The Christmas Cake

Home Economics Section

1 cup butter
2 cups sugar
2 tablespoons cognac
2 teaspoons vanilla essence
10 eggs, beaten with a little sugar
4 cups flour
4 teaspoons baking powder
2 tablespoons cocoa
half a cup of milk
1 cup cold water
the grated rind of an orange and its juice

Beat the butter with the sugar, then add the vanilla and the beaten eggs; then add gradually, beating all the while, the flour mixed with the baking powder, alternating with a little of the milk and the water. When the flour and the milk are used up, divide the batter into three parts, and set one part of the batter aside as it is. Then add to the second part of the batter a tablespoon of cocoa and beat it well; and to the third part of the batter add the grated rind of an orange, two tablespoons of orange juice, and a drop of orange coloring for the sake of the color, and mix well. Then pour the first part into a wide pan, put the second part into a pan of lesser size and the third part into a smaller pan, and the remainder into the smallest pan. Finally place the pans in the oven and bake them. After baking, set the layers one on top of another, fill them with cream, and decorate according to your taste.

A useful hint: It is best to use four trays, each one smaller than the last by two qirats.