It seems appropriate to revisit our Queen Elizabeth cake recipe this week. This was a favourite recipe of the Queen Elizabeth II. She used to love making it for the Queen Mother, it was apparently the Queen Mothers favourite cake to eat. I have to say, it is absolutely gorgeous. The queen was very happy to share the recipe. Her only request was that, if you were sharing or making to sell, you donate a little money to charity. I do love the idea that this cake was enjoyed by them both as a mother daughter treat. RIP Queen Elizabeth. Thank you. You are missed.
Queen Elizabeth Cake
Pour a cup of boiling water over 1/2lb(226g) of chopped dates and 1 level teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda. Leave to the side. Grease a 9x12inch tin.
Ingredients
- 4oz sugar
- 4oz marg
- 6oz SR flour
- 1 egg
- 20z chopped walnuts
Method
- Add the dates and water to the creamed sugar and marg. Quick mix.
- Add the rest of the ingredients. I gently whisked the egg, added that first, then the flour. (I never added the walnuts, no one likes them in our house!)
- Pour into your greased tin. Bake in a moderate oven (375/190/gas mark 5) for 36 minutes.
Icing
Ingredients
- 5 tablespoons brown sugar
- 5 dessert spoons of the top of the milk (I used cream)
- 2oz marg
Method
- Boil together for 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Allow to cool a little then spread on the cake. Sprinkle with chopped nuts. This is a fudge like icing that does not set.
(So next time I would make more icing, it’s a bit scant. Also, my icing mix seperated, I think I left it on the boil just a bit too long – a good mix as it’s cooling sorts that out. So don’t worry if that happens to you.)