I am looking for a cake recipe that has 1 C. each of molasses, boiling water, and sugar (?). It is old.?

Question

I think my great great grandmother called it depression cake but none of the recipes I have found online are quite right. I know there was also ginger but I don't think there were eggs or milk but I could be wrong on that point.

Answer 1

Here's a recipe for Ginger Molasses Cake. Is this close enough?
http://southernfood.about.com/od/molassescookies/r/bln326.htm

Answer 2

Depression Cake
An Heirloom Recipe - Favorite of those who like a heavy, moist & spicy cake

2 c. sugar
2 c. strong coffee
1/2 c. shortening
2 c. raisins
1 apple, peeled and grated
2 c. flour
1 t. soda
2 t. baking powder
1 t. each cinnamon, allspice, cloves and nutmeg
1 c. chopped nuts (optional)

Simmer the first five ingredients for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Cool 10 minutes. Blend together the remaining ingredients and stir into saucepan mixture. Pour batter into well-greased and floured 13x9-inch pan. Bake at 350° for 25 to 30 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool and dust with powdered sugar, if desired.

Note: 2 cups water may be substituted for the coffee. Diced candied fruit may be added for an easy to make fruit cake.

Heirloom Recipe Award

Answer 3

Shoo Fly Pie

1 cup flour
1-1/2 T. shortening (such as Crisco)
3/4 cup dark brown sugar - firmly packed
1 cup molasses or dark Karo syrup
1 egg - slightly beaten
3/4 cup hot water
1 tsp. baking soda, dissolved in 1/4 cup hot water (in addition to the 3/4 cup water)
Preparation -
Mix the flour, sugar and shortening together until crumbly. Measure 1/2 cup of this mixture and set it aside. (This will be used for the crumb topping.) Add the molasses, egg and baking soda/hot water mixture to the remaining flour mixture. Pour the batter into an unbaked deep dish 9" inch pie shell. Sprinkle the reserved 1/2 cup of crumbs over top. Bake in a preheated oven at 400º for 5 minutes. Reduce the oven temperature to 350º and bake for 30 more minutes. As the shoo-fly pie bakes, a gooey wet bottom will form in the pie crust, below the molasses crumb cake.