Recipe(tried): Depression Cake (no milk, eggs or butter)

This cake is called Depression cake or eggless, milkless and butterless. It dates back to the depression days when those ing. were hard to get.
I have made this for many years.

DEPRESSION CAKE

1 cup sugar
1 cup raisins
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 cup shortening (lard was the original ingredients)
1 cup hot water
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice

Put all the above ingredients in a pan on the stove and bring to a boil.

Then pour a little at a time, stirring, into a mixture of:
1 3/4 cups flour
1/2 cup nuts (optional)

Place in an 8x8-inch pan.

Bake at 375 degrees F 20 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.

I double this when I make it for my family.