Instead of cochineal, you can use strawberry or currant juice in their season, making allowance for the thinning of your batter, by adding a little more flour. Cochineal is much better, however, since it takes but a few drops to color the whole cake. Any druggist will prepare it for you as he does for the confectioners, as a liquid. Or, he will powder it, and you can add to a pinch of the grayish crimson-dust a very little water; strain it, and stir in, drop by drop, until you get the right tint. It is without taste or odor, and is perfectly harmless.
Heap the cake after it is filled, with the white mixture, beating more sugar into that portion intended for the frosting.
Sultana Cake.
4 cups flour.
1 cup of butter.
3 cups powdered sugar.
8 eggs, beaten light. Strain the yolks.
1 cup cream, or rich milk.
1 pound sultana (seedless) raisins, dredged thickly.
1 teaspoonful soda, dissolved in hot water.