Grammie Riley’s Depression Cake

Author: Harriette Halepis

In between Christmas shopping and Thanksgiving turkey, I can’t help but think of Grammie Riley’s Depression Cake. Her Depression Cake was created during the Great Depression and consisted of a warm mixture of spices and nuts with dried dates, figs or raisins, depending on what the family could afford that year. Grammie’s recipe, like many of her recipes, was the product of altered recipes from various recipe books—all designed to fit the budget and the bellies of a large family.

Grammie Riley made her Depression Cakes for the same reason she gave each child an orange in their Christmas stockings: money was tight, but love was abundant. Grammie Riley’s Depression Cakes were more than just Christmas treats for the family, too; they were wonderful gifts for neighbours and fellow church goers.

Many years after she passed away, her fragile, recipe card was passed down to me along with my great grandmother’s pink, silk blanket. “The two seemed to go together well”, said my own mother as she reminisced about the time she “ate Grammie’s Depression Cake on a snowy winter night while wrapped in Grandma’s soft, pink blanket”.

Today, as my grandmother's Depression Cake sits gently simmering on my stovetop, her faded recipe card awaiting its next step, I cannot help but wonder whether my daughter will embrace the essence of family and all the care that goes into taking the time to mix a simple spice cake, or shun it hoping for a more purposeful life void of family recipes and tradition.

For now, I’ll just reminisce in Grammie’s words, “Simmer gently, stir lightly, pour carefully”.

Grammie Riley’s Depression Cake Recipe

Ingredients

1 ½ C of raisins (soaked and plumped in warm water)
1 ½ C dates
2 C of sugar
5 Tb butter
2 C boiling water

*Simmer first five ingredients, gently. Allow ingredients to cool. (note: ingredients can cool while bread is being kneaded)

Sift And Add

3 C of flour
1 Tsp baking soda
2 Tsp cinnamon
1 Tsp cloves
1 Tsp salt

* Stir these five ingredients well, and add: 1 cup of beechnuts or walnuts

Instructions

Mix ingredients together until blended well.
Bake in a well greased pan for 1 ½ - 1 ¾ hours at 325 degrees.
Let cool thoroughly.

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