SCRIPTURE CAKE

CATHERINE DAUGHERTY

Scripture cake is also known as “Bible Cake”, “Scriptural Cake” and “Old Testament Cake” and was extremely popular in the latter part of the nineteenth century, especially in the southern Appalachians.  The cake was meant as a way to teach young girls baking and Bible verses.  The cake was sweet to eat, and a chance to modestly exhibit knowledge of the Bible.  It was fun in the form of an early trivia game, and a great dish to take to a church supper.  The original recipe didn’t include the ingredients only the amount next to the scripture. Mom and I recently used this recipe as part of a devotional we presented to our Community Bible Study leaders.  It was fun, filled with scripture with a very tasty ending!
For example the recipe reads: 1 cup Judges 5:25
If you know your Bible well, this will pose no problem and 1 cup butter is the first ingredient.  If you don’t know it quite that well you may end up with a “surprise cake!”

The earliest recipe for this cake has been traced to the Atlanta Constitution, published on June 27, 1897.  Some researchers believe the cake dates to the late 1700s in England or Ireland, while others claim the cake a favorite of Dolly Madison, wife of U.S. President James Madison.
This cake is my version, arranging ingredients and amounts to give us this incredible apple, fig, and walnut cake.  The cake is loaded with flavor, quite dense and wonderfully delicious.  I’ll go easy on you and give you both the scripture and the ingredient.  Scripture comes from the King James version.

Grease 12-cup nonstick Bundt pan with 1 tablespoon Judges 5:25.  Sprinkle with raw Jeremiah 6:20, turning pan to coat. Sprinkle 1/3 cup chopped Genesis 43:11 evenly into the bottom of the pan and set aside.

In a large mixer bowl, beat 1 cup Judges 5:25 (Butter)

He asked water, and she gave him milk; she brought forth butter in a lordly dish.

along with 1½ cups Jeremiah 6:20 beating until light and fluffy–(Sugar)

To what purpose cometh there to me incense from Sheba, and the sweet cane from a far country? Your burnt offerings are not acceptable, nor your sacrifices sweet unto me.

Beat in 4 Jeremiah 17:11, one at a time. (Eggs)

As the partridge sitteth on eggs, and hatcheth them not; so he that getteth riches, and not by right, shall leave them in the midst of his days, and at his end shall be a fool.

Combine 2 cups Exodus 29:2 –(flour)

And unleavened bread, and cakes unleavened tempered with oil, and wafers unleavened anointed with oil; of wheaten flour shalt thou make them. 

mix with the following ingredients: 2 teaspoons Amos 4:5 – (baking powder)

And offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving with leaven, and proclaim and publish the free offerings; for this liketh you, O ye children of Israel, saith the Lord God.

2 Chronicles 9:9 to taste (cloves, allspice, nutmeg)

And she gave the king a hundred and twenty talents of gold, and of spices great abundance, and precious stones: neither was there any such spice as the queen of Sheba gave King Solomon.

2 teaspoons Exodus 30:23 (Cinnamon)Take thou also, unto thee the chief spices; of flowering myrrh five hundred shekels, and of sweet cinnamon, half as much.

and A pinch of Mark 9:50 – (salt)

Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his saltness, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace with another.

Add to the Judges 5:25 mixture; beat at low speed until well combined.

Stir in: 1 tablespoon 1 Samuel 14:25 – (honey)

And all they of the land came to a wood; and there was honey upon the ground.

along with 1/2 cups 1 Samuel 30:12 – (raisins)

And they gave him a piece of a cake of figs, and two clusters of raisins; and when he had eaten, his spirit came again to him; for he had eaten no bread, nor drunk any water, three days and three nights. 

and 2 cups chopped dried Song of Solomon 2:13 (figs)

The fig tree putteth forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grape give a good smell. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away.

Mix in 1 cups slivered or chopped Numbers 17:8 – (almonds) and remaining 2/3 cup chopped Genesis 43:11 (walnuts).

And it came to pass, that on the morrow Moses went into the tabernacle of witness; and behold, the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi was budded, and brought forth buds, and bloomed blossoms, and yield almonds.

Add in 4 cups cored, peeled, and coarsely chopped Psalms 17:8. (apple)

Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings,

Follow Solomon’s advice for making good boys – Proverbs 23:14Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell.

Spoon batter into prepared pan. Bake in 350 degree oven until wooden pick inserted near center comes out clean, about 50 to 60 minutes.  Cool in pan 15 minutes; invert onto wire rack and cool completely.  Best if prepared 1 day before serving.  Store cake at room temperature.  Serve with a dollop of whipped cream!

Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him.   Psalm 34:8

The historical cake can still be made today. To play the game as our grandmothers might have played it, read the Biblical list of ingredients and write down your knowledge (or best guess) of the scriptural ingredients. Then, to be on the safe side, look in a King James version of the Bible to verify your answers! Have fun with your sons and daughters or grandsons and granddaughters in playing this game!

~Blessings, Catherine

Scripture Cake

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As women moved westward across America, this recipe went with them as a small, treasured bit from "back home." It usually traveled along as part of a prized collection of recipes. 

Serves: 12-16 servings

Ingredients

• 1 Tablespoon Judges 5:25 (Butter)
• ¼ cup raw Jeremiah 6:20 (Sugar)
• 1 cup coarsely chopped Genesis 43:11, divided (Walnuts)
• 1 cup Judges 5:25, softened (Butter)
• 1½ cups granulated Jeremiah 6:20 (Sugar)
• 4 Jeremiah 17:11 (Eggs)
• 2 cups Exodus 29:2 (Flour)
• 2 teaspoons Amos 4:5 (Baking soda)
• ½ teaspoon Mark 9:50 (Salt)
• 2 teaspoons ground Exodus 30:23 (Cinnamon)
• to taste Chronicles 9:9 (Cloves, Allspice, Nutmeg)
• 4 cups cored, peeled, and coarsely chopped Psalms 17:8 (Apples)
• 1 Tablespoon 1Samuel 14:25 (Honey)
• 1 cup chopped Numbers 17:8 (Almonds)
• 8 ounces dried, chopped Song of Solomon 2:13 (Figs)
• ½ cup 1Samuel 30:12 (Raisins)

Instructions

1. Grease 12-cup nonstick Bundt pan with the 1 tablespoon butter. Sprinkle raw sugar into pan, turning pan to coat. Sprinkle ⅓ cup of the chopped walnuts evenly into bottom of pan; set aside.
2. In large mixer bowl, beat the 1 cup butter and granulated sugar at medium speed until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs, one at a time.
3. In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. Add optional spices to taste: cloves, allspice, and nutmeg. Add to butter mixture; beat at low speed until well combined.
4. Stir in chopped apples, figs, raisins, honey, almonds, and remaining ⅔ cup walnuts.
5. Spoon batter into prepared pan. Bake in 350 degrees F. oven until wooden pick inserted near center comes out clean, about 50 to 60 minutes.
6. Cool in pan 15 minutes; invert onto wire rack to cool completely. Best if prepared 1 day before serving. Store cake covered at room temperature.

Notes

This historical cake can still be made today. To play the game as our grandmothers might have played it, read the Biblical list of ingredients and write down your knowledge (or best guess) of the scriptural ingredients. Then, to be on the safe side, look in a King James version of the bible to verify your answers!

* praycookblog.com