In the 19th century, games and activities were expected to be edifying. While a Victorian mother may find baking with her children a pleasure, she felt much better about the experience if it were also instructive.
Because the Yule Tide is almost upon us, I thought it could be fun for families to try this challenging cooking riddle. I guarantee it’s as exciting for today’s liberated children as it was for a prim child of 1880.
This recipe is a classic and I’m sure many readers have seen it in the past. For those who are not acquainted with Bible Cake, the first step is to find the ingredients by looking up the Old Testament verses indicated in the recipe. You could invent variations, on this activity, such as organizing a competition to see who lists all the ingredients first. This heritage recipe may well become a family tradition for special occasions like Christmas. (Bible Cake could also be made and sold, as a fundraiser, with the recipe attached.)
After, you have successfully figured out the recipe, check the answers (below) before proceeding with the fun of baking the cake. This recipe results in a rich, dense fruit cake.
Peace & Blessings, Donna Jean
BIBLE CAKE
Prepare a loaf pan. Pre-heat oven to 325 degrees.
CREAM TOGETHER:
¾ cup Judges 5:25.
¾ cup Jeremiah 6:20
BEAT IN:
3 Jeremiah 17:11
STIR IN:
2 ¼ cups 1 Kings 4:22
1 cup 1 Samuel 30:12
½ cup Nahum 3:12 (chopped)
¼ cup Numbers 17:8
1 tsp 1 Samuel 14:25
SEASON TO TASTE: 2 Chronicles 9:9
PINCH of Leviticus 2:13
1 ½ tsp Amos 4:5
¼ cup Judges 4:19
Follow King Solomon’s prescription for making a good boy and you will make a good cake. Proverbs 23:14.
MIX WELL. Bake, in loaf pan, for 1 ½ hours.
ANSWERS
Judges 5…………….butter
Jeremiah 6…………sugar
Jeremiah 17………eggs
1 Kings 4……………flour
1 Samuel 30………raisins
Nahum 3……………figs
Numbers 17………almonds
1 Samuel 14………..honey
2 Chronicles 9……..spice (cinnamon, clove, nutmeg)
Leviticus 2…………..salt
Amos 4……………..baking powder
Judges 4……………milk
Proverbs 23……..beat well
