Old Fashioned Seed Cake

Hello everyone – hope you’re all making lots of candied peel.  I figured it was time Charlie and I actually used ours and made the Old Fashioned Seed Cake.

The by line in the Baking Bible says that you will either “Love or Loathe seed cake” I wonder which it will be for us – I hope its Love as Charlotte is becoming a little disillusioned with both her efforts and the actual taste of the cakes – I think the Lemon Yoghurt Cake scared us both.   I’ve decided that baking every recipe is a really interesting way of using a cookbook as normally I wouldn’t try “seed cake” as without a colour picture to tempt me, I would probably skip to, what I think, would be a more appealing bake.  This way, you have to try what you normally wouldn’t – an opportunity to try new things, if you will.

 Charlie washed up and put on her apron – I actually must get round to washing that as its covered with debris from previous efforts.  So, I’m sitting with a coffee and the good book, plus Downton Abby is playing its Sunday afternoon repeat, its fair to say, I’m a little distracted.  Must try and concentrate!

Everything except the candied peel and seeds are mixed together, then carefully you fold in the peel and half of the seeds.  The seeds in this recipe are caraway seeds, so it has a slight Indian smell – nice.  Pour everything into the deep 7cm round tin, sprinkle with remaining seeds and bake for approx 1 hour at 180C/160C fan/Gas 4.

This cake smelt fantastic and we were very hopeful.  I was a little worried that I’d left it in too long, but when it was cut it was perfect and the taste…..fab!

This is lovely, not too sweet, but buttery – perfect with a cup of tea.

 The best bit, was the candied peel – much much much nicer than shop bought and I am now a complete convert to making my own.

A number of people have asked me why I don’t put the recipe on my blog for each cake – the honest answer is I don’t know if Im allowed to as this might be in breach of copy right – If anyone knows the answer please let me know as I would love to share them.