I found today's recipe for Depression Cake in one of my mother-in-law's old church cookbooks. The original title is "Eggless - Milkless - Butterless Cake" with the Depression Cake part in parenthesis. Well, the reason it was butterless is that it uses shortening instead of butter. If you have been following me here on Plenty Sweet Life for any length of time, you know that I don't like to use shortening - I always use butter. So I did here, too. That's why I thought the more appropriate title was Depression Cake. This one is a lot like the Poor Man's Cake and Mother's Boiled Spice Cake recipes that I've posted about, but they are all just a little different. All of those recipe are very good spicy, fall flavored cakes. You gotta give credit to those housewives back during the Great Depression who were able to find a way to celebrate - even without all the ingredients. Eggs, milk, and butter were things more available to those lucky enough to live on a farm, but if not - good luck. Both money AND ingredients were in short supply back then, and it wasn't so different than what we've been through the last couple of years. Even if you do have the usual cake ingredients, you might want to try this cake that is delicious without them. The flavors are perfect for fall, so why not find something to celebrate and give this a try. It is Friday, after all, and that IS something to celebrate!
Here is the recipe as I made it:
Depression Cake
Bring to a boil:
1 cup raisins
1 cup brown sugar
1 1/4 cup water
1/3 cup shortening (I used butter)
1 teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
Simmer 3 minutes.
Cool.
Sift together and add:
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
Add:
1 cup walnuts, chopped
Beat well.
Pour into greased Bundt pan.
Bake at 325 degrees for 35 minutes.
This is another recipe with fairly minimal ingredients.
Mix the dry and wet ingredients separately.
It makes a lovely batter!
Into the Bundt pan it goes.
It's beautiful after baking and smells divine!
I let it sit in the pan for about 20 minutes before turning it out.
No frosting necessary - I just gave the cake a sprinkle of powdered sugar.
This is Grandma's china - I felt the need to serve the cake on this along with the obligatory coffee. 
This cake is perfect for afternoon coffee!
You would never know that it's eggless and milkless - remember, I DID put butter in it.
This cake is perfect for fall and perfect to serve ANY guests. The spices make it smell like heaven - it's delicious. I have so much respect for those ladies back in the Great Depression who "made do" with what they had and went ahead and celebrated anyway. Check your pantry - you probably have everything you need to make this delicious cake. It's perfect for any celebration, and it's perfect to bring to someone who just needs a little pick-me-up. Make this Depression Cake and let me know what YOU celebrated!
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