Lady Baltimore Cake-1906
Patricia Bunning Stevens, author of Rare Bits ~ Unusual Origins of Popular Recipes, says this cake
gets its name from the novel Lady Baltimore, written by Owen Wister in 1906. Supposedly, Wister was
served this cake in the Women's Exchange tea room in Charleston, South Carolina. This recipe is
adapted from Rare Bits. Stevens says that Wister mentions only nuts in his novel but that figs and
raisins were traditional.
CAKE
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons butter
2/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons vegetable oil 1-1/2 cups sugar 2-1/4 cups sifted cake flour 1 tablespoon
baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
4/2 cup milk
5/2 cup water 1-1/2 teaspoons almond extract 4 egg whites
FILLING AND FROSTING
2-1/2 cups sugar 1 tablespoon light corn syrup 1 cup water 3 egg whites 1 teaspoon vanilla
6/2 cup chopped walnuts
7/4 cup chopped raisins
8/4 cup finely chopped figs
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour two 8-inch round cake pans. Have all ingredients at
room temperature. FOR THE CAKE Cream together butter, shortening and sugar at low speed until light,
smooth and fluffy. Sift together flour, baking powder and salt. Mix milk, water and almond extract.
Add flour mixture to creamed mixture alternately with liquid, beginning
and ending with flour. Beat egg whites at high speed until stiff peaks form; fold into batter.
Divide batter equally between prepared pans. Bake 25 to 35 minutes or until no imprint is left when
layers are lightly touched in the middle. Cool 10 minutes in pans, then turn out and complete
cooling on cake rack.
FROSTING AND FILLING Combine sugar, corn syrup and water in a heavy saucepan and heat to 242
degrees. While syrup is cooking, beat egg whites at high speed until stiff enough to hold a peak.
Pour syrup slowly over egg whites, beating constantly. Add vanilla. Continue beating until mixture
will hold its shape. Combine nuts and fruits in a small bowl. Add just enough frosting to bind; use
between layers. Cover tops and sides of cake with the remaining frosting.
SOURCE: LYNNE'S RECIPES FROM THE PAST FROM: ANN IN FLA
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