Economy Cake

Economy Cake, a simple, moist molasses cake that’s easy and inexpensive. Made with pantry staples. Satisfying and not too sweet. 

Old recipes are a cultural archive, our window to the past. They offer a glimpse of the impact world events had in the kitchens of Canadians. This Economy Cake is an example of a recipe that was doable during tough times. Likely created during the Depression it offered women a way to serve a sweet dessert or tea cake that didn’t break the bank.

Necessity breeds invention…

Much innovation has taken place in home kitchens during tough times. Through financial stress or lack of ingredients (or both) all sorts of inexpensive recipes were invented, mostly adaptations of “real” recipes, made with inexpensive and/or available ingredients.

The eco-cake: the economic treat par excellence

Recipes that were adapted to rationing don’t always appeal to current tastes. Just follow the delightful Instagram account Cook for Victory New Brunswick for an honest review of the winners and losers in the wartime kitchen and you’ll get a good sense of what home cooks had to work with.

This cake would be considered a winner.

Economy Cake is moist and the molasses, mixed with the spices, adds a little sweet taste.

If you’ve ever found yourself a little financially stuck, Economy Cake is for you. It costs almost nothing to make and the flavors are there!

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