Remembering the Past Australia
Soldiers' Plum Cake (1917)
Send a good big home-made cake to your soldier at the front or in camp.
When sending your cake to the front; you may be quite sure that it will keep perfectly fresh if you pack it in greaseproof paper in an airtight tin. Before using the tin make sure that it is dry and free from stale crumbs. Scald the tin out first, wipe it out well, and let it air thoroughly before use.
- One pound (454gms) of flour
- 6oz (170gms) of crushed lump sugar
- 2oz (57gms) of peel, well chopped
- 1/2 gill (118mls) of boiling milk
- 8oz (227gms) of butter
- 1/4lb (113gms) of stoned raisins, cleaned and dried
- 3/4lb (340gms) of currants, cleaned and dried
- 3 eggs, thoroughly beaten
- 1 teaspoonful of carbonate of soda
- Rub the butter well into the flour, add the sugar, fruit, peel, the eggs, and stir well.
- Dissolve the soda in the milk, add to the mixture, and beat all thoroughly.
- Put into a cake-tin lined with buttered paper, and place a sheet of buttered paper over the top.
- Put at once into a hot oven, and as soon as cake rises keep the oven at a steady, moderate heat (ie. range of 180–190°C).
- When the cake is cooked, turn out on to a wire sieve and do not pack it or put it away until it is absolutely cold right through.