A Gala Event Page 27

  2 pounds flour (about 6 cups)

  1 pound sugar (about 2 cups)

  1 tablespoon baking powder

  1–2 teaspoons cinnamon

  ½ teaspoon cloves (or more if you like)

  ½ pound butter, softened

  2 cups cider

  One pound raisins or currants (soak these for a few minutes in boiling water to soften them)

  Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

  In a large bowl, place the dry ingredients and whisk them together. Add the soft butter and work it in until it’s evenly distributed (mixture will be crumbly).

  Add the cider (fresh and local if you have it) and mix until you have a stiff batter. Add the raisins last and mix again.

  Butter and flour a 9"x13" baking pan. Spoon the batter into the pan and smooth out the top. Place in the preheated oven and bake until the top is lightly browned and the edges begin to pull away from the pan—probably around an hour. Cool in the pan.

  This is a hearty cake that tastes fine without dressing it up. But for a wedding, it would go well with maple frosting, maybe with a drizzle of caramel sauce. Watch it disappear!

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