Recipe: Grandma Lobeck's Spice Cake with Caramel Frosting (Miriam Loo, 1970's)

GRANDMA LOBECK'S SPICE CAKE

2 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground allspice
1/2 tsp ground cloves
1/2 cup raisins
1 cup chopped nuts
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/2 cup shortening
3 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup buttermilk or sour milk
Quick Caramel Frosting (recipe follows)

Blend together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and spices; set aside.

Combine raisins and nuts with 2 tsp of the dry ingredients; set aside.

Gradually add sugar to shortening in large mixing bowl; cream until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each; add vanilla. Add buttermilk alternately with flour mixture, beginning and ending with dry ingredients. Blend well after each addition.

Stir in floured raisins and nuts. Pour batter into greased and lightly floured 13x9-inch pan.

Bake at 350 degrees F for 35-40 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Set cake in pan on rack to cool

Frost cooled cake.

QUICK CARAMEL FROSTING

1/3 cup butter or margarine
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/8 tsp salt
1/4 cup milk
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar

Melt butter in saucepan; add brown sugar and cook over low heat 2 minutes, stirring constantly.

Add salt and milk and continue stirring until mixture comes to a boil. Boil 3 minutes; remove from heat and cool.

Add vanilla to cooled mixture; blend well. Gradually beat in the confectioners sugar and continue beating until mixture is smooth and spreading consistency.

Makes one 13x9 inch cake
Source: Miriam B. Loo's Family Favorites Cookbook, Current, Inc., 1977