DEPRESSION CAKE 
2 c. sugar
2 c. strong coffee, water or apple juice
1/2 c. shortening
2 c. dark raisins or diced pitted prunes
1 med. apple, peeled and shredded
2 c. unsifted all-purpose flour
1 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. allspice
1 tsp. cloves
1 tsp. nutmeg
1 c. chopped walnuts, almonds, or pecans

In a medium saucepan, simmer sugar, coffee, shortening, raisins, and apple together for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Cool 10 minutes.

In a large bowl, mix flour, baking soda, baking powder, all spices, and walnuts. Pour cooled sugar-raisin mixture into dry ingredients; mix well. Pour batter into greased 9x13x2 inch pan and bake in preheated 350 degree oven for 25-30 minutes until center of cake springs back when lightly pressed with finger. Cut into squares when cool.

This is a moist cake that keeps well and can be frozen. Makes 12 squares. This is a recipe from the Depression days of the 30's. It contains no eggs.

recipe reviews
Depression Cake
 #39250
 Rhona Davis (United States) says:
In the Military back in the 60's and 70's we called this "The Before Payday cake".....
   #75630
 Latin4 (Ohio) says:
I made this Depression Cake today. It really shows you don't need alot of ingredients to have a good cake. It was a little sweet even though I only 1 1/2 cups sugar, I think I will reduce it a little more. The raisins make it sweet. I hold a cooking class every thursday and we are always looking for different recipes. This tasted like gingerbread cake. It was yummy.

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