I used to have a spiral-bound cookbook of New England recipes that had this cake in it. Don't know what happened to it. But recipes for Scripture Cake abound, and they are all about the same. Scripture Cake has been attributed to Dolly Madison, even. Who knows where it started?

This particular version Sydney Rutland sent me from the Suffolk Journal in England. In the Journal, Scripture Cake is described as a "Victorian" recipe.

Scripture Cake

Here's the original recipe:

3/4 cup Judges 5:25
1 1/2 cup Jeremiah 6:20
5 Isaiah 10:14
3 cups sifted Leviticus 24:5
3 teaspoons 2 Kings 2:20
3 teaspoons Amos 4:5
1 teaspoon Exodus 30:23
1/4 teaspoon each 2 Chronicles 9:9
1/2 cup Judges 4:19
3/4 chopped Genesis 43:11
3/4 cup finely chopped Jeremiah 24:5
3/4 cup 2 Samuel 16:1
Two tablespoons 1 Samuel 14 25

Follow Soloman's prescription for the making of a good boy Proverbs 23:14

 

Here's what you're looking for:

3/4 cup Judges 5:25 (butter)
1 1/2 cup Jeremiah 6:20 (sugar)
5 Isaiah 10:14 (eggs, separated)
3 cups sifted Leviticus 24:5 (flour)
3 teaspoons 2 Kings 2:20 (salt)
3 teaspoons Amos 4:5 (yeast—use baking powder)
1 teaspoon Exodus 30:23 (cinnamon)
1/4 teaspoon each 2 Chronicles 9:9 (spices-nutmeg, ginger, allspice)
1/2 cup Judges 4:19 (milk)
3/4 chopped Genesis 43:11 (nuts)
3/4 cup finely chopped Jeremiah 24:5 (figs)
3/4 cup 2 Samuel 16:1 (raisins)
Two tablespoons 1 Samuel 14 25 (honey)


(optional) Whole Genesis 43:11 for garnish (almonds)

Follow Soloman's prescription for the making of a good boy Proverbs 23:14 (beat well)

Modern Method:

Grease a round tin or two small loaf tins. Line the bottom with waxed or parchment paper.

preheat oven to 350F/180C

1. Cream fat and sugar until light and fluffy.
2. Beat eggs lightly.
3. Sieve together flour, baking powder, spices and salt.
4. Add eggs and flour alternately to creamed mixture, beating well between each addition.
5. Beat in honey and milk
6. Stir in fruit and chopped almonds
7. Put into prepared tin(s)

Bake for 1.25 hrs, covering cake with greaseproof paper if it becomes too brown.

Leave in tin(s) for 10 minutes before turning it out.

 

Here is a basic burnt sugar syrup recipe, translated into scriptural terms.

Jeremiah's Burnt Syrup (from blog by LDH)

1 1/2 cups Jeremiah 6:20
1/2 cup Genesis 24:45
1/4 cup Genesis 18:8

 

1 1/2 cups Jeremiah 6:20 (sugar)
1/2 cup Genesis 24:45 (water)
1/4 cup Genesis 18:8 (butter)

1. In a 2-quart saucepan over low heat, melt sugar, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
2. After sugar melts, continue cooking, stirring continuously, until it is a deep golden brown.
3. Add water and cook, stirring frequently, until smooth.
4. Remove from the heat, add butter and stir till until it melts; allow to cool.

Drizzle over cooled scripture cake and garnish with whole almonds.