Recipe: Rich Black Cake by Martha Washington (1920's)

RICH BLACK CAKE
by Martha Washington

"The rich black cake was one of Martha Washington's favorite recipes and is the cake served at the wedding of Nellie Custis, which was solemnized at Mount Vernon on February 22, 1799, the last birthday that Washington spent on earth. The recipe is suggestive of a colonial wedding of the south, for its lavish quantities call up visions of rich plantation living."

20 egg yolks
20 egg whites, beaten to a stiff froth
2 pounds butter
2 pounds finely powdered sugar
2 1/2 pounds sifted flour
5 pounds dried fruit
1 whole nutmeg, grated
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon mace
1 cup grape wine
French brandy

"Twenty eggs; separate the whites from the yolks; beat the whites to a stiff froth. Work two pounds of butter to a cream, add to it the beaten egg whites, a spoonful at a time, until well mixed. Then add two pounds of finely powdered sugar in the same manner. Add the well beaten yolks of eggs, two and a half pounds of sifted flour and five pounds of dried fruit. Add to this one whole nutmeg, grated; one-fourth teaspoon of ground cloves, one teaspoon of mace, one cup grape wine and some French brandy. Five and one-half hours will be required to bake it if it is baked in one large pan."

Source: St Petersburg, FL, Evening Independent, Friday, Nov 26, 1926