Poor man’s cake is an old-fashioned dessert that was especially popular in the 1930-s and is sometimes known as Depression Cake, because it didn’t call for butter, milk, or eggs.

Poor man’s cake is an old-fashioned dessert that was especially popular in the 1930-s and is sometimes known as Depression Cake, because it didn’t call for butter, milk, or eggs.


Poor man’s cake is an old-fashioned dessert that was especially popular in the 1930s and is sometimes known as Depression Cake, because it didn’t call for butter, milk, or eggs. Notice how low in fat this recipe is! Try it with a cream cheese frosting.

Submitted by Ruth Gagen of the Brentwood Historical Society in Brentwood, New Hampshire, this recipe for Poor Man’s Cake was first published in our 1996 book, Yankee Magazine’s Church Suppers and Potluck Dinners.

Yield:
12 to 15 servings
Ingredients
2 cups brown sugar
2 cups hot water
1 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons solid vegetable shortening
1 package (15 ounces) raisins
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground cloves
3 cups all-purpose white flour
1 teaspoon baking soda

Instructions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9-inch by 13-inch baking pan.

In a large saucepan, combine the brown sugar, water, salt, shortening, raisins, and spices. Bring to a boil, then remove from the heat and let cool to room temperature. Sift together the flour and soda, add to the batter, and mix well. Pour into the pan.

Bake for about 30 minutes or until a tester inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool in the pan.

Related Posts

This is a real issue for me

Understanding the Causes of Cold Feet As a common issue, cold feet can be often caused by poor circulation, nerve damage, or environmental factors. It’s crucial to…

I Told My Daughter She Couldn’t Join Us for Christmas—The 2 AM Call I Got Was Beyond Terrifying

Blending families can be a tough journey, particularly when children have a hard time adapting to the new relationships. In this heartfelt tale, a mother faces a…

Sally Field, 76, Called ‘Ugly’ after Deciding to Age Naturally – She Found Joy in Being a Grandma of 5 and Living in an Ocean-View House

Sally Field, an iconic figure in Hollywood, has captivated audiences for decades with her compelling performances in classics like Steel Magnolias, Forrest Gump, and Norma Rae. However,…

Put raw banana slices in a slow cooker with these 4 ingredients. You’ll never look back

Banana Foster Pudding is a delightful twist on a classic dessert that brings back memories of Sunday afternoons spent in my grandmother’s kitchen. This slow cooker version…

The refrigerator has a special part at the back, clean it once every six months, saving millions in electricity bills.

The refrigerator is an electrical device that operates 24/7 and consumes a lot of electricity. Therefore, in order to preserve a sufficient amount of food and adjusting…

Did My Fate Just Turn Into an Eating Disorder? The Birthday Cake Story That Ended in Disaster…

Let’s dive into a tale so laughably tragic you’ll think it’s straight out of a reality TV show. In 2023, a woman threw her hat into the…

Leave a Reply