Historically, Valentine’s Day is shrouded in mystery. There
are several explanations for its celebration, but all are based
on mere legend. It is a fact, however, that cards began to be
mass-produced around the middle of the 19th century. And,
of course, Hallmark soon ran away with the idea.
If you’re looking for an appropriate historic treat for this day,
however, bake some Queen Cakes. According to the Oxford
English Dictionary (OED), they’re “a small currant-cake,
usually heart-shaped.”
Try this receipt (recipe) for Queen Cakes, from Elizabeth Raffald’s
The Experienced English Housekeeper (1769):
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To make Queen Cakes
Take a pound of loaf sugar,
beat and sift it, a pound of flour
well dried, a pound of butter,
eight eggs, half a pound
of currants washed and
picked, grate a nutmeg,
the same quantity of mace
and cinnamon. Work your
butter to a cream, then
put in your sugar, beat
the whites of your eggs
near half an hour, mix
them with your sugar
and butter. Then beat
your yolks near half
an hour and put them
to your butter, beat them
exceeding well together.
Then put in your flour,
spices, and the currants.
When it is ready for the oven
bake them in tins and dust
a little sugar over them.
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Simply put, the above is basically just pound cake with currants
and spices. Couldn’t be easier, yes?!
