword Vintage Cake Recipe

Amelia Simmons’ 1796 Loaf Cake