During times of hardship, especially during wartime, people often had to get creative with their cooking. The Old-Fashioned War-Time Cake is a perfect example of resourceful baking, embodying both simplicity and nostalgia.
Ingredients
Scale:
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
1 cup water
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup raisins or currants
1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)
1 cup applesauce or mashed bananas (for moisture)
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9x13 inch baking pan or line it with parchment paper for easy removal.
In a large mixing bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, salt, and sugar until well combined.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the vegetable oil, water, and vanilla extract. Gradually add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, mixing until just combined.
Gently fold in the raisins or currants, chopped nuts (if using), and applesauce or mashed bananas. Be careful not to overmix; a few lumps are acceptable.
Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan, smoothing the top with a spatula.
Place the cake in the preheated oven and bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Once baked, remove the cake from the oven and allow it to cool in the pan for 10 minutes. Then, transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely.
