Fannie Farmer's Election Day Cake

"Cooking may be as much a means of self-expression
as any of the arts."
-Fannie Farmer

Fannie Merritt Farmer

March 23 1857-January 15, 1915)

American chef and cook book writer

A nearly forgotten American tradition, this original Election Day Cake Recipe
comes from Ms. Farmer's 1896 Boston Cooking School Cook Book.
After casting their vote, people would receive a piece of this
 sweet spicy yeast cake while exiting the polls.

Election Day Cake

Image courtesy/Christina's Cucina

1/2 cup butter

1 cup bread dough

8 finely chopped figs

1 1/4 cups flour

1 egg

1/2 teaspoon soda

1 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup sour milk

2/3 cup raisins, seeded, cut into pieces

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon each of clove, mace, and nutmeg

1 teaspoon salt

Work butter into dough, using the hand.  Add egg well beaten, sugar, milk,
fruit dredged with two tablespoons flour, and flour mixed and sifted with
remaining ingredients.  Put into a well-butter bread pan, cover, and let 
rise one and one-fourth hours.  Then bake one hour in slow oven.

Frost with Milk Frosting:

1 1/2 cups sugar

1 teaspoon butter

1/2 cup milk

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Put butter in saucepan; when melted add sugar and milk.
Stir, to be sure that sugar does not adhere to saucepan, 
heat to boiling point and boil without stirring thirteen minutes.
Remove from fire, and beat until of right consistency to spread;
then add flavoring and pour over cake, spreading evenly with
the back of spoon.  Crease as soon as firm.