Enfield Shaker Nice Cheap Cake Recipe
SISTER MARTHA WETHERELL, ENFIELD SHAKER VILLAGE, NEW HAMPSHIRE
ORIGINAL RECIPE
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter
1 cup flour
1/2 cup milk
2 eggs
3 teaspoons baking powder
Beat thoroughly.
(No kidding–that’s the entire original recipe!)
Enfield Shaker Nice Cheap Cake Recipe
KITCHEN-TESTED BY KAREN WOLK, ENFIELD SHAKER MUSEUM
UPDATED RECIPE
1 cup (100 grams) granulated sugar
1/2 cup (113 grams) butter
2 eggs
1 cup (120 grams) flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup (123 grams) milk
Have all ingredients at room temperature. Pre-heat oven to 350° Fahrenheit. Grease and flour a 9-inch square baking pan. (A 9-inch round pan should also be fine.)
Cream (beat well) together the sugar and butter. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well each time.
In a separate bowl sift or whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt.
Combine butter mixture, flour mixture and milk by first adding 1/3 of the flour mixture, then 1/2 of the milk, the next 1/3 of the flour mixture, the remaining milk and then the last of the flour mixture. Mix until well combined, but do not over-mix.
Turn into the prepared baking pan, smooth the top and bake for 25-30 minutes.
Cool on a baking rack for 10 minutes and then turn out and cool completely.
Kitchen-Tester’s Note: This plain, but tasty cake, is delicious frosted with a caramel icing such as the one found with the recipe for Enfield Shaker No-Egg Cake. Or try pouring over some Enfield Shaker Hot Maple Sauce.
This recipe first appeared in Shaker Recipes for Cooks and Homemakers, by William Lassiter (New York: Greenwich Book Publishers, 1959, p. 113) and is attributed to Sister Martha Wetherhill. Shaker Recipes for Cooks and Homemakers was reprinted by Bonanza Books in 1978 under the title Shaker Recipes and Formulas for Cooks and Homemakers. Both editions are out of print, but are available at reasonable cost at www.abebooks.com or www.eBay.com.