Scripture Cake

*If you are new here, WELCOME! For this post, I provide you with a delicious recipe for Scripture Cake!

Did you know that scripture cakes were very popular in Appalachia and the South at the turn of the 20th century? Maybe you’re wondering what exactly a scripture cake is.

Women at the time would find verses from the Bible that mention a food ingredient and write out an entire recipe using just verses in an effort to teach their children the Bible and cooking at the same time.

A recipe might look like this:

3/4 cups Judges 5:25, last clause

2 cups Jeremiah 6:20

5 Jeremiah 17:11, seperated

And, etc.

As a Christian, I find this fascinating. Special moments from my childhood mostly revolve around a shared experience with a relative who was teaching me something during our time together. Most of the time it was one of my precious grandmothers.

I feel like many cultures across the world do a wonderful job of passing down culture and beliefs through shared experiences and rituals, but sometimes we are so busy here in America that we forget how important that is.

If you feel the same, consider making one of these scripture cakes with someone special in your family. Spend time in the kitchen together. Discuss what you value and why it’s important. Show love and bond as you work together!

After looking at several old recipes, I came up with my own twist and added a drizzle of golden syrup across the top (inspired by this blog). The result is a rich Scripture Cake full of flavor and packed with spices, figs, almonds, and raisins.

If you’re stopping by here while searching for recipes, you may not know that the recipes here are all inspired by books! This particular recipe was created after reading The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek.

If you love reading, this book is about a fascinating and little known piece of American history–pack horse librarians and blue-skinned people. Check out more about this great book HERE!

Keep reading for the full recipe for Scripture Cake including companion Bible verses!

Here’s what you’ll need to make Scripture Cake:

A quick list of equipment –

• Electric Mixer
• Chef Knife
• Cutting Board
• Tube Pan
• Small Sauce Pan

Tips for the Scripture Cake:

If you don’t have a tube pan, you can use a bundt pan or you can make your own tube pan using this tutorial. I didn’t have a tube pan, so I tried the DIY and it worked well!

The golden syrup adds sweetness and moisture to the cake, although it isn’t a dry cake by any means. Feel free to serve it without the syrup, but it really does add a little extra charm.

Make sure you fold your egg whites in gently and try not to over mix after that point. The egg whites give the lift and moisture to the cake.

Scripture Cake with Golden Syrup

Full of spices, almonds, figs and raisins, this scrumptious cake recipe based on scripture is an adventure to create and a delight to eat! If your book club is looking for food ideas for The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek, look no further!

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 1 hour hr 15 minutes mins

Resting Time 28 minutes mins

Total Time 2 hours hrs 3 minutes mins

Course Breakfast, Dessert

Cuisine American

Servings 12

Calories 595 kcal

Equipment

• Tube or Bundt Pan
• Electric mixer

Ingredients

  

Scripture Cake:

• 3/4 cup butter room temperature (Judges 5:25, last clause)
• 2 cups sugar Jeremiah 6:20
• 5 eggs separated and room temperature (Jeremiah 17:11)
• 3 cups flour 1 Kings 4:22
• ½ tsp salt Matthew 5:13
• 2 tsp baking powder 1 Corinthians 5:6
• 2 tbsp honey or sorghum (1 Samuel 14:25)
• 2 cups raisins 1 Samuel 30:12
• 2 cups figs Proverbs 27:18
• 1 cup almonds Numbers 17:8
• ½ tsp nutmeg 2 Chronicles 9:1
• ½ tsp allspice 2 Chronicles 9:1
• 1 tsp cinnamon 2 Chronicles 9:1
• ½ cup milk Hebrews 5:13
• Extra almonds for garnish optional

Golden Syrup:

• 1 ½ cups sugar Jeremiah 6:20
• 3 tbsp water John 4:13-14
• 1/3 cup water (warm) John 4:13-14
• ¼ cup butter Judges 5:25, late clause

Instructions

 

For the Scripture Cake:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.
• Cream the butter, sugar and honey together in a large bowl.
• Mix in the 5 egg yolks, reserving the egg whites.
• Sift 2 ½ cups of flour, reserving ½ cup, with the salt, baking powder, and spices in a separate bowl. Slowly incorporate into the creamed butter and sugar, adding the milk for moisture as you do.
• Using an electric mixer, whip the egg whites in a separate bowl until they become stiff.
• Carefully fold the egg whites into the batter.
• Dredge the chopped figs, almonds, and raisins with the reserved ½ cup of flour. This will keep them from falling to the bottom of the cake.
• Fold the dredged figs, almonds and raisins into the batter.
• In a very well buttered and floured tube or bundt pan, pour the batter.
• Cook for 1 hour 15 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
• Cool on a rack for at least 15 minutes.

For the Golden Syrup:

• In a heavy sauce pan, cook the sugar on low with the 3 tbsp of water. It will take several minutes, but the sugar will begin to melt. Once melting, stir frequently to prevent sticking.
• Once all the sugar is melted, allow to brown.
• SLOWLY add the 1/3 cup of WARM water. The sugar may try to crystalize into candy at this point so slowly pour the water in while continuing to stir.
• Once the water is added, stir in the butter and remove from heat.
  
• Allow to cool to a syrup consistency.
• To Assemble:
• Pour the syrup over the cake.
• Top with more chopped almonds.

Keyword appalachia recipe, appalachian recipe, Breakfast, Cake, cake with figs, cake with figs and honey, kentucky recipe, scripture cake, The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek recipe

Don’t forget to check out the book that inspired this recipe, The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek! And, let me know what you think of this delicious and historically fascinating Scripture Cake!

Until next time, Happy Eating and Reading!

Disclosure: This page contains affiliate links. In the event of a sale, I will be awarded a small commission (at no extra cost to you or the featured book’s author). All opinions are 100% mine and every book, unless otherwise noted, is handpicked by me to be featured on the site.

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