The Cake That America Forgot 1796 'Independence Cake' |Fire Cooking| Real Recipe ASMR

Once upon a time a long, long time ago in a country called the United States every 4th of July communities would gather to throw Independence parties, where this delicious yet somehow forgotten cake was the highlight. Since it had to have been large enough to feed a party this cake would have originally been the size of a large wedding cake. This cake is DELICIOUS and really needs to make a comeback. Can we do it?

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[EarlyAmerican]

If enough of us come together we can make this cake a tradition again! Below you will find the recipe translated from the original into modern directions. This is 1/10th of the original cake, as the original (which appears at the end of the video) was intended to be made for a large gathering.


Independence Cake, 1796

7.25 cups of flour
0.6 cups of sugar
1 pound of butter, softened
5 eggs
0.4 cups of sweet wine (madeira is a historically accurate choice, or sherry)
0.4 cups of brandy
1 tablespoon of active dry yeast (please note that you may need to add more alcohol in this recipe to form the batter to make up for the use of dry yeast here when the original would have been more of a liquidy yeast).
0.5 cups of rasins
0.5 cups of currants, fresh or dried
0.2 cups of candied citron
0.6 tablespoons of cinnamon, cloves & mace
Nutmeg, a pinch
Royal icing
Edible gold leaf
Boxwood leaves

Combine your flour, sugar and spices in a large mixing bowl. Give this a good stir. Throw in your softended butter, yeast and alcohols. Give it another good stir. Put in your eggs and dried fruit. Mix up well before pouring into a buttered cake pan (or several if you don't have one big enough as was the case with me). If your dough is dry add more wine or brandy, whatever suites your fancy, till you've formed what looks like a thick cake batter. Let rise for 1 hour to let the yeast do its magic. Bake for anywhere from 60-90 minutes. Your cook time will varry depending on the size of your cooking vessel. Test that it's done by inserting a butter knife or a toothpick and if it comes out clean it's done, especially if the top is a golden brown. Once done remove from your cake from its pan and allow to cool. Cut with a knife to form as you desire, if you desire. Cover with icing and decorate with gold leaf and boxwood. Gold leaf is edible and has no taste. However, pick the boxwood leaves off before eating as they are not edible. The boxwood's only purpose here is to be a pretty decoration. Enjoy!

[mikehoward]

This video brought back memories of my dad taking me as a kid to pick blackberries so my mom would make a blackberry cobbler in mid-July, every year as I was growing up! It was delicious. I also remember getting a chigger bite for every berry I picked! Ha ha.

[fandoria]

As this recipe was handed down in my family on my mother's side of her mother's side (mother to daughter), I still make this cake and not just for Independence. I have a 6× great grandmother who was born in 1776 and passed in 1872. Her mother made this cake for her daughter from her 1st birthday until she was 29 (before her passing when her daughter was 29 in 1843). I love the "old world" recipes that my grandmother's before me on both my parents' side had handed down for generations. Many came from France, England, Ireland, and Germany. Sadly, not one of my only 4 daughters wants the "heirloom" recipes. These precious pieces of family generation recipes stop with me. They will never continue on in the family, and that breaks my heart because these recipes are homemade, and most of the ingredients are starting to become harder and harder to find to even grow, let alone buy. I still have seeds given to me by my mother and father that were a part of their families "heirloom" gardens that they kept seeds from each herb, spice, and flower they'd grown to hand down for every generation to have and enjoy through the ages. I still have the rhubarb seeds my mother gave me from a farm we lived on for 6 years. I'm finally living in a place where I can actually grow my own garden like I've been wanting to for most of my adult life. I can't wait to be able to start to bring back the old ways of baking and cooking, even though I don't have a fireplace to use, I've never had a hard time adjusting my oven temperature or baking times. This cake is a very good sample of times past, and the flavors of the ingredients work extremely well together because they balance each other very well.

[chrismcelligott]

A cake with wine and brandy in it. You're really celebrating Independence Day! 🎆

[kathyschauer]

As a retired Chef I am amazed at what they had to decorate their cakes with. So many ingredients I would have thought would be so out of reach of the common folk. I guess I need to read some older recipes of the time. I’m good with a wood stove and I am really loving the education that you are giving me in Hearth cooking and baking.

[cherylparker]

Thank you, Justine! I love that you dont talk during these cooking videos. So peaceful just watching you...

[LillyMunster]

Ive said it before and ill keep saying it: the skill to cook (and more importantly bake!) over an open fire, in this day and age, is amazing. Yes of course shes had practice but im telling you...this sh*t is hard!!

[kimgilson]

This looks similar to an election day cake. Has more of a bread like dough rather than a batter. I can see why that tradition might have died out... That cake is truly a labor of love to make!

[femalism]

Wow!! I'm going to bake this receipt but I'm going to use the Stand Mixer and every modern kitchen tool in my stash. Good job Justine!

[esmeraldablack]

I recently came across your channel.
I love that there is no talking as it makes you become fully immersed in watching what is going on. Love hearing the crackling of the fire.
Love seeing recipes of the bygone era... simple, yummy food.
Just wonderful.

[sharonnoble]

This is a wonderful channel...so different from any I've seen! One of the most satisfying parts for me is the sound effects! No distracting music competing with it! Well done 👏 😊.The cake is a thing of beauty!

[rickilynnwolfe]

Oh my lord this is beautiful I so wanted to try a piece of that cake lol ! You put so much time and love into everything
I love your life everything to your home to your clothing to your wonderful dishes . No sound going on but the birds and chickens to a crackling fire . Gives a person time to think and reflect on life . I loss my husband of 31 years last year to pancreatic cancer . Life is so different now I do long for piece wish I lived like you I do have a fireplace like yours and cook things in it time to time but let me tell you I do love my sink to wash dishes in todays world . God bless🤗

[sammixo]

My favorite parts of these videos, is when Justine is happy after making each meal/dessert🥹💕 its so wholesome lol💝

[MarkWYoung-kyuc]

That does look absolutely delicious. I have never heard of it before.

[margui]

The cake should be traditional again for the 4th of July. It looks amazing. Thank you Justine for the recipe.
By the way, I love your apron and the cabin is nicely decorated. Love the flowers, too.

[taylorvanbuskirk]

I'm new to your channel. First...I LOVE your house! It is SO inviting! Second...I love you're patriotism and I LOVE your ability to survive the way our ancestors did. Wow!

[lisakay]

My favorite channel!! God bless America and God bless you all for an outstanding job, bringing back the history of baking!❤️🇺🇸💙✝️

[zachkucera]

I always love that coy little smile when your cooking turns out perfect. A great grin of satisfaction. So wonderful!

[mszuzubookitty]

It’s a 100 degrees here by July. I can’t imagine making anything on an open fire and no ac at that time of year. And she never breaks a sweat.

[eyebleach]

I would love to experience living that way, no modern things, just making the most of what you have. I love how cozy your home is and how it was built to mirror the exact simplicity of early life.. All the things that's around the house and those that you use, even your whisk..