ascertain whether the cake is done, plunge a
clean knife into the middle of it, withdraw it directly, and if the
blade is not sticky, and looks bright, the cake is sufficiently baked.
These cakes are usually spread with a thick layer of almond icing, and
over that another layer of sugar icing, and afterwards ornamented. In
baking a large cake like this, great attention must be paid to the heat
of the oven; it should not be too fierce, but have a good soaking heat.

_Time_.--5 to 6 hours. _Average cost_, 2s. per lb.

CHRISTMAS CAKE.

1754. INGREDIENTS.--5 teacupfuls of flour, 1 teacupful of melted butter,
1 teacupful of cream, 1 teacupful of treacle, 1 teacupful of moist
sugar, 2 eggs, 1/2 oz. of powdered ginger, 1/2 lb. of raisins, 1
teaspoonful of carbonate of soda, 1 tablespoonful of vinegar.

_Mode_.--Make the butter sufficiently warm to melt it, but do not allow
it to oil; put the flour into a basin; add to it the sugar, ginger, and
raisins, which should be stoned and cut into small pieces. When these
dry ingredients are thoroughly mixed, stir in the butter, cream,
treacle, and well-whisked eggs, and beat the mixture for a few minutes.
Dissolve the soda in the vinegar, add it to the dough, and be particular
that these latter ingredients are well incorporated with the others; put
the cake into a buttered mould or tin, place it in a moderate oven
immediately, and bake it from 1-3/4 to 2-1/4 hours.

_Time_.--1-3/4 to 2-1/4 hours. _Average cost_, 1s. 6d.

COMMON CAKE, suitable for sending to Children at School.

1755. INGREDIENTS.--2 lbs. of flour, 4 oz. of butter or clarified
dripping, 1/2 oz. of caraway seeds, 1/4 oz. of allspice, 1/2 lb. of
pounded sugar, 1 lb. of currants, 1 pint of milk, 3 tablespoonfuls of
fresh yeast.

_Mode_.--Rub the butter lightly into the flour; add all the dry
ingredients, and mix these well together. Make the milk warm, but not
hot; stir in the yeast, and with this liquid make the whole into a light
dough; knead it well, and line the cake-tins with strips of buttered
paper; this paper should be about 6 inches higher than the top of the
tin. Put in the dough; stand it in a warm place to rise for more than an
hour; then bake the cakes in a well-heated oven. If this quantity be
divided in two, they will take from 1-1/2 to 2 hours' baking.

_Time_.--1-3/4 to 2-1/4 hours. _Average cost_, 1s. 9d.

_Sufficient_ to make 2 moderate-sized cakes.

ECONOMICAL CAKE.

[Illustration: C