Hello Dear Reader,
Are you getting excited about Halloween? One of my favourite things is getting my face nicely toasted at the bonfire on a cold autumnal evening.
My Bonfire Spice Cake is a lightly spiced, dark and smokey fruit and nut cake. It is perfect for eating round the bonfire or for bringing a little of that smokey dark-fired flavour indoors.
Bonfire Spice Cake – recipe
- 110g plain flour
- 1½ tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp freshly grated nutmeg
- ½ tsp ground allspice
- 50g sultanas
- 55g chopped hazelnuts
- 140g chopped dates
- 25g (1 oz) crystallised stem ginger, chopped
- 115g butter
- 100g caster sugar
- 2 eggs
- 100g treacle/ molasses
- 65g golden syrup
1) Pre-heat the oven to 180ºC. Sieve together flour, baking powder and spices into a bowl.
2) Mix together dried fruit and nuts, together with 1 tbsp of the spiced flour mix.
3) Cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in two eggs, then the treacle and syrup. Next beat in the spiced flour 1 tbsp at a time, then fold in the fruit and nuts. Place the mixture into an 8 inch square silicon tray, or a greased and lined metal tin.
4) Bake for 30-40 minutes until cooked through (i.e. a skewer comes out cleanly). Leave in tin to cool and then cut into squares.
Enjoy!
What’s your favourite thing about Halloween?
Vohn
x
My favorite thing about Halloween is children in cute costumes! I get to say “awww” a lot. 🙂
And, glory be, my grocery store now has a few shelves of UK imports, including golden syrup. Not sure about the sultanas, though.
I love the kids in costumes Katie, especially if they have made the effort to make them – something very special about that. 😀
I’m going to try this. In the US gingerbread is kind of cakey, less biscuity, and I miss that. I think yours might fill a hole in my longing… x
Fantastic Annie! I hope it is what you have been looking for! 😀
These look like fab bites to eat not just for deliciousness, but to keep you warm too.i love all the warming spices and the molasses.
Thanks Shaheen. Bonfire night yesterday was our first really cold night of the year, so this cake was great with its warming spices. 😀
This looks yummy and sticky – perfect for anytime with a cuppa!
Aw thanks Heidi. Yes, I agree – it is perfect with a cuppa! Hot tea and spiced cake = heaven! 😀
This sounds scrumptious. My favourite part of Halloween has to be the fairy lights that pop up, but don’t seem to come back down until New Year – Yay!!
Thanks Emma! 😀 Oh yes – I love fairy lights too – they make everything feel so light and magical.