The Epicure's Almanac or Diary of Good Living
April 18th : CITRON SPICE CAKE
Put half a pound of treacle into a large basin, and add, by slow degrees, three quarters of a pound of flour very finely sifted; mix well with these two ounces of candied citron chopped small, a quarter of a pound of best Lisbon sugar, a quarter of a pound of melted butter, the like weight of ground allspice and ground ginger; having stirred the ingredients till all are properly mixed, let them remain in the basin all night. Next morning, strew a little flour over the paste board, and roll out the ingredients till you have them quite flat and nearly the thickness of half an inch. Divide into the usual size, and place them on an iron plate for baking ; before you put them into the oven, smear each over with the yolk of an egg well beat up, and laid on with a brush : from twelve to twenty minutes will be time enough, according to the temperature of the oven ; it shouldnot be too fierce. If you wish to give the cakes a higher glaze, apply the egg as before whilst the confection is quite hot.