Poor Man's Cake

This Poor Man's Cake recipe is from the 1930s. My grandmother gave it to my mother and she gave it to me. Now I am a grandmother and passed it down to my kids. It's really good. You don't have to dirty your mixer for this one, just a big bowl.

• Preparation Time: 20 mins
• Cooking Time: 40 mins
• Total Time: 60 mins
• Calories: 186 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• ¾ cup shortening
• 2 cups raisins
• 2 cups water
• 4 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 9x13-inch pan.

Step 2

Mix raisins, water, brown sugar, and shortening in a saucepan. Bring to a boil and boil for 3 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool.

Step 3

Combine flour, cinnamon, baking soda, nutmeg, cloves, and salt in a large bowl. When raisin mixture is cool, add to dry ingredients and mix well to combine.

Step 4

Bake in the preheated oven for 30 or 40 minutes. Do not overbake or it will be too dry. Test after 30 minutes. A toothpick inserted into the center of the cake should come out clean.