This recipe was my moms and her moms before her. Over 100? yrs old… That is why it says things like 150 hand strokes. And to be honest, it turns out good that way? . I also think they didn’t sift the flour. Flour was different back then.
Oven 350°
1 1/4 c Flour (don’t sift. Use the dipping method).
3/4 c Sugar.
3/4 tsp Baking Soda.
1 tsp Ginger.
1/2 tsp Cloves.
1/2 tsp Cinnamon.
1/2 tsp Salt.
1/4 c Shortning/ Margarine (I use BUTTER ) SOFT.
1/2 c Molasses.
1/2 c Sour milk or Buttermilk (To make sour milk use 1 Tbsp vinegar or lemon Juice and fill to 1/2 c with Milk. Let set 5-10 min for it to work).
1 Egg
Preheat Oven
Sift dry ingredients into bowl, drop in butter. Add sour milk, and Molasses.
Beat by hand 150 strokes or by mixer for 1 1/2 min.
Add the eggs and beat for another 1 1/2 min or 150 strokes by hand.
Grease and Flour 8×8 pan. Pour batter in the Pan and Bake at 350° For 30-35 min or till done…springs back up when you touch and press with your finger…another way to tell is that it will seperate from the sides of the pan, or knife inserted in the center comes out clean.
Note: Another way to make the cake is to beat butter, molasses, and sugar first and then add dry ing alternately with milk.
For a double recipe bake at 350° for a lititle longer. (40-50 min)serve with whipped cream, Ice cream or cooked frosting, Recipe in files.