Washington Cake Recipes

MARTHA WASHINGTON'S GREAT CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Soak raisins and currants in water in small bowl overnight.
• Combine orange peel, lemon peel, citron and cherries in mediumsize bowl, sprinkle with brandy; let stand overnight.
• Grease two 8 1/2 by 4 1/2 by 2 1/2 inch pans.
• Beat egg whites in medium-size bowl with electric mixer until foamy white. Beat in 1/4 cup of the sugar slowly until meringue forms stiff peaks; reserve.
• Beat butter, remaining sugar, egg yolks and lemon juice in large bowl with electric mixer at high speed until light and fluffy, about five minutes.
• Sift flour, mace and nutmeg onto wax paper. Stir into batter alternately with sherry, blending well.
• Drain raisins and currants. Add to batter with candied fruits and brandy, mixing well.
• Fold in reserved meringue until no streaks of white remain. Pour batter into pans. Place in a roasting pan on lowest rack of oven. Fill halfway with boiling water. Place cakes on middle rack of oven.
• Bake for 20 minutes. Lower heat to 325 degrees and bake 55 minutes longer until centers spring back when lightly touched with fingertip. Cool cakes in pans on wire racks 15 minutes. Remove from pans; cool completely.
• To store: wrap in sherry- or brandy-soaked cheesecloth; place in tightly covered containers for a month or longer. Pour more sherry or brandy over cake when cheesecloth dries out.
• Garnish with candied cherries, if you wish.

WASHINGTON APPLE CAKE

Steps:

• Butter a 9x13" cake pan and set aside.
• In a large bowl, beat eggs at high speed until thick and light in color.
• Combine sugar and oil and beat into eggs.
• Stir together flour, cinnamon, baking soda and salt.
• Add to egg mixture along with vanilla.
• Stir in nuts.
• Spread apple slices in bottom of buttered cake pan.
• Pour batter over apples, spreading to cover.
• Bake at 350 degrees 1 hour or until top is pale golden and apples are cooked.
• Remove from oven.
• Cool cake in pan on wire rack.
• When completely cool top with cream cheese icing.
• Cream Cheese Icing:.
• Beat cream cheese until fluffy.
• Beat in 1/4 c melted butter.
• Stir in 1-3/4 c confectioners sugar and 1 tsp lemon juice.
• Spread over cooled cake.

WASHINGTON CAKE

Steps:

• 1. Preheat the oven to 325°F. Grease a 9- by 5-inch loaf pan, 9-inch springform pan, 9-inch (9-cup) tube or Bundt pan, or four 5- by 3-inch (2-cup) loaf pans, line the bottom and sides with parchment paper, and grease again.
• 2. Sift together the flour, baking powder, spices, and salt.
• 3. In a large bowl, beat the butter on low speed until smooth, about 2 minutes. Increase the speed to medium, gradually add the sugar, and beat until light and fluffy, about 4 minutes. Gradually add the eggs, beating well after each addition. Total time for beating in the eggs is about 4 minutes. Add the cream, brandy, and vanilla.
• 4. In 3 additions, fold in the flour mixture. Stir in the raisins and currants.
• 5. Pour into the prepared pan, smoothing the top. Bake until a tester inserted in the center comes out clean, about 1¼ hours for a large loaf pan or springform pan; 1 hour and 5 minutes for a tube pan; or 40 minutes for the small loaf pans.