Christmas Gift #6

Christmas Gift #6

By Eliot, on December 11th, 2011

I had a terrible, absolutely terrible day at work this week. What to do but come home and bake?

I decided I really wanted to explore my antique cookbooks for other great foodie gifts. I started out this project with Butterscotch Drops from a 1959 Farm Journal cookbook. I reached for an old Fannie Farmer book but basically it was only full of gingerbread in the cookie section. I then grabbed an old Amy Vanderbilt one (because I love that Andy Warhol illustrated it), but again I was disappointed in the cookie section. Finally, I settled on a 1972 edition of Best Recipes from the Cook Book Guild. There I found a recipe for Wine Date Cake Squares. It looked super easy, so I gave it a go.

I have scanned in the exact recipe, but here is my revision.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Cream butter and sugar; add egg and beat until blended. In a separate bowl, whisk together dry ingredients and spices. Add cherries and nuts and to dry ingredients and toss to mix.

Alternately, add flour/fruit/nut mixture and wine to butter/egg/sugar mixture, beating well after each.

Pour out batter into a prepared 9 x 12 pan. Bake 30 minutes.

Cool slightly and sprinkle with powdered sugar. Cut into squares.

Here is the original:

Since the the recipe suggests serving these at teatime, I think the perfect gift would be to pair this cake with some favorite teas.

Tazo Focus is my new favorite tea. It has a hint of cocoa. I also love Numi!