Carollers Pepper Cake

Pepper cake is a dark rich treacly spiced fruitcake and there seems to be some discrepancy as to whether it contained pepper at all or if that was just a synonym for spice. Honestly, you do not taste the pepper however it does impart its warmth. The only addition I made was adding two ounces of rum to the fruit mixture as it simmered. This cake was traditionally made around Christmas time, in England, and was specifically offered to calling carollers. 

Carollers Pepper Cake

------------------------------------------------------------

Makes 12 slices

75 grams raisins

75 grams currants

75 grams butter

150ml water

100 grams golden caster sugar

225 grams black treacle

225 grams self raising flour

1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

large pinch of ground cloves

1/4 teaspoon finely ground black pepper

1/4 a freshly grated nutmeg

4 tablespoons milk

1 egg, beaten

Grease and line an 18cm cake tin with baking parchment.

Preheat oven to 350ºF (180ºC) / Gas Mark 4. 

Put fruit, butter and water into a saucepan, bring to a boil, and simmer for 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the sugar and black treacle, then leave to cool for 10 minutes.

Put the flour and spices into a large bowl, and pour the fruit mixture and the milk and beaten egg. Mix thoroughly and tip into the prepared cake tin. Bake for about 50 minutes, or until a skewer pushed into the centre comes out clean and hot. Leave the cake to cool completely, and eat it spread with butter, or with a slice of cheese, or on its own with a glass of Ginger Cordial.

Hope everyone had a good solstice celebration and were able to catch a glimpse of Jupiter and Saturn. We also managed to watch a bit of the live stream from Stonehenge. - JD