History Cookbook: The Eggless Cake

Healthiness : (353 votes)

Preparation Time: 20 minutes
Cooking Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Number of servings: 1 cake


This recipe dates from World War 2 and was economical, as it does not use eggs. At the time eggs were rationed.

• 1 lb (455 g) of self-raising flour
• ¼ teaspoon of salt
• 4 ozs (115g) margarine
• 4 ozs (115g) sugar
• 3 saccharin tablets (1 dessertspoonful hot water )
• 14 ozs (400g) currants, sultanas, peel
• ½ pint milk
• ¼ pint of water

1 oz = 28.35g

• Weighing scales
• Teaspoon
• Dessert spoon
• Measuring jug
• Mixing bowl
• Sieve
• 8-inch tin
• Greaseproof paper

Always wash your hands before preparing food.

1. Sieve the flour and salt into basin then rub in the margarine
2. Add fruit and sugar and mix well
3. Dissolve the saccharin in the hot water
4. Add this and the milk and water to the dry ingredients
5. Beat very thoroughly and put mixture into an 8-inch tin that has been greased and dusted with flour
6. Bake for 1½ hours in a moderately hot oven (Regulo 4-other cookers 380F) on the middle shelf

The above recipe is one from the McDougall's free Wartime Cookery Book.

There are 107 comments for this recipe.
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Name: Sharon	28th January 2015
What would you recommend as an alternative to saccharin and how much should we use? I can't find saccharin in the shops here. Thanks

Name: Ph	28th January 2015
Is it nice?

Name: Emma Speers	19th January 2015
The recipe calls for saccharin but i cant find in uk, are these just sweeteners please? (Yes they are - The Cookit Team)

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