When myself and Dave were young our mother used to make friendship cake and it was delicious. The topic came up on a group that I am a member of, Frugal Genius UK. I asked Masie, one of the members, if she minded me putting it on this site, she did not. She added “I can’t credit where it came from originally as my Mum got it from acolleague at work and that was over 20 years ago.” Which really does show how friendship cake works, so get baking and get giving. I think it work in a similar fashion to pyramid marketing schemes, only no one looses out and all end up with great cake.
Here is the starter recipe and a fruit and nut recipe (which you can vary) to try once you have the starter. I have used a conversion chart for the weights and measures so they are not exact, Masie recommends that you use an ordinary cup as long as you use the same cup it is O. K.
Friendship cake starter recipe
Use a large mixing bowl
1 cup SR flour
1 cup milk
1/2 cup sugar
2 tsp dried active yeast
NB. I normally use a normal mug
Mix all together then leave 2 days Then – Continue as below
IF MIXTURE HAS BEEN GIVEN TO YOU
Day 1 – Place in a large mixing bowl and cover with a tea towel
Day 2 – Leave well alone
Day 3 – FEED – 1 cup SR flour
1 cup milk
1/2 cup sugar
stir and cover
Day 4 – Stir and cover
Day 5 – Stir and cover
Day 6 – Divide into 3 parts, give 1 or 2 away
Day 7 – ADD to 1 part – 2 cups SR flour
3/4 cup Vegetable Oil
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp mixed spice
2 beaten eggs
1 cup sugar
Mix well and bake in 2lb loaf tin 11/2 – 2 hours
Fruit & Nut Friendship Cake
Ingredients
1-1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 cup sugar
2 cups Plain flour
2/3 cup vegetable oil
2 teaspoons baking powder
1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup chopped apples
3 cups starter
1 cup raisins or chopped nuts
1 egg plus 2 egg whites
Method/Procedure
Combine dry ingredients in a large bowl, set aside. In another large bowl mix starter, egg and whites, sugar, oil and vanilla. Add flour mixture, apples and raisins or nuts. Pour into a greased and floured loaf pan. Bake at Gas 4, 180C, 350F for an hour. Cool, then dust with icing sugar.
This recipe can be adapted to taste you could try any combination of fruit and nuts as long as the total equals 2 cups.
