Best 3 First World War Trench Cake Recipes

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During the tumultuous years of World War I, amidst the horrors and hardships of trench warfare, a simple yet comforting culinary creation emerged, known as the trench cake. This unassuming baked good, a product of necessity and ingenuity, found its place in the war-ravaged trenches, providing a brief respite from the grim realities of the battlefield. Crafted from humble ingredients, often scavenged or rationed, the trench cake became a symbol of resilience, a testament to the human spirit's ability to find solace and nourishment even in the direst of circumstances. In this article, we embark on a journey to uncover the history and significance of the trench cake, exploring its origins, ingredients, and the enduring legacy it holds in the annals of culinary and military history.

Here are our top 3 tried and tested recipes!

FIRST WORLD WAR TRENCH CAKE RECIPE - (3.9/5)



First World War Trench Cake Recipe - (3.9/5) image

Provided by MJH

Number Of Ingredients 11

1/2 lb flour (about 2 cups)
4 oz margarine
1 teaspoon vinegar
1/4 pint of milk
3 oz brown sugar
3 oz cleaned currants
2 teaspoons cocoa
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ginger
grated lemon rind

Steps:

  • Grease a cake tin. Rub margarine into the flour in a basin. Add the dry ingredients. Mix well. Add the soda dissolved in vinegar and milk. Beat well. Turn into the tin. Bake in a moderate oven for about two hours.

WORLD WAR 1 CAKE



World War 1 Cake image

This is an old recipe that has been passed down from generations past, and is so good. I hadn't heard of it for a few years, ahd then here it was, sent to me by my niece. I had to share it with you.

Provided by Chef mariajane

Categories     Dessert

Time 1h30m

Yield 4 loaves

Number Of Ingredients 13

4 cups white sugar
4 cups raisins
1 cup shortening
1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon clove
1 1/2 teaspoons nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ginger
1 1/2 teaspoons allspice
1 tablespoon salt
6 cups flour
1 cup currants
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 cup cherries, cut in half (green and red mixed)

Steps:

  • In the evening, mix together the first 9 ingredients in a large pot. Bring 4 cups water to a boiling point. Pour hot water over mixture and boil for 5 minutes. Let stand overnight to cool.
  • Next morning, sift together twice the flour and baking soda, and stir into cold mixture. Add currants and cherries. Pour into 4 loaf pans, and bake at 325F for about 1 1/2 hours.
  • Cool completely, then wrap in foilwrap.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 2478.7, Fat 54.4, SaturatedFat 13.5, Sodium 2398.3, Carbohydrate 492.5, Fiber 14.7, Sugar 315.3, Protein 25.9

WORLD WAR 1 CAKE



World War 1 Cake image

I have include a personal note from my Mother with the recipe. This recipe has been around for more then a 100 years now. My mother was born in 1910. Her memory was from 1916.

Provided by Bonnie Beck

Categories     Cakes

Time 1h15m

Number Of Ingredients 10

2 c raisins
1 c brown sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp cloves
1 Tbsp shortening, lard or butter (my grandma used butter)
1 c water
WHEN COLD ADD
2 c flour
1 tsp baking soda (dissolved in a tablespoon of hot water)
1 tsp baking powder

Steps:

  • 1. A note from my mother, she sent to the newspaper. "In a long forgotten era, when I was 6 years old, first-grader at the Alexander Hamilton school in Chicago, wearing long brown stockings- (atop of the long underwear) - beginning each mroning with the "Pledge of Alliegiance" and "The Star Spangled Banner" - adhering to the phrase (thank God) of "Children should be seen and not heard" -the days of a fun evening was sitting around the big oak dining room under what is now called a Tiffany lamp with all of the family cracking and eating walnuts while the soft snow fell noiselessly to the ground..and my Mother knitted socks "for the boys in the trenches..we ate my mother's luscious "War Cake"..and here is that cake recipe."
  • 2. Boil the brown sugar with the raisins, cinnamon, ground cloves, butter and water for 3 mintues and cool.
  • 3. When mixture is cool add the flour, baking powder and the baking soda with the water. Mix well and bake in a greased loaf pan. 325* or 350* until sides come away from pan slightly. Prick with a toothpick for doneness. Now we all know folks use to use a piece of broom straw to do this with. Well maybe your not that old..but I remember my Grandma and Mom doing this.
  • 4. Thank God times have changed to a point..were Children are not only heard, but they are seen. Things changed with my Grandmother and my Mom when my kids where born. There were times when I was kid, it would have been easier to have been brought up by Carmelite Nuns in a Monastery. It really was a Tiffany lamp. A gift from my Grandfather to the woman he loved for 56 years. The receipt was found after my grandfather had passed away.

Tips:

  • Given the limited resources available to create trench cake during World War 1, modern bakers can swap out more luxurious and readily available ingredients without sacrificing the authentic flavor.
  • Use stale biscuits or crackers as a base, as they would have been during the war. You can make your own stale biscuits by baking them and then leaving them out for a few days.
  • Use a variety of dried fruits, such as raisins, currants, and cherries. These fruits were often donated to the soldiers by civilians.
  • Add spices, such as cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice, to enhance the flavor of the cake. Spices were also often donated to the soldiers.
  • Use a simple syrup or honey to bind the ingredients together. Jam or molasses can also be used.
  • Bake the cake in a slow oven until it is firm. The exact baking time will vary depending on the type of oven you are using.
  • Enjoy the cake as a sweet treat or a snack. It can also be served with tea or coffee.

Conclusion:

Trench cake is a simple, yet delicious cake that was enjoyed by soldiers during World War 1. It is a testament to the resilience and creativity of the human spirit. Even in the most difficult of circumstances, people find ways to bring joy and comfort into their lives. Today, trench cake is still enjoyed by people all over the world. It is a reminder of the sacrifices that soldiers have made and a celebration of the human spirit.

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