MARBLE CAKE

2 cups sifted cake flour

1 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons double-acting or 3 teaspoons cream of tartar baking powder

½ cup shortening

1 cup sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 eggs

⅔ cup milk

¼ cup GRANDMA’S MOLASSES

1 teaspoon cinnamon

¼ teaspoon cloves

Sift together first three ingredients. Cream together shortening, sugar, and vanilla. Beat in eggs. Add milk alternately with flour mixture. Beat ½ minute. Place ⅓ of batter in a small bowl; stir in molasses and spices. Pour light and dark batters alternately into a well-greased, lightly floured, 8-inch, tube cake pan or into a 9x9x2-inch pan. Bake tube cake 1 hour in moderately slow oven (325° F.); the 9x9x2-inch cake 45 minutes in moderate oven (350° F.). Frost as desired.

YIELD: 12 servings.

APPLESAUCE CAKE (one-bowl method)
(Have all ingredients at room temperature)

2 cups sifted cake flour

1 cup sugar

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon double-acting or 1½ teaspoons cream of tartar baking powder

¾ teaspoon soda

¼ teaspoon cinnamon

¼ teaspoon nutmeg

½ cup shortening

⅓ cup GRANDMA’S MOLASSES

1 cup unsweetened applesauce

2 eggs

Heat oven to 375° F. (moderate). Sift first seven ingredients into a mixing bowl. Add shortening, molasses, and applesauce. Mix until all flour is dampened. Beat 2 minutes by hand or electric beater (low speed). Add eggs. Beat 2 more minutes. Bake 25 minutes or until done in 2 well-greased, lightly floured, round, 8-inch, layer-cake pans. Cool; frost with MOLASSES MOCHA FROSTING ([page 11]).

YIELD: 12 servings.

MOLASSES FEATHER CAKE (one-bowl method)
(Have all ingredients at room temperature)

2¼ cups sifted cake flour

½ cup sugar

1 teaspoon double-acting or 1½ teaspoons cream of tartar baking powder

½ teaspoon soda

1 teaspoon salt

½ cup shortening

¾ cup GRANDMA’S MOLASSES

2 eggs

1 teaspoon flavoring

½ cup milk

Heat oven to 375° F. (moderate). Sift first five ingredients into mixing bowl. Add shortening, molasses, eggs, and flavoring. Mix until all flour is dampened. Beat 2 minutes by hand or electric beater (low speed). Add milk. Beat 2 more minutes. Bake 25 minutes or until done in 2 well-greased, lightly floured, round, 8-inch, layer cake pans. Cool; frost as desired.

YIELD: 12 servings.

Spiced Feather Cake: Omit flavoring. Add 1 teaspoon cinnamon, ½ teaspoon nutmeg, and ¼ teaspoon cloves.