Emily Dickinson's Black Cake

1/2 lb Sugar

1/2 lb Butter

5 Eggs

1/8 pt Molasses

1/2 lb Flour

1/2 ts Baking soda

1/2 Nutmeg

1 t Clove

1 t Mace

1 t Cinnamon

1/8 pt Brandy

1 lb Raisins

2/3 lb Currants

2/3 lb Citron

Cream sugar and butter. Add eggs and molasses. Beat well. Add flour, soda, and spices. Add brandy, then raisins, currants, and citron. Pour dough into 2 loaf pans [4 fruitcake pans*] lined with waxed paper and bake 3-4 hrs at 300F [60-70 min at 325F*]. Place shallow pan of hot water on bottom of oven, but remove for last hr of baking. [Test with toothpick.*] Let loaves cool before removing from pan. [*suggestions of a practiced experimenter (not myself!)] Posted By bhsiung@uhs.bsd.uchicago.edu (Dr. Bob) On rec.food.recipes or rec.food.cooking